‘If a did night ... mi wuda dead’

“If a did night, believe mi, mi wuda dead, everybody else wuda dead.”

This was the grim conclusion of a young Manchester farmer, Michael Patterson, after his two-bedroom house was destroyed by Hurricane Beryl on Wednesday, leaving him, his partner Keisha Robinson and their two children without the comfort of their beds.

A barely breathing goat, which was spotted about four steps from where the structure once stood, along with discarded wet clothing, sheets, scattered broken appliances and furniture, tells a story of the havoc left by Beryl as it swept through the quiet farming community of Resource in Manchester, leaving several residents without their roofs and building intact.

Yesterday as The Gleaner team travelled through the community, Patterson was observed trying to rebuild his home with the help of several men.

The 26-year-old man said, “This is a big, big setback, mi nuh know how it a guh go but mi can’t give up, mi have mi two youths.”

Explaining how he had lost his house and six goats, Patterson said that on Wednesday, after 2 p.m., he was home alone after his children and their mother had left to ride out the storm at his father’s house nearby.

“Mi just step out a de house say mi a go down a the shop and before mi reach, mi just see the house rip apart. The roof first fly then the sides dem drop down.

“Fridge fly, washing machine start fly, even mi divan bed mi see just fly outside,” Patterson recalled.

In shock and scared for his life, Patterson said he quickly took up refuge in his car, even though being in there was also scary because of the heavy winds which were blowing.

Asked to describe how he felt when he saw his house being destroyed, Patterson said he felt as if he was about to go mad.

But realising quickly that he had to be strong, Patterson said, “Mi affi just go drink some rum and laugh.”

However, he said the storm was no joke.

According to him, he had experienced Hurricane Ivan before but this was worse.

“It wicked bad, some things wah mi see, mi see all drum a fly. At one point I was so scared cause mi think a zinc would fly and chop off mi head,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable,” Patterson said in amazement.

He reasoned that it was some of those flying objects that had caused the death of his goats, which he said is another devastating blow, as he is now left without a quick way to secure funds to help repurchase items for his home.

Patterson said he had taken the hurricane warning seriously and had tied down the roof and had reinforced sections with nails but that was not enough to withstand the heavy winds that had accompanied Beryl.

In the meantime, Patterson said he is appealing for assistance with building materials or appliances.

Presently, he said he will be using the same pieces of board and zinc to try and put the structure back together but don’t know how far that will take him.

“If anyone can help mi with the building material and even two mattresses. Even if mi get the fridge and nothing else, I would be grateful.”

Persons who want to help can reach Patterson at 876-810-4189 or his companion at 876-543-5660.