Fri | Jul 5, 2024

Kingston mayor, councillor urge residents to leave flood-prone Port Royal

Published:Wednesday | July 3, 2024 | 10:52 AM
The flooded Port Royal main road in Kingston. -Contributed photo

Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby and Councillor Lorraine Dobson are urging residents of flood-prone Port Royal in Kingston to leave now before the worst effects of Hurricane Beryl.

Dobson says about 20 per cent of the over 1,200 residents have left for the National Arena.

Mostly children have left.

"The others now we tried to get out on the bus, they are always reluctant. It's because of where they have to stay, at the arena... they are not comfortable," Dobson says.

Already, sections of the Port Royal main road have been flooded from the sea level rise nearby. 

The Government has issued an evacuation order for low-lying areas. 

Residents of Port Royal notoriously refused to leave during major storm-related emergencies. 

The mayor says buses are still in the area for persons who wish to leave. 

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