Flood of losses hits carpenter
Published:Tuesday | October 6, 2020 | 6:23 AMJason Cross/Gleaner Writer
Dwayne McKoy is bemoaning hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of losses at his woodwork shop next to his house in the Hampton Green area of Spanish Town, St Catherine, due to the torrential rainfall experienced across the island since Sunday.
While flooding isn’t strange to the Grant Crescent section of the community, he said that the weather system passing by the island, which has now developed into Tropical Storm Delta, triggered the worst flooding in the area in many years.
He told The Gleaner that the water in his shop measured up to six feet and expressed concern that crocodiles could be lurking about in the murky water.
“Whole heap a board damage up. Expensive machines that were hoisted in the air drop off. The jointer, the air compressor, the table saw and I have some dressers that got wet. Whole heap a material. It’s hard and probably the damage cost over $800,000 in equipment, material and finished items,” he said.
McKoy blamed the situation on poorly maintained drains and voiced fear that the situation could worsen as the rains continue.
“There is a drain behind my woodwork shop that was supposed to be cleaned to send the water go St John’s Road side that don’t clean. That’s where the problem is,” he continued. “The worst thing about it is that you have some crocodiles that normally come out. We had a dog at our house and dem eat the dog some time last year.”
McKoy said that although Grant Crescent was recently rehabilitated, the drains were not cleared.
“It’s a situation that keeps on plaguing us. Where we live is flat, so water comes from left and right and settles where we live. There was a drain that was to be made but was never made,” he claimed.