Linden freak storm victims picking up the pieces

A number of residents at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, are now trying to get back on their feet following a rain storm on Tuesday evening which damaged rooftops and caused one house to collapse.
Speaking with Guyana Times International on Wednesday, one affected resident, Diana Plowell, who lives in a two-storey home with her family of six at Hopetown Square, Amelia’s Ward, said she is still trying to come to grips with the after effects of the storm, which was accompanied by heavy winds.

The roof of the upper flat of her home was partially covered by a tarpaulin. She estimated her losses to be around Gy$ 700,000. “The computer, printer, five beds – a double, single, bunk, queen and a king sized bed were all destroyed, even the bed frames, and chair sets. We don’t know if we would be able to use them again. Our pillows and carpet smell terrible with all the moisture from the rain water,” the visibly emotional woman indicated.
When this newspaper visited Plowell’s home, she was putting the pillows, carpets, chairs and other household items in the yard, so that they could catch some sunlight. Occasionally, she had to run outside when it started to rain to bring these items back in the house.
“I don’t know how we can deal with it. All the children’s school books and textbooks got destroyed and I have one in Grade Four and the other one preparing to write CSEC Exams. My son had all his textbooks and he and he friends were working on SBAs that same night when the storm hit,” she related.
Plowell lives in the upper flat of the home with her children ages eight to 19, while her grandson is nine-months-old. A tree located at the back of the yard was also rooted out during the storm.
Plowell, whose husband is currently overseas, said the wardrobe she recently bought from Courts for Gy$ 150,000 was also totally destroyed. She said too that shortly before a visit by this newspaper, members of the Guyana Relief Council paid the family a visit and told them that they would try to assist them with 10 zinc sheets.
Plowell, who refused to have her family’s photograph taken, said she would be happy for any assistance the family could receive, as her family is currently taking refuge at a neighbour’s house.
The woman said she was not at home when the storm struck, as she was attending a seminar in Georgetown. “My daughter was asleep in the bedroom, she said she hear the rain falling and then suddenly felt rainwater hitting her on the bed. When she opened her eyes, she saw the zinc sheets off the roof,” Plowell said.
She said it is hard trying to put the family’s life back together. “I cried this morning because I couldn’t believe this had happened to us,” she said despairingly.
Meanwhile, most families affected by the storm have already started to fix the damage to their homes. One such family was the Hero family, who reside at Central Amelia’s Ward. The roof of their house was blown off during the storm.