Heavy rains and flooding turned parts of Trinidad & Tobago into disaster zones · Global Voices
A screengrab of a public warning on the Trinidad & Tobago Meteorological Service's website, alerting citizens to the areas that have been affected by flooding and adverse weather between October 19 and 20, 2018.
The rains that enveloped Trinidad and Tobago on October 19, 2018 started gently, but their initial softness belied their ferocity. They were persistent, relentless, and they got heavier with time. Time turned out to be the thing that turned bad weather from the energetic Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) into a national disaster.
Alerts and public warnings that were sent out via social media channels by Trinidad and Tobago's Meterorological Service and its Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management, on October 19, 2018.
When the deluge began on Friday October 19, many workplaces closed early in an effort to ensure that their employees reached home safely. Still, major causeways were blocked — and if people did manage to reach their homes, many would end up having to abandon them, the flood waters were so high. One family even took refuge on their roof.
Many communities were reeling from the devastating effects of the flooding. By Saturday morning, October 20, Prime Minister <PERSON> was doing walkabouts in some of the worst affected areas. Via Facebook, he noted that there were, thus far, no lives lost, and that his focus was on “the conditions at the shelters, making sure that people housed there have cots, blankets, food and other supplies.”
Officially dubbing the situation a “national disaster”, <PERSON> assured flood victims that the government would find the resources to help. Incidentally, many of the areas that were hardest hit are not part of the ruling party's support base. When relief was slow in coming through official channels, some social media users saw it as an opportunity to play politics. 1019
With one frank comment, Facebook user <PERSON> called that out. To him, this was a time for Trinbagonians to band together, regardless of political affiliation, and help those who were suffering.
Through WhatsApp and other social media channels, the country's Chambers of Commerce (just a few of the organisations that rushed to help) jointly circulated a Google form encouraging people to volunteer for flood relief efforts, which included the donation of food, clothing and cleaning items.
With the continuous rainfall, large sections of the main highway connecting north and south Trinidad remained impassable and many warnings were issued via WhatsApp:
An update by Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Works alerting drivers to the closure of the Uriah Butler Highway due to flooding.
https://globalvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CARONI-BROKE-BANKS.mp4
The nearby Caroni River, the country's largest, broke its banks, causing floodwaters to span the highway. Video footage, shared once more through WhatsApp, showed just how strong the currents were, and therefore how dangerous that made the situation, even as motorists attempted to get past:
https://globalvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/URIAH-BUTLER.mp4
St. Helena, an area close to the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad, was also affected. A video taken by a pilot coming in for a landing was soon widely circulated on WhatsApp. Although some flights were affected by the bad weather, Minister of National Security <PERSON> said that the airport itself was intact:
https://globalvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/PIARCO-LANDING.mp4
In a press conference at 6:00 p.m. on October 20, Prime Minister <PERSON> told the media that the flood waters in the St. Helena area were still high — some areas could be accessed only by boat:
Video sent to me by St Helena resident this morning . She lost everything ! #flood #Trinidad #TrinidadFlood pic.twitter.com/TKOYI7Y4m2
— <PERSON> (@essibasmall) October 20, 2018
He heartily praised the efforts of the communities themselves, saying that volunteers did — and continue to do — yeoman's service. A team of men, for instance, rescued someone who was trapped in a car at Warren Road in the Caroni area [WhatsApp video]:
https://globalvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/WARREN-ROAD.mp4
Another badly affected area was the community of Greenvale Park in La Horquetta, Arima — many residents had to evacuate their homes and seek refuge in emergency shelters:
Evacuation of Greenvale Park Housing Complex in La Horquetta #Trinidad continues. 142