Pre-dawn storm rips zinc sheets from houses
SEVERAL parts of Georgetown were yesterday morning flooded following heavy pre-dawn rainfall, accompanied by unusually high winds and lightning and thunder. The city was even plunged into darkness for a while.
It all started around 03:00hrs, and amidst the howling of the high winds, zinc sheets were ripped from roofs.
In many areas power was restored before 05:00hrs.
The heavy rain stopped around 06:00hrs and came again in earnest around 08:00hrs, causing flooded streets and yards in some areas.
Among those whose houses were affected by the squall was that of the Guyana Chronicle’s Sunday Editor, Linda Rutherford, who was awakened by water rushing through her roof, drenching furniture and electrical appliances
Linda, who lives on Hadfield Street, said she got up and there was water everywhere.
“I couldn’t take the main switch off, because I still needed light to move about as I struggled to get my furniture and electrical appliances out of the way,” she recalled. She spent the entire day yesterday, cleaning, throwing out damaged items and re-organizing the home, even as a carpenter worked on the roof, replacing zinc sheets which the wind had ripped off.
And at the home of Simone Elicock of 99 Castello Housing scheme, zinc sheets also flew off the roof and the rain soaked the living room and other sections of the house.
Meanwhile, several homes in Wortmanville and housing schemes around the city suffered similarly. In North and South Ruimveldt, school yards were flooded and students had to be sent home for the day. (Shirley Thomas)