AS residents of Georgetown and coastal Guyana continue to brace themselves for the severe high tides forecasted by the Meteorological Department last week, they nearly panicked yesterday when a heavy downpour of rain caused a worrying accumulation of water in several villages along the Demerara Coast.

Windsor Forest and Canal Number Two on the western section of the Demerara Coast were inundated, as were the villages of Mon Repos and Annandale on the eastern section of the Demerara Coast.

Most severely hit were the Georgetown communities of North and South Ruimveldt, Kitty, Lodge and those business areas in downtown Georgetown. Certain yards on Regent Road and in Upper Bourda were well under water also.

Throughout the day, the mood was bleak, and children in particular were forced to remain indoors.

Threatening since late Friday night, the deluge began in earnest at around 09:00hrs yesterday; and within half-an-hour, several yards and, not least, commercial areas around the city where drains and culverts are clogged, were inundated. Water in outfall channels in the La Penitence, Ruimveldt and Bourda areas reached a record high.

As the rain continued and the accumulation level rose, topping 8” in record time, citizens began fearing ‘double-trouble’ should this scenario be combined with the anticipated overtopping of the Georgetown seawalls.

Persons were also fearful that, should the weather persist, it would dampen the much-anticipated Independence Anniversary ‘Flag Raising Ceremony’ at the National Park.

But prayers were answered, and the rain ceased towards the end of the day, even though the flooded condition made ingress and egress in many areas difficult and unsafe after dark.

In a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle late yesterday, acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Mr. Lionel Wordsworth, revealed that the agency and the GuySuCo pumps are working to pump out the water from inundated coastal communities, although there were some mechanical problems being experienced with the pump at Annandale.

He promised that the problem would be very quickly resolved, and assured residents of the affected communities that the NDIA is working feverishly to bring them some measure of relief.

And Town Clerk, Carol Sooba said in an invited comment that “all the kokers are functioning, and there is nothing for residents to be scared about.” Sooba said the City is hoping that the water would recede later in the afternoon.