RESIDENTS residing in communities along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) received some assistance from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance Neighbourhood Democratic Council, after heavy rainfall flooded their homes.

On Monday, heavy rainfall ushered in the November to January rainy season, and the ECD communities of Success, Mon Repos, Good Hope, Annandale, Lusignan and Goedverwagting were particularly hard hit.

The CDC, Monday afternoon, deployed assessment teams to communities affected by flooding. According to a press release from the CDC, the hardest hit villages were Mon Repos North (35 households), Good Hope (140 households), Annandale North (140 households), and Goedverwagting (eight households). To provide some relief, cleaning and sanitising hampers were distributed to affected households.

Chairman of the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Ayube Mohammed, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said the Council was actively attempting to remedy the situation. Mohammed also told this newspaper that the CDC engaged the NDC before coming to provide the assistance.

The NDC, reacting to the flooding, sprang into action, attempting to get the three pumps in close proximity working. Cleaning works had to be done at the Mon Repos drainage pump before the pump could be operationalised, while the pump at Annandale could only work at half-capacity since one of its two engines was being repaired.

According to the Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Guyana is currently transitioning into the secondary or short rainy season which typically lasts from mid-November to January.

“Atmospheric conditions are favourable for the commencement of the rainy season and, therefore, forecasters have high confidence that the transition to the rainy season has begun,” the Hydrometeorological service said and added that “This means that an increase in rainfall activity over the coming weeks and into the next three months is expected.”

Though an increase in accumulated rainfall is expected, it is not expected that there will be rainfall every day throughout the season. Instead, it is forecasted that there will be periods with reduced or no rainfall as well as periods of excessive rainfall.

The Hydrometeorological service, however, advised that persons should be prepared as the potential impact of the rainy season on lives, livelihoods and infrastructure is well known.

The CDC is advising residents of riverain, low-lying and flood-prone areas to take all necessary precaution and to contact the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 226-1114, 623-1700 and 600-7500, should they be affected.