http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=engResidents in several coastal areas are anxiously watching the waters as high tides overtopped river defences yesterday flooding homes with as much as two feet of water. Flooding was reported at Friendship on the East Bank Demerara, several villages on the West Demerara as well as along the Pomeroon River in Region Two. A section of the revetment at the Kofi Canal outlet at Friendship was washed away by the high waters causing overtopping and resulting in an excavator being deployed there. However, it arrived too late yesterday to be put into operation. Versailles, Patentia, Goed Fortuin and Vreed-en-Hoop were affected by the high waters on the West Demerara. In the Pomeroon flooding was also reported with several feet of water said to have inundated some areas. On a visit to Friendship yesterday, this newspaper was told that the high waters had overtopped the river defence since Monday but yesterday the highest level of flooding yet was seen with some areas covered with as much as two feet of water. Residents said that a portion of the revetment at the Kofi channel had been washed away resulting in more water pouring through. They reported that during the high tide water had run over the main road there.
The Safari Hotel Inn Restaurant and Bar located close to the Demerara river in that community was under several inches of water when Stabroek News visited yesterday. A teenager who said that he lived there said that earlier in the day as much as two feet of water was present in the building and the water was running over the main road. He said that the hotel had one guest who was forced to leave as "everything duck". He noted that some items were damaged including two generators and some household articles. He said that he had seen persons "packing bags" at the damaged revetment but when the water rose again they were overwhelmed and the "bags wash away". He noted that the area was periodically flooded during high tides but yesterday was "the highest I ever see it come". Other residents in the area close to the canal were also affected by the high water and anxiety was expressed over the next high tide. Meanwhile the Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) in a release stated that an excavator has been deployed to carry out immediate works at Friendship and the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Works and Communications were collaborating to ensure that the necessary actions are taken to reduce the impact of the high tides on the Drainage and Irrigation system and the sea defences. Several areas on the West Demerara had their river defences overtopped by the high waters with Versailles seeming to be the most affected. Several attempts to contact the Chairman of that region, Julius Faerber for a comment on the issue were futile. GINA meanwhile stated that an excavator was contracted by the Regional Administration to carry out emergency work at Versailles which included the placing of clay bags to raise the sea dam and protect the area from overtopping during the next high tide.
The statement said that Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn visited the affected areas yesterday and squatting and rearing of animals on the sea defences and reserves were raised as issues of great concern. Meantime, reports emanating from the Pomeroon area stated that flooding was also occurring there due to the high tides with some areas being covered with several feet of water. Efforts to contact Region Two Chairman, Alli Baksh on the issue proved futile. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud told Stabroek News last evening that wave heights of 2.75 metres were usually recorded during high tides but during the current one, levels of about 3.25 metres were being seen. GINA said that the current high tide period is expected to conclude on Saturday and there will be constant monitoring of the situation.
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