Strong winds lifted the roofs of at least three houses at Arch Hall, St Thomas earlier today, leaving residents in a state of shock.
Arch Hall was one of the areas affected by the steady downpour of rain and gusty winds which had Barbados under a flood warning which was only discontinued two hours ago at 4 p.m.
“I was in my lounge chair laying down watching television when I hear this whistling sound coming from on top. The next thing I looked I saw my rooftop flying through the air” says one resident.
Sixty-five-year-old Barton Corbin says it is the worst type of rain and wind he has ever experienced in his 42-odd years living in that district.
“I know when (Hurricane) Janet hit Barbados, I was living in St Peter then, but nothing like that whistling noise I heard,” declared Corbin who lives in the two-bedroom wooden home alone.
The tornado-like wind struck the St Thomas neighbourhood around 10 p.m. Sunday.
The home of Winston Alleyne and his girlfriend Maxine Harris was also damaged. They only knew their house top was gone by the gust of wind when neighbours shouted for them.
Damage was also done to the house occupied by 48-year-old Cecil Williams.
None of the three houses or their contents were insured but community spirited residents were busy up to late today trying to repair some of the damage to their neighbours’ houses.