Grenada families to be relocated

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – Prime Minister Tillman Thomas said today that people affected by the floods in the west coast town of Gouyave will have to be relocated as he urged citizens to be more prepared to deal with the effects of natural disasters.
National disaster officials said while there had not been any loss of lives, a number of houses had been damaged and the town severely affected after the nearby river burst its banks overnight flooding the area.
Weather officials said a trough which dumped more than 12.8 inches of rain on the northern part of the island had been responsible for the floods.
The rains also affected other parts of the island including the parishes of St. Andrew on the east side of the island and St. Mark which is north westerly.
‘As I look at the area I am thinking that we will have to take the necessary steps to relocate some of the affected to safer locations especially those who live close to the river,” Prime Minister Thomas said after touring the area.
Thomas, who is also the Head of the National Emergency Council, said that the situation clearly indicates that there is need to be well prepared to deal with natural disasters.
“Clearly this shows that we have to be prepared, we should be in the dry season but we are experiencing so much rain,” he added.
 Deputy Disaster Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Agency, Terrence Walters, said ‘we  have a situation where not only did the river burst its banks damaging public infrastructure,  but it washed away personal properties,” adding that many houses had been suffered infrastructural damage. (CMC)