A STORM tore roofs from several homes across the borough of Siparia, leaving families with soaked beds and other damaged property yesterday.
At least nine houses were reportedly affected as strong winds ripped away galvanised-iron sheets and, in some instances, tore off entire roofs.
In the Palo Seco district, at least four homes sustained damage in communities including Palo Seco Settlement, Number Nine Road and Number Four Road, and Taylor Avenue in Quinam.
GONE: The roof of this house owned by 70-year-old Angela Paul which was ripped off yesterday during the storm on Taylor Avenue in Siparia.
MAJOR DAMAGE: Tenisha Pascall looks at the house of her grandmother Angela Paul, 70, on Taylor Avenue in Siparia, that was damaged in yesterday’s storm.
Local government councillor for Palo Seco Anton George spoke to the Express on Taylor Avenue, where the roof of a house owned by 70-year-old Angela Paul was ripped off by the heavy winds during the storm. Paul’s house is currently unoccupied, but two of her relatives were preparing to move in the coming weeks, Paul’s granddaughter Tenisha Pascall told the Express.
Pascall said she was in her home when the storm occurred around 11.36 a.m.
“The area experienced a lot of hard breeze and things were flying. I heard a bang, and my daughter asked me if I heard it. In a group chat there was a post that a roof from a house blew off. I made some calls and someone told me it was my grandmother’s house that it happened,” she recalled.
She continued: “I was surprised by this because I did not realise the winds were that bad to blow off a roof. I feel for my relatives because I know they were fixing it to move in soon.”
George said several residents reported that the interior of their homes were soaked after rain entered the damaged houses, causing further damage to appliances and leaving beds waterlogged. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The Disaster Management Unit responded and distributed cots to affected residents as officials began assessing the extent of the damage.
George said, “We’re just really asking for help for the homes that were affected as soon as possible. We know that these things take a while, but the Disaster Management Unit of Siparia is doing their part, taking the information and passing it on to the ministry. We’re just asking that the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services does not hesitate to assist these individuals who have been affected as soon as possible.”
