A banana field under water from the flood rains.

WESTERN BUREAU - Twenty-three year-old Dane Eubanks of Southfield, St Elizabeth was well aware of the approach of Hurricane Charley to the island, but the furthest thought from his mind was a devastating effect on his property and that of other residents in the farming community.

Eubanks said he went to his bed at about 9:00 pm on Wednesday due to the torrential rains that the community was experiencing. But just two hours later he was awakened by a cousin from another room who shouted to him that the house was under flood water.

He told the Observer that when he jumped up he found that his bed was moving around the room, which was under water.

Farmer Bunny Watson of Southsfield in St Elazabeth prepares to place a goat in a wheelbarrow to be buried. Watson was one of the many farmers affected by floods from Hurricane Charley on Wednesday night.

"I tried to save what I could save before I came out," Eubanks said. "When I came outside the water reached me at my waist."

At the same time, farmers from Southfield said they lost millions of dollars worth of ground provision because of the flooding caused by the hurricane.

Dane Eubanks points to a mark at the side of his house to indicate the level where the flood water reached in the heavy rains from Hurricane Charley.

One of the farmers, Walcott James, said his three acres of carrots, water melon, beet root, tomato, sweet pepper and sweet potato were destroyed. He said the flood damage has left him in a 'destitute' position.

".I wouldn't mind if I can get one bag of moul' and a tin of carrot seed, any aid that can come," James. "I deh right pon mi face yah now sah," he added.

Flood water covers what was Walcott James' carrot field in Southside, St Elizbeth. James said he lost almost $300,000 worth of crops. (Photos: Vivian Tyson)

"I have a wife and six children.Mi neighbour them offer me assistance and mi haffi lean pon me Lord Jesus Christ same way," said the distressed farmer.

Another farmer, Bunny Watson, said he lost five goats, a number of chickens and farm produce, including bananas. He said that even his two dogs were killed in the floods.

Watson's house was also flooded resulting in the loss of a number of furniture and household articles. "Mi lose television, video, fridge, stove and nuff more things." said Walcott. He said that as a result of the flood he had to be staying with neighbours in the community. . That's all mi can do," he added.

At the same time, Jennifer Eubanks said her half-acre tomato crop has been wiped out. "That's all we have and it is that (tomato crop) that we depended on. I have seven children and we all depend on farming. I have one (child) who is sick bad and is to do some scan now and I was depending on the farm to do it," Eubanks told the Observer on Thursday.

Another farmer, Lloyd Cohen, said that in addition to losing livestock and crops, the roof of his house was blown off, and he too had to be staying with friends.

".The rain came with lightning and wind and rain. As a matter of fact, the rain didn't fall, a pour it pour," Cohen quipped.

The farmers said most of their farm produce was ready for reaping, and appealed for help.

On Thursday some of the affected areas were toured by South East St Elizabeth Member of Parliament Lenworth Blake and chairman of Generation 2000, Chris Tufton, who has an interest in representing South St Elizabeth for the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).Tufton is the vice chairman for the JLP in the constituency.

Blake said that he would be seeking to assist the affected persons in getting back on their feet.

In the meanwhile, the Jamaica Public Service Company has been restoring electricity to a number of the affected areas.

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