SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — It’s become an almost annual event: structures in flood prone areas of Westmoreland become filled with murky flood waters.

However, this year some residents are trying something new. They’re raising the base of their houses and business places.

“Weh mi a go do a lift the building so when rain fall, the water nuh come inside. A dat everybody haffi do. All down the road right now people a lift up them house fi prepare fi the hurricane season,” said Junior Keddo who has operated an appliance repair shop on Dalling Street for more than 20 years.

The problem, he said, is the drains.

“The drain dem, when dem clean, don’t clean properly; so the water don’t get to run off properly. The water just come right up back and flood we out so we haffi do wah we haffi do,” Keddo told the Jamaica Observer.

He has battled the flood waters for years, he said. Usually he ensures clients’ appliances being worked on are placed on high shelves inside his shop, then he closes up and goes home.

This year, the “lifting” of buildings has become a bit of a trend.

Keddo’s neighbour, Mark Doctor, also plans to elevate both his restaurant on Dalling Street and his house in Llandilo. It will be costly.

“Mi haffi go carry up the floor and that naah go cheap. A bag of cement is for $1,300…,” said Doctor.

The process involves adding blocks and cement to the existing structure. It means first removing all the furniture, then the existing flooring — such as tiles — and adding another layer of concrete and bocks before replacing the tiles and furniture.

“I’m raising my house as well even though yesterday… the drains up that side [Llandilo] were cleaned. But if them did constantly clean the drain, then we’d be good,” Doctor told the Observer.

He’s particularly concerned about flooding in downtown Savanna-la-Mar. The water comes from uptown whenever it rains, he said.

“The feeder drain is from Great George’s Street, so all the water comes rushing down and comes and back up down here. It’s a slope coming down [from Great George’s Street], so all the water comes back down to this side,” he told the Observer.

Residents are not the only ones concerned. Councillor Rudolph Uter (Jamaica Labour Party, Frome Division) said he is extremely worried about the impact the upcoming hurricane season could have on the area he represents. The land is flat and he has been trying to ensure the drains remain clear.

“We did a lot of drain cleaning last year. Some of the major drains were cleaned but… now we have some areas — like Three Miles River, Bath, and down in the George’s Plain area, even by Frome there — [where] I did some drain cleaning… and I’m trying to get some assistance from Pan Caribbean again,” he said.

“Most of the areas that flood are on the main road and that’s the responsibility of the National Works Agency. So, I try to maintain the little ones in my area. I was even out [on June 1] trying to look at some of them to get them properly cleaned. But we are hoping for the best,” Uter told the Observer.

In McNeil Land, Councillor Ian Myles (People’s National Party, Little London Division) spoke about the long history of extensive flooding that keeps residents on edge throughout the hurricane season.

“These days you can’t even predict weather patterns any more because of what’s happening with global warning and the climatic conditions; so there’s a serious concern,” Myles stated.

He said although they have received funds to clean drains in preparation for the hurricane season, it is not enough for areas like McNeil Land.

“The geographic location causes most of the problems in McNeil Land. We have attended to drains over the years and the place was still flooded. This year we have just gotten some funding from council, which is never enough to do drain cleaning. The way in which McNeil Land is situated, it is difficult. We’re going to need [heavy duty] equipment to do some of those drains… The funding is inadequate as always for that area. The number of areas that we have — like Paul Island, which also has some flooding, the Bay Road area, and the top road — it (funding) is just inadequate,” he said.

He is appealing to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to give special attention to McNeil Land this year in order to keep flood damage to a minimum.

According to Myles, in addition to clogged drains there are other factors that contribute to the problems seen in McNeil Land.

“We are below sea level, so… we also have to be paying specific attention to the ravine where the river meets the sea, because sand will wash from the sea and block the mouth of the river. In that case, when the water comes down, most times it’s easily filled, then it overflows its bank and then it’s deposited into McNeil. So there’s a combination of factors that we have to be looking into,” he told the Observer.

Myles said even though safety measures being put in place for the hurricane season include the establishment of several emergency shelters, he does not believe they will be fully prepared.

“There are shelters which will be activated so we are prepared. The Red Cross and other agencies are always on board to respond to whatever disasters we may have. But we can never be fully prepared in McNeil Land. Sometimes it’s just to pray to God to ask Him not to give us that heavy or consistent downpour. As a leader, every time it rains my head hurts because of the particular situation that surrounds that area,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Bethel Town, Councillor Danree Delancy (PNP) said while they are not overly concerned about flooding, they have another problem.

“We have a lot of landslides in York, Amity, [and] Retreat. Normally at this time of the year we try to sensitise certain persons in these areas, for them to be extra careful in cases of extensive rainfall. We don’t want them to go to bed and sleep too sound because in the past, we have seen houses move,” he said.

“We have areas where four or five houses might be affected by flooding but it’s not a big concern. …Currently I’m awaiting some drain cleaning funds, so when that comes through I have certain priority areas that need cleaning. We have been cleaning some drains from as early as last month, but I need some funding to do a comprehensive drain cleaning,” he told the Observer.