CHIGWELL, Hanover — It took six months for flood waters to subside after they partially submerged Patrick Wilson’s house in Chigwell, Hanover, in 2010. Understandably he, like many other Jamaicans, is now waiting for Tropical Storm Melissa to decide on her path.

Wilson has not yet decided whether he will vacate before the unwelcome guest arrives. He thinks he will have time to act before it becomes dire.

“We think about it [Melissa] a little still because we know when the rain fall, the road block. Big problem that, you know; but like say to move out, mi nuh really think about that part yet. Mi would have to see it first because water nuh come on us suddenly; it takes like a day coming in and the rain ah fall couple days well,” Wilson told the Jamaica Observer during a visit to the community Thursday.

Chigwell and the nearby community of Forest in Hanover Eastern are known for recurring flooding during prolonged rainfall. Wilson has vowed to move more quickly than he did in 2010 when the rapidly rising flood waters caught him off guard.

“It come up so fast. Because when we ah come out of this house the water in the yard and by the time wi fi move out, that water was in the verandah. Very fast it comes up,” he said.

Member of Parliament Andrea Purkiss is concerned that Melissa will be a challenge for a number of communities within the constituency.

“In Chigwell, Success and Forest, that deep rural area of the constituency, I am even more worried about them because with constant rainfall, they experience heavy flooding,” she said.

Purkiss said she will speak with Councillor Wynter McIntosh, in whose Chester Castle Division the communities fall, about the issue.

On Thursday, chief executive officer of the Hanover Municipal Corporation David Gardner told the Observer that Chigwell and Forest are not the only worry.

“The entire parish is our concern. While we know that by virtue of its location Lucea is below sea level and it floods easily, there are other flood-prone areas in the parish that we would have on our radar and would have a deep interest in. Chigwell is one of them. But we are aware of the key areas that are prone to flooding. And, of course, our shelter managers are on high alert and all our shelters would have been inspected and are ready for activation,” Gardner said.

He noted that should the need arise, an alert will be sent for people living in flood-prone areas to be evacuated.

Apart from Chigwell and Forest, Riley River (also called Lucea West River) in the capital town is also of concern. Flooding in sections of Lucea, which last occurred in September, is caused by the river overflowing its banks due to blockage caused by bamboo flowing from the hills whenever it rains heavily.

On Thursday, workmen could be seen burning and removing bamboo from Riley River. They were also pushing some of the sturdy plants under the bridge towards the sea.

National Works Agency community relations officer for the western region Janel Ricketts told the Observer that the agency is hoping to have the bamboo substantially cleared by the weekend.