MILE GULLY, Manchester — Haunted by the traumatic experience of his house in New Pond, near here, being flooded and its roof damaged by Hurricane Melissa seven months ago, 82-year-old Joslyn Chronicle was joyful on Labour Day as volunteers reconstructed and improved his dwelling in time for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The stroke survivor recalled how heavy and persistent rain from the Category 5 hurricane pushed stones inside his house.

“God kept me, because the water came and I was on the bed and I saw the water come straight in and come on the verandah and come straight in around to the back door and go into the bathroom. I couldn’t step down onto the bed. The water [eventually] ran out before I could come out,” he said on Monday.

“I had four strokes and the doctor said he can’t believe I am still alive,” Chronicle said, while expressing gratitude for his reconstructed house.

Deputy mayor of Mandeville Councillor Rohan Kennedy (People’s National Party, Mile Gully Division) led the team of volunteers who reconstructed Chronicle’s house.

The scope of work included ceiling and roof reconstruction, door and window changes, as well as painting.

“I give thanks and respect to them, all down to the ground that they walk on. Mr Kennedy promised that he would see to the building and he has seen to it. He fulfilled his promise,” said Chronicle, who lives alone but is cared for by close neighbours.

Kennedy said Chronicle is one of many residents whose house was damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025.

“The house was severely damaged during Melissa. He actually had to be removed by his neighbour, who had him for days,” the councillor said while promising that drainage works will be done around Chronicle’s house.

We plan on digging away the banking and making it wider, so that the water can actually flow easier. We are also building a retaining wall,” he added.

With less than a week before the start of the hurricane season, Kennedy said shelters are at an advanced stage of readiness with some being repaired.

“We don’t know what the prediction [is] for this year. We are hoping that it will be below normal. In terms of preparation for Manchester, we are looking at the shelters and finalising preparations for repair and just basically putting things in place, so [they] will be able to accommodate the worst in case anything happens,” he said, while pointing to the efforts being made by residents in areas such as New Pond.

“The truth be told, it is a really resilient community [of] farmers, and based on their experience of Melissa their preparation is really in high gear this year… The focus is really preparing in whichever way you can, because even since last week we were on another project where we replaced some zinc and did ceiling reconstruction. This is a tight-knit community where people volunteer and work together to help each other,” he said.

Further works are being done to mitigate and reduce flooding in Manchester.

“Presently, we are cleaning drains, because we know that we have a lot of flood-prone areas in the parish, so the emphasis now in terms of preparation is drain cleaning,” said Kennedy.

He said the road in New Pond is among those set for repairs following damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

“That road is actually a municipal road, it is on the list to be repaired anytime now in the very near future,” he said.

Kennedy also lauded New Pond residents and those from neighbouring communities for partaking in the Labour Day project at Chronicle’s house.

“You see a lot of young people here who came out willingly to help. The energy is high and the participation is good, so I am very pleased about that,” said Kennedy.

Deputy Mayor of Mandeville Councillor Rohan Kennedy installs a new door at Joslyn Chronicle’s house in New Pond near Mile Gully in Manchester on Labour Day. (Photos: Kasey Williams)

Deputy Mayor of Mandeville Councillor Rohan Kennedy about to instal a new door at Joslyn Chronicle’s house in New Pond near Mile Gully in Manchester on Labour Day.

Volunteers Kayla (from left) Powell and Noel Brown painting Joslyn Chronicle’s house in New Pond near Mile Gully in Manchester on Labour Day.