BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — Residents of New Town who have managed to reconstruct their roofs after last October’s Hurricane Melissa, say they aren’t taking any chances this hurricane season, utilising reinforcement to secure their houses.

For roof carpenter Andre Bigby and retiree Stennet Lewis, optimism is high that building materials being used can withstand a major hurricane.

“I brought down most of the hurricane straps from the United States (US) and the galvanised nails, as well as roofing shingles. We are using the two-by-six [lumber], so we are getting prepared for everything, hopefully, that by the time hurricanes come everything will be finished and I can come home and live peacefully and relax,” Lewis said on Friday while watching a work crew rebuild the roof of his home in New Town, Black River.

A few houses away, Bigby and his colleague were measuring and installing sheets of zinc.

“We use hurricane straps and some J-bolts. I didn’t have the bolts before; they hold down the plating on the roof where the rafter is nailed to,” he explained.

Seven months after Melissa ripped off the roof of his family home, Bigby finally got to work on replacing the structure, following long days of repairing dozens of roofs in his community.

“I worked on a whole heap of houses. And even in the neighbourhood, I use hurricane straps on those,” he said.

Bigby told the Jamaica Observer that his family home was assessed by representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security following the devastation caused by the category five storm.

“We don’t get any roofing assistance. Everything that you see is on us. We applied for the benefit. We were assessed about three weeks after the storm,” he said.

Bigby recounted how he rode out the storm in a car after seeing a star apple tree falling onto his house, and its roof lifted thereafter.

“When the zinc started to fly, I stood in a room and saw when the roof was shaking. I ran out and went into the car in the garage where I roughed it out for about two weeks,” he said.

Despite his ordeal, he said he is not scared and has overcome the trauma faced during Hurricane Melissa.

“I am not afraid of it again, because I saw everything that happened, so I am not really afraid of it. I am kind of prepared. I hope for the best. I don’t think [another hurricane] is going to be as wicked as before,” he said.

However, unlike Bigby and Lewis, their neighbour Sasha Dillion is worried every time it rains as the roof of the house she is renting has not been repaired.

She aspires to own her own home and so far has acquired land.

“I am scared, because last year the roof came off and we had to run to the neighbours during the hurricane. We had to stay in the front room as everywhere else, there was no roof,” she said.

The effects of Hurricane Melissa has caused her 10-year-old son to have panic attacks whenever there is unstable weather.

“Even if it rains my son gets scared; if the breeze blows too hard, he gets scared and starts crying,” she said.

“I have a piece of land that I own, but I need the help to start something on it. So far I have a couple sheets of zinc. I am trying to get it cleaned up so I can do something. Honestly, I wish the house was on its way so that I wouldn’t have to worry about this hurricane season,” she said.

The thought of the new season has Dillion and her family of four on edge.

“Because I am so worried, so scared. The only thought in my head now is that it might happen again, so if I can get the help to get things started, I would be so appreciative — a structure, so I don’t have to worry about rainfall and having a leak. Basically, if I get a two-bedroom I would be grateful. I just want a start,” she said.

For Lewis, the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa in his hometown of Black River is painful to see. Despite this, he has made up his mind to return home.

“When I left Jamaica and migrated to the US with my father, I joined the military then I retired and became a government service agent, and then I decided that I had enough. My plan is to come home now and get some Jamaican food,” he chuckled.

“I was born here and grew up here, and I wasn’t prepared to come and see what Melissa did to the town where I went to school,” he added.

He is anticipating the Government’s plans to rebuild Black River further inland, but believes visible development and more relief for rebuilding needs to be seen.

“I think they need to show the people that they are really dedicating themselves to do it, so people can say, ‘Yes, the Government is working’. I know every Government has procedures to follow. Some people are going to blame them for not doing things fast enough, but it is all about the procedure,” said Lewis.

Members of the Jamaica Defence Force reconstructing a roof in New Holland near Middle Quarters, St Elizabeth, last Friday. Garfield Robinson

Carpenter Andre Bigby displays one of the J-bolts to be used in reconstructing the roof of his house in New Town, Black River, last Friday. Garfield Robinson

New Town resident Andre Bigby recounts the ordeal of losing his roof during Hurricane Melissa. Garfield Robinson

New Town resident Sasha Dillion rests her head on her hand as she worries about this hurricane season. Garfield Robinson

A goat is the only sign of life at this house, damaged by Hurricane Melissa, in New Town, Black River, last Friday. Garfield Robinson