KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie said that based on assessment conducted after the weekend long flood rains that swept the country, damage has been estimated at $492 million dollars.

He said the assessment of the municipal infrastructure by the ministry’s technical team and the local authorities so far revealed damage estimated at a total of $139.8 million across three parishes, with St Elizabeth estimated at $23.5 million, St Thomas at $30 million and Clarendon at $86.3 million. In a statement in the House of Representatives this afternoon, McKenzie said that Clarendon alone, based on information from the National Meteorological Service, had almost 10 inches of rain dumped on that parish in two days.The minister further stated that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has reported that incidents of flooding has affected residents in 11 communities in the parishes of Clarendon, St Thomas, Portland, St Mary, St Elizabeth, St James and in St Catherine. He said land slippage was evident in at least five communities in the parishes of Clarendon, Portland, St Thomas, and at least one incident occurred in the parish of St Catherine. Meanwhile, a total of 49 people visited shelters in Clarendon and St Thomas from Saturday to Sunday of last weekend. All shelters were deactivated on Sunday.He further stated that ODPEM paid special attention to the parish of Clarendon, which he said was the most seriously affected parish. He said a request was made by the Clarendon Municipal Corporation for the ODPEM to intervene during the passage of the rain, adding that no other municipality made a request. However, McKenzie emphasised that the ODPEM stands ready to provide any post event assistance that they may require. He said that various ministries and agencies are assessing the full impact of the rains, adding that the social impact is of great concern and the ministry of labour and social security along with the poor relief department and the local authorities, and several voluntary agencies are gathering the necessary information, with the intention to use this information to implement a comprehensive assistance program to restore dignity to the affected citizens.He said details of the program will be shared with the House in due course.Shanica Blair