Impacts of Feeder Bands Associated with Hurricane Tammy Cause Flooding in Barbados Communities

Several communities were impacted by feeder bands associated with Hurricane Tammy earlier on Saturday.

The bad weather continued from a night of heavy downpours and lightning, even as the tropical storm watch for Barbados was discontinued.

By 11 a.m. steady rainfall across the island caused large pools of water to settle in certain areas, which eventually led to flooding in a number of districts such as Murphy’s Pasture and surrounding communities.

Several roads in the Bridgetown area were flooded. Pedestrians were spotted bundling up at the entry of various stores and businesses trying to shelter from the rain.

Motorists travelling in Christ Church communities such as Oistins, Rockley and Hastings slowly maneuvered through water.

Those travelling along Thornbury Hill also had some difficulty as the rains caused damage to sections of the road in that area.

Residents in 2nd Avenue Dover, Christ Church, also complained about the drainage along that tourism belt.

The residents, who did not state their names, said they were concerned that flooding was fast becoming the norm in their district and surrounding areas as more apartments and condominiums are being constructed.

One woman said: “This never used to happen and I have been living here for 30 years. I think we are building too many buildings and have too many people living too close to the sea and it is putting pressure on the drainage systems in the area”.

A number of events were also impacted by the weather.

The Junior Chef Competition and the Bajan Fair, two of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival activities that were scheduled to take place at Kensington Oval, were postponed until next Saturday because of the inclement weather.

A rally, in support of Palestine, to take place in front of the United States Embassy in Wildey, St Michael, was also postponed to next Saturday due to the weather.

It was an unusual church service today at Amazing Grace Seventh Day Adventist Church in Fairfield, Black Rock, St Michael. The showers flooded out the large tent where services are held causing churchgoers to wade through almost knee-high water.

However, around 2 p.m. the BMS issued a statement downgrading a flash-flood warning to a flash-flood watch and by 6 p.m. the met office stated on its website that the general forecast for the island was “clear with periods with a few scattered light to moderate showers”.