A tornado-like wind swept through Penal Saturday, knocking over trees and swiping off the roof of a house of a family of six. The Heeralal family, of Laltoo Trace, spent the night huddled under a blue tarpaulin, praying that the rains would ease and they would get their roof rebuilt. Shrimattee Sookdeo, 45, said she was at home with her children Tina Heeralal, 19, Sheldon Boodoo, 26, Durvesh Boodoo, 24, daughter-in-law Maya Samlal, 29, and husband Ramesh Heeralal, 46, when the incident took place. Sookdeo said that after taking a rest, she got up and went to the kitchen. “I saw the tornado spinning,” she said. “All the trees were blowing and the rain was drizzling.
“Just at that moment, the roof started to blow off...I thought it was a hurricane and I started to pray.” She said her appliances, furniture and groceries became soaked in the rain. The galvanise sheets blew as far as 300 feet and became lodged in a mango tree about 30 feet high. Pieces of debris from the roof, as well as fallen tree branches, blocked the road. Sookdeo said the family needed help to restore the rafters and the roof. She said the family stayed awake all of Saturday night, hoping that the rain would not fall. “It was scary experience for all of us but at least we are getting some help,” Sookdeo said.
Several of Heeralal’s neighbours came out to render assistance. Nita Koong- Beharry said she saw the tornado moving in the bushes behind her home before it struck the Heeralal’s home. “My husband was washing wares and when I saw it, I called him,” she said. “We both get concerned because we know our neighbour lives in a wooden house.” Officials of Penal Debe Regional Corporation’s disaster management team, led by co-ordinator Savistra Badall, took two mattresses, a tarpaulin and foodstuff to the family. Badall said the family preferred to stay at their ravaged home for the night.
Minister promises aid
Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal visited the family yesterday and promised aid. “This is clearly an emergency situation...The Heeralal family had a horrific experience when the tornado-like breeze hit their home,” Moonilal told the Guardian. “We intend to offer assistance to this poor family by having a $15,000 grant from the Ministry approved by Tuesday to reconstruct their roof.” The minister also promised to replace household items which were destroyed.
He thanked the disaster management team for its “quick response” in delivering food, mattresses and a tarpaulin to the family after the disaster. Moonilal also said he planned to visit other areas in his constituency affected by the high winds. He said areas along the M-2 Ring Road experienced flash flooding, which destroyed crops. The minister said he had spoken with Social Development Minister Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh and Agriculture Minister Vasant Bharath about rendering assistance to farmers and villagers.
By: Radhica Sookraj
Via: Trinidad Guardian