Lemonal Residents Evacuate Homes Due to TS Sara Related Floods

Downriver from Rancho Dolores, in the quiet village of Lemonal, quite a few residents had to pack up and leave their homes due to rising waters. Most of them are spending the night in shelters, but a handful chose to stay put and brave the swelling river. News Five’s Paul Lopez made his way to the village to get an up-close look at the unfolding flood situation. Here’s his report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

In Lemonal, floodwaters from Tropical Storm Sara have almost reached the levels seen back in November 2020. Many riverside residents are finding their roads completely underwater, making it impossible to reach their homes. Aerial views reveal several roads submerged. Because of this, a boat had to be sent up the river to ferry villagers to a shelter at the village entrance.

 

Margarie McFadzean, Resident, Lemonal

“Hmp, mih house almost under water. We get here from about nine thirty.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And what point did you begin to see the water rise?”

 

Margarie McFadzean

“Water started to rise, well ih mih the up already, but ih come up more, because yesterday we mih the mark regular and when I check the last mark nine oclock it was about and over. Then this morning ih gone triple. Ih done eena kitchen? Sih deh gone home nuh to long.”

 

Margarie McFadzean is talking to her husband, who is lying on the cold concrete steps of the shelter, deep in thought about having to leave his chickens and sheep behind. And then there is Harrison Duhaney who is also seeking shelter in the church. He explained that the road leading to his house is approximately six feet underwater.

 

Harrison Duhaney, Resident, Lemonal

“Weh happen If you have a lee skiff you could take a look, but I don’t know how long this water will stay here. A lot of people get affected on both sides. That side and this side and so we are transferring some people right now to get rescue by the church. From there we have people coming down. WE have the boat running up suh. My spot really bad. I cant get no access nothing. I cant do nothing home there, nothing, everything for me is under water.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How high is the water on the roadway, can you walk it?”

 

Harrison Duhaney

“That is about five, six feet I will say. No you cant walk it. Ih nuh suh easy. Yo could if you are use to it. All like me, I could walk it, because I use to it. It is coming up very fast. Like every hour it is at a certain level, like maybe six, seven inches every hour.”

 

There’s no use trying to reach any of the homes where the roads are flooded. The memories of November 2020 still haunt the residents, leaving them fearful of being trapped if they stay inside. Despite this, Albert Banner and his sister have chosen to remain in their home, even as the floodwaters creep up from the river, nearly reaching their porch. They’ve taken to using a canoe to navigate to and from their elevated wooden house.

 

Albert Banner, Resident, Lemonal

“Well this water come down like four days ago. But, it is the first time I witnessed it like that, because I lived in the states for a while. I’m staying here right now.”

 

Paul Lopez

“I gather that usually you could walk out.”

 

Albert Banner

“Nah, well yeah in the dry season you could walk out.”

 

Albert Banner

“Well I got to use my canoe to help my sister and thing.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How concerning is it that the water continues to rise?”

 

Albert Banner

“Well, I was asking her if it ever come this high before. She says yes, it comes here like five years before and higher. She told me it went into her house like a foot and a half.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What are your plans, what will you do for the rest of the day?”

 

Albert Banner

“Well we just monitor it you know, and if I got to move her away I will move her to a higher ground.”

During our visit, residents were informed that aid was on its way for those in the shelter.

 

Albert Banner

“It is the risk of living on the riverside.”

 

Margarie McFadzean

“Yes, but it is sweet on the riverside, sweet on the riverside.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.