Port Royal caught between tradition and danger

For many residents of flood-prone communities, weathering a hurricane at home is considered foolhardy. However, for residents of Port Royal in Kingston – one of several communities ordered to evacuate by the Government due to Hurricane Melissa – doing so is regarded as a rite of passage.

Here, the popular phrase “young bird don’t know storm” is an insult. So parents, capitalising on the projected perils of the Category 5 hurricane, relished the opportunity to expose their children to the onslaught. Despite repeated warnings from the authorities to evacuate, leaving Port Royal - just like in many storms before - was never an option for them. Flouting such directives has become the culture here.

“You have to understand, you see that likkle saying, say ‘young bud nuh know storm’? People don’t like that over here. So even the likkle youth them, ll they want to do is to experience it over here. You can’t grow up in Port Royal and never go through a storm here,” explained resident Mark Gold.

Yesterday, as the winds from the approaching hurricane grew stronger, sending metre-high waves crashing ashore on the destructive side of the Palisadoes main road, leading to Port Royal, Gold and other Port Royal residents remained calm, sipping alcohol, playing dominoes and ludo, and milling about freely. Shortly before midday, there was nothing to be worried about, they said.

“I’ve survived Gilbert, and that was the largest hurricane that we have and it sliced through the country. I have confidence in the cays that are out there that break the waves, because our main threat over here is the tidal surge. The water will come over, but I have confidence in the cays to protect us. And you can see it; the people are going about their business as usual,” continued Gold, as a team of youngsters pulled fallen tree branches which, they said, they were taking to feed their goats.

Port Royal was among seven flood-prone communities along the island’s southern coast that were given mandatory evacuation orders by the Government earlier this week. That list also included Riverton Meadows, and Taylor Land in Bull Bay, St Andrew, where residents openly criticised the Government’s decision to ask them to move.

Taylor Land is sandwiched between two major waterways, the Chalky River to the east and the Version Gully to the west, residents said. They are fully aware of the possibility of the waterways breaking their banks, but said they would rather prepare for that occurrence, rather than evacuate their homes to shelters in the area, which they deem as even less secure.

“Me see big New Kingston a flood out before and the Government never tell anybody to evacuate, so why must we run away and leave our house dem? We are good around here. Tell the prime minister and his wife to send some care packages for us; is food we want,” chanted Stephanie Pryce, as she and others gathered along a roadway in the community. “The shelter that they have for us doesn’t stay good, so I could never leave my house and go in there.”

The St Benedict’s Primary School was among the shelters designated for the Kingston East communities. At midmorning there were only a handful of occupants, a reality that Shelter Manager Oneil Robinson believed would change once the heavy wind and rain started to pick up. Occupants bemoaned the lack of food at the shelter, but Robinson explained that food was not expected until after 72 hours - until occupants are required to utilise their own supplies.

Meanwhile, in Riverton Meadows, some residents expressed concern that their homes would be looted if they should leave the area; while others, including Shelter Manager Lorna Taylor were concerned about the structural integrity of the Riverton Meadows Early Childhood Centre, the closest designated shelter for the community.

There, more than 20 adults and their children had already turned up, most out of fear that their homes would be destroyed by the hurricane. As the inclement weather dumped rainfall outside the building, they spent the time playing dominoes and ludo.

Hazel Anderson, councillor for the area, said her day was spent checking in on vulnerable individuals in the communities.

“Not everybody wants to leave their houses. I went for an elderly lady in the community this morning and she told me she was not leaving her yard. So I just left some food money with her, and asked somebody to cook some food for her,” said Anderson.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com