Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Despite the threat of Hurricane Dean it was business as usual for residents of flood-prone areas of Portland Cottage and Rocky Point in Clarendon, when The Gleaner visited yesterday.

Residents of those communities said they felt that their hands are tied and that if the hurricane hits the island, they would seek shelter at that time.

"Mi caan do nothing, mi just a wait and see what a gwaan first. All mi a go do is look wey everybody a go and just move with mi pickney dem," said Anita Francis, a resident of Portland Cottage.

She told The Gleaner that most people do not understand the seriousness of a hurricane.

"Dem affi wait till the last minute, dem tek it fi joke. A same so when Ivan did a come dem tek it fi joke. Somebody affi go tell and tell dem good," continued Francis.

Another resident, Patrick Osbourne, shared his sentiments. "Mi just a go pack up mi two piece a 'shall I go' (clothes and other articles) and move," he said.

Not much faith

When The Gleaner visited the designated emergency centres, they were closed. The residents do not have much faith in the centres anyway.

"The last time when Ivan come the roof of the Portland Cottage All-Age School blow off and it still a leak. And no bed not even over deh because after Ivan dem come an' tek back the bed," said Millicent Francis. But, Charles Obsourne, school caretaker, said otherwise. "Everything is okay and mi just a wait on the principal fi give mi the go-ahead fi open the school," he said.

At least eight people were killed in Portland Cottage when Hurricane Ivan struck the island in September 2004. Most of the victims drowned.

Yesterday, the mood in Rocky Point was similar to that of Portland Cottage. Residents are not acting with any urgency to prepare for the coming hurricane. Stephen Harding said he was just waiting to see what was happening before he does anything. Dalton Ascott on the other hand said, "We already take in the boats and tied them up. But fi further preparation it is not so easy." When asked why, he said they had to get supplies such as ply to batten down but they were low on funds. The residents said they do not have any emergency centres and if they are flooded out they have to seek shelter in Lionel Town.