And the third noteworthy event caused by the rains was a flash flood last night in the Cool Shade area in the Cayo District. Cool Shade is behind Georgeville near to the Pine Ridge Road. No lives were lost and no one was hurt but it was a serious rush of water. I travelled west today to find out more.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Two days after being trapped by flood waters Martalena Ack and her husband finally made it out from the area of cool shade to get help from the National Emergency Management Organization.

Martalena Ack, Flood Victim - Cool Shade
“Around one that morning, we were sleeping when the water came in. We were sleeping right here. We heard a loud noise, the rushing of the water, we heard like sticks knocking against the building, so we got up and that is when the water came pouring through the window and the openings in the wall. Before we could run outside the strong water pushed us outside the door. The only escape we had was to climb up the nearest orange tree where we stayed for like two hours, waiting for the raging water to calm.

The water lifted us of four feet and tossed us out of the house. When the water finally went down, my husband and I had to use ropes to help each other get out of the flooded orchard. This is the first time I experienced something like this.”

The water washed away everything the Ack’s owned except the clothes on their backs. The family’s five chickens also drowned in the flood. The force of the raging water could be seen all along the banks of the Barton Creek as it ploughed down all of the vegetation in its path. Barton Creek is situated just behind the Ack’s residence.

Martalena Ack,
“I am here alone with my husband and nobody helps us. We work hard for what we have. I am so happy that NEMO is here to help us”.

Colin Faux, Leader - Search & Rescue (NEMO Cayo)
“Our search and rescue started since last Friday so we are into it one week now.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
What do we know happened to the people here in this area, Cool Shade?

Colin Faux,
“Our first report was two days ago that the water started to rise in this area and from since then we were unable to get in until today. So we came in to do assessments and so on and when we found this family stranded, just making their way out to Georgeville.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
There are reports that other families may have been affected?

Colin Faux,
“Yes there are so we will continue searching for them today and try to see what their needs are and get supplies into them as soon as possible. Apparently it is running down from the Mountain Pine Ridge area.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you expect it to get worse?

Colin Faux,
“Well if it continues to rain I guess it will get worse.”

And that is exactly what happened around ten on Thursday night when raging waters triggered a flash flood that followed an hour of torrential rain. Luckily there are no reports of loss of life but as the powerful waters raced down the Mountain Pine Ridge Road it literally cut through the rugged terrain pushing away large rocks and boulders in its path.

Colin Faux,
“When I got out there that was when I saw the damage to the road with the huge natural drainage caused by the water and the washing away of a portion of the road.”

Today villagers from nearby Georgeville walked out to the area to view the damage that fortunately did not extend into their community.

Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you expect more flash floods in this area?

Colin Faux,
“It is well possible that flash floods could occur as long as this rain continues.”

It was difficult going through the area that is now a danger to all motorists. According to NEMO’s leader of search and rescue Colin Faux he will advise authorities to close the Mountain Pine Ridge Road.

NEMO today reported that the Pine Ridge flash flood was ran down to the Western Highway where a vehicle was washed off the highway. NEMO reports that the driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle was rescued and taken to safety. On site today we were unable to get verification of that account, even from Colin Faux, leader of NEMO’s search and rescue in Cayo.