Flash flooding, damage to roads & even vehicles reported across Tortola
Flooding has been reported in the capital city, Road Town as well as in Hannah’s Estate, Sea Cows Bay, Pockwood Pond and West End.
The main road at Pockwood Pond, in the vicinity of Delta Gas Station, was flooded and affected by rocks and mud washing onto it.
Some vehicles were left partially submerged in some areas and other were damaged from rocks and other debris.
For the safety of work crews and motorists, the public was urged to avoid non-essential travel until roads could be assessed for damages.
3 inches of rain
Around 5:45 am, the Department of Disaster said there was a little over 3 inches of rain in the past 4 hours and that additional rainfall of 1 to 2 inches was possible.
It also said moisture and instability from the passage of a tropical wave, along with an upper-level trough, will support cloudy spells with showers and thunderstorms across the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands today and tonight.
A flash flood warning is in effect for the Virgin Islands.
23 Responses to “Flash flooding, damage to roads & even vehicles reported across Tortola”
The latter part of the hurricane season is known to affect the western Caribbean. November Month in past years sometimes have recorded major downpour of rain showers.
What an time that was chosen to digged up Hodge's Creek roadway, and then so at the beginning of the Tourist Season to please the minority at the discomfort of the vast majority.
In some people eye this is called good governance, in the majority and my eyes this is pure incompetent political leadership.
Take for instance a very critical emergency was to happen at east side of Hodge's Creek dugged up area, and the hill sides road are impassible, do you and I know the an ambulance delay can results in loss of life or lives because of the extra time it will take to drive on the dugged up, ragged potholes.
Please don't see this as a political stun. In the life every second counts when when the lives of humanity is valued over the greediness and misjudgment of political lust for power.
The truth is the best life saving medicine for all time: (past, present and future) when knowledge and wisdom are correctly applied in the BVI, and elsewhere, too.
May all vehicles drivers, motorcycle riders, peddle bike riders, forklift operator drive carefully now and at all time.
, transportation, government services, business, services, etc disruptions. What can be done to prevent/ minimize the adverse impacts of rain/flood events?
Inarguably, it is cost prohibitive to protect against all rain/flood events. Nevertheless, the drainage system(s) should be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to prevent, minimize flooding from frequently recurring rain events, viz, 2-, 5-, 10- 25-year rain/flood events, especially in low-lying, flood prone areas. Drainage, for the most part , is a nonexcludable service which will it to be provided the public sector. As such a drainage master plan is needed as a minimum guide for construction in the territory. All construction projects should be designed and constructed consistent with the drainage master plan.
Runoff is captured by ghuts with its final destination out to sea. When its flow is altered, disrupted, it will seek alternate flow path(s) out to sea. This flow path will include flowing through buildings and other facilities , etc.
Moreover, the drainage system in Road Town, the capital city, the seat of government,,business and finance center,,entertainment centre , etc, should be designed to handle a 100-year rain/flood event. Drainage infrastructure is another project to be added to the increasing list of rolling Capital Improvements Projects needs..
Pure comedy
This is an expansive area, and in order to drain it effectively and rapidly, the government must look into the possibility of installing a water pump, either mechanical or electrical with a diameter of ten inches bore. The pump should be installed behind Craft Alive. Also, a sluice can be constructed at the drain to prevent the sea water from returning whenever there is high tide and rain falls simultaneously. Water cannot be drained uphill but to the sea.