Rainfall in Cul de Sac
was 180mm, not 50mm – Final
estimate damages to
infrastructure: NAf. 1.5M –
PHILIPSBURG--The rainfall in the Cul de Sac area on July 30 has been measured at a staggering 180mm, not a mere 50mm as the Meteorological Office has stated, said Commissioner Roy Marlin on Wednesday.
Marlin announced that the final estimate of damages to the island’s infrastructure sustained during the flooding on Saturday more than two weeks ago had been set at NAf. 1.5 million.
He explained that a gentleman in Saunders, an amateur who has been measuring rainfall in the area for several years, concluded that on that Saturday, in a two-hour time span, some 180mm of rain came down. The Met Office, which has no measuring device in the Cul de Sac area, calculated that more than 60mm of rain had fallen.
According to Marlin, the amount mentioned by the Met Office was “way below what in our opinion would have been needed to cause that type of flooding.” He said the amount measured by the gentleman in Saunders “looks more like reality” in terms of the amount of water that came down in the area, filling the ponds and trenches, and leading to three to four feet on some roads.
The NAf. 1.5 million damage to the infrastructure, as analysed by the Public Works Department, has been divided into different sectors, explained Marlin. Bridges suffered about NAf. 600,000 in damage, mostly in the Ebenezer area, where the cost to repair the bridges has been estimated at NAf. 540,000.
Bridges in Ebenezer are supported by pillars that obstructed the flow of water. These pillars have to be taken out. Government will try to secure funding to reconstruct the bridges through Development Foundation Netherlands Antilles USONA, said Marlin.
Schools suffered about NAf. 70,000 in damage. Ruby Labega School was hardest hit.
Repairs of trenches will cost about NAf. 300,000 and repair of roads NAf. 197,000. The overall cleanup cost has been set at NAf. 360,000. Replacing damaged streetlights and poles will cost about NAf. 20,000. Government will pay about NAf. 30,000 in overtime for personnel.
The depth and water-carrying capacity of Fresh Pond will be looked at. The pond was dredged in 1999. If need be, there will be a project to dredge the pond once more. Marlin said some repairs to the infrastructure would have to be done “post-haste,” while for some other projects funding would be sought through USONA.
Marlin urged residents, especially during the hurricane season, to dispose properly of their household debris, and if they need help to call the Public Works Department. “We’ve seen what loose debris, stoves, fridges, mattresses can do where there is heavy rainfall,” he said, emphasising that these objects can obstruct bridges and trenches.
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