Portland couple gets help after tree falls on house

A couple in Port Antonio, Portland, is getting much-needed assistance after a tree crashed into their home on Monday night.

The tree destroyed furniture and appliances, after it was uprooted during heavy rains, which pelted Eastern Portland.

“At first mi did traumatise, but mi glad say mi deh here now fi give mi story cause if it did drop directly pon di house it would be a definite different story yuh understand," Vernon Harris said.

He said he felt the house vibrating and went to investigate. He recounted that after opening the back door of the house, he felt the concrete floor moving and alerted his girlfriend.

Harris said they fled the house, and shortly after they heard a loud crash.

Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox

Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.

When it was daylight he realised that a large breadfruit tree had fallen on to the house, causing severe damage to the place he called home.     

Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern, Ann-Marie Vaz, pledged assistance to Harris and his partner in recovering from the incident during a visit on Tuesday.

“We are here at one of the homes that got the worse damage," she said.

"We have done what we can in terms of tarpaulins and mattresses. I want to commit from the Action Ann Foundation $200,000 worth of building materials and from me personally I want to ensure that he gets back a tv in the shortest possible time. I am seeking assistance for a fridge and a couple of the other appliances that he has lost. 

“So anyone interested can contact us because we want to ensure that this gentleman is up and running for the Christmas season. This is a natural disaster and wherever or whoever is impacted by the heavy rains will get their fair share of assistance," she added.

Harris was instructed to visit the hardware on Wednesday to collect his $200,000 worth of building material.

- Gareth Davis