Last night, we showed you some of what we captured in the communities of Gales Point and Mullins River. Our team was back just before news time, so there was only so much we could coherently string together in time for airing. But tonight, we’ll take you deeper. We begin first with Gales Point and what residents describe as the worst flooding they’ve every experienced.
Keith Swift Reporting,
It looks like the perfect scene – beautiful water, coconuts trees, and a majestic mountain backdrop but right now Gales Point Manatee is far from a paradise. And that is because since Monday morning – most of the village has been under water.
I am walking on the main road in Gales Point. Normally it separates the two lagoons but now the water is knee deep and instead of two, there is now just one big lagoon. And driving through the village – the toll of the flash floods on Gales Point is evident.
There are dozens of homes now surrounded by water - and then there are those simply submerged. And as for the beach – well that’s no longer there - it is just water. In fact there is still so much water that even this bird is had a hard time searching for a dry spot. And so fast and furious was the flood that not even a manatee, this village’s namesake, was spared.”
But the toll on the village’s residents was greater. For Ronald Williams the situation is contained in one word: grim.
Ronald Williams, Flood Victim – Gales Point
“When I looked around I didn’t see anything but water, just
mango tree root over here, just water was out there. So I came to holler for my neighbors over here at this white house. When I came water was to my chest and then I hollered for Karen. But when I came, I came with my mother on my back and tried to make my mother go upstairs. So we couldn’t save anything but my mother.
Everything just hambug-up. Right now we just have one suit on our body now. TV, VCR, Refrig, washing machine, freezer – everything is just hambug-up but we just thank God that we got saved.”
The only thing James Gault could save was his grandson’s life.
James Gault, Flood Victim – Gales Point
“When we woke up the morning I told my grandson that water is in the house. So when I opened the door water was all over. So I told them the best thing we could do is try to get over to Gentle’s Cool Spot. I packed some clothes and thing together and my girlfriend put him on her back.”
Keith Swift,
So did you save anything?
James Gault,
“Well my clothes and thing but food stuff and thing gone. Right now my stove is condemned because water covered that and everything.”
Keith Swift,
What are you going to do now?
James Gault,
“Well I have to just continue life.”
Keith Swift,
Did you expect this?
James Gault,
“The first time, I was born and grow here for 53 years and this is the first time I have ever seen water come like this.”
Around the corner from James Gault we found Marie Moore.
Marie Moore, Flood Victim – James Gault
“My house got full with water and everything we had on the floor was destroyed; clothes, foot wear, we had some sheets and all our water, drinking water, - everything just turned over. The clothes and so we will just have to throw them away because of the mud.”
Keith Swift,
Did you expect this?
James Gault,
“No. We expected a little high water but not this bad because this is the first time from I know myself that I see this water come so high. All
the hurricanes I’ve passed through and this the first time.”
And that’s why the storm has hit the village so hard. No one expected this much water. We visited the village yesterday with the coast guard who brought water and basic food for distribution. Village chairlady Ionie Samuels says it will be a long road to recovery for Gales Point.
Ionie Samuels, Chairlady – Gales Point
“I didn’t know this would happen none at all. I didn’t expect this none at all. I expected that we would have when it rains and there is hurricanes the village is divided into three sections but this is the first time the village is divided like this with the water flooded.”
Keith Swift,
How will the village recover?
Ionie Samuels,
“Well I can’t tell you. If it is to move on I guess maybe the government could try help the villagers with some jobs and like that so; create some jobs for the people so they could have something to do or help them. The ones that have farms, help them, give them seeds and that so that they could go back to their farms and work.”
A long road to recovery which some residents have already begun to walk.
Gales Point has received food supplies but village chairlady Ionie Samuels says they are still in need of clothes and importantly water. The village is for the most part still only accessible by air and boat. As mentioned in the story, Gales Point has about 400 residents.
