Gallion residents relate Chantal ordeal

Eula Delsol's house after the storm
Eula Delsol’s house after the storm

When Eula Delsol heard that the howling winds had taken a roof, the last thing on her mind was that it belonged to her.

Delsol and her family were huddled in her mother’s house in Gallion on Tuesday morning while high winds from Tropical Storm Chantal, raged outside.

She said her three children had fled to her mother’s house when she realized the winds were becoming dangerously strong.

“I said my mother’s place was safer than mine so we decided to go there,” she told DNO on Tuesday afternoon.

Tucked in the mountain with a sweeping view of Soufriere and Scotts Heads, Gallion is, as one resident said, in the ‘gel van’ (mouth of the wind) and can be exposed to high winds. The community felt the full brunt of Chantal as it made its way through the Caribbean.

Once safely inside, Delsol and her family occasionally peeped through the windows to see what was going on outside. “We could not open the door since the wind was so strong,” she recounted. “So we had to peep through the window to see what going on outside.”

Around 12:30 her sister started shouting, “look somebody roof go, look somebody roof go.”

“I myself started wondering whose roof and asking whose roof that went,” Delsol stated.

When she looked in the direction of her house, what greeted her eyes filled her with despair.

“When I looked, I saw my roof all gone and my heart just sank,” she stated haltingly. “I have been living in the house for almost three years now and it is my house.”

Delsol remarked that after the winds had died down, she went to survey the damage and felt completely helpless. “My mattress, the children’s mattress and furniture all got wet,” she stated.

Joseph surveys the damage to his home
Joseph surveys the damage to his home

Further up the road, another resident who only wanted to be identified as Joseph, did not fare better.He lived alone and he told DNO that he was in the process of completing his small dwelling when Chantal came roaring through.

“I got up early and went to the bush,” he explained. “By the time I was on my way back the wind was really picking up. When I got home, this is what I saw.”

Joseph was undaunted by the damage and vowed that he will complete his home. “God gives and God takes,” he said.

Both residents are asking for assistance to get back on their feet.

“I am not working and I have three children, so I definitely going to need some kind of assistance,” Delsol said.

Joseph said one or two sheets of galvanize will go a long way in assisting him. “I don’t really need plenty, you know,” he stated. “If I get couple sheets of galvanize, I can get going again.”

Interior of Delsol's home
Interior of Delsol’s home
Delsol's home from the outside
Delsol’s home from the outside

 

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27 Comments

  1. pam
    October 21, 2014

    yeah thank we were safe cause our pm helped us and also the villagers help :cry: :cry: :cry: :-P :) :) :wink: :-D

  2. July 11, 2013

    im sure there must be a building code in the usa too since thats where we get all our advise but yet they continue to loose their homes when tornado passes

  3. July 10, 2013

    I THINK AN 8 FOOT GALVANIZE IS EC$50.00 I CAN SEND YOU US $80.00 TO PURCHASE 4 SHEETS. HAVE MR. JOSEPH CONTACT ME VIA A GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE TO GET HIS US $80.00 TO BUY HIS 4 SHEETS OF 8 FOOT GALVANIZE.
    GOD BLESS
    VINCENT ROLLE
    HOUSTON TEXAS…HOME PHONE 1 281 385 9021

  4. Anonymous
    July 10, 2013

    stronger hurricane resistant houses needed

  5. .
    July 10, 2013

    sad

  6. MFR
    July 10, 2013

    Doh worry sweetheart, Our PM have you covered, just call your parlrep Mr. Martin and all will be fine

  7. asssss
    July 10, 2013

    your UWP HATER dats y alllu party just changing leaders shame on u where spagggggs n eddo earl greeno

  8. conscious
    July 10, 2013

    Fool speaking of building code, all over the world there are people who do not have the means of shelter that require building code. Look at your fingers and your toes are they the same length.

  9. Soufriere Resident
    July 10, 2013

    So Sorry to hear and now see what happened in Gallion. Hold Strong Eula, God is good, at least you and your kids are safe.

  10. C.Hodge
    July 10, 2013

    I’m so sorry:(:(

  11. Yup
    July 10, 2013

    Our hearts go out to these residents. We can say praise God that the Delsol family was not in the house when this ordeal happened. I hope that help comes to you soon enough.

  12. DominicanOnline
    July 10, 2013

    DNO I would like to help with a small donation.Please post a way that can be done

    ADMIN: We are going to get some info on how donations can be made.

  13. Possie Kawat
    July 10, 2013

    All that comes to mind, is building codes – framing has to be 16 on center, windows not framed properly, Dominica, has to adopt international building code, and enforce them – living in hurricane alley, in a match box, way papa!

    • Tee
      July 10, 2013

      I understand what you are saying especially for the protection of lives. Yet you have to take into account that a simple, basic house is all that some of our fellow Dominicans can afford.

    • Joe
      July 10, 2013

      We have such a code but ppl refuse to pay Engineers when building.. These houses maybe not even approve by Planning.

      • Truth
        July 11, 2013

        I agree totally but on the other hand, what is planning there fore. Now it would better to prevent rather than cure. Instead of assistance coming after the fact, it should be given during the building process, u know, to people that cannot afford to follow the building codes. But I understand that cost is a big issue with regards to building according to standards, but safety comes first.

    • Koeshoni
      July 10, 2013

      People like you make me sick. We are a place of limited means. Which by the way has a very low rate of homelessness. I brag all the time to people where I reside overseas of that fact. The building code would only be a hindrance to people trying to have a home. Those codes were set up less for safety and more to protect builders from lawsuits. Lets figure out a way to help our fellow citizens in these times of need instead of these bs comments…….Admin once again I ask you to take the lead in setting up some type of fund where those of us who would like to help can send our donations too.

    • Unbiased Successor.
      July 10, 2013

      What does yours look like? Mr Building Regulator.There are may shanty towns out there that can stand up to those storms and for this one to do shows how affordable and well built to doing so.Suck on that thought.

    • nuff said
      July 10, 2013

      Build a mansion for them nah? How can people be so ignorant? Jah!!!!!
      Building what code?? Do you know what their pockets are like? Do you know if they can afford what you can afford? geesh!

  14. Anonymous
    July 10, 2013

    people still build these homes with such weak rafters,wind will turn that into dust.

    • Suki
      July 10, 2013

      they can’t afford it…as u can see the man looks like he is building his own house…

      regardless, i’m sure if he had the money he would have had a better roof for himself. Same goes for the lady

      • nuff said
        July 10, 2013

        exactly!!!! they raise up in middle class and/wealthy families with their bread already buttered…not even butterred-their bread done have cheese spread. they know nothing about struggles but they just have to demonstrate their ignorance

    • Koeshoni
      July 10, 2013

      Listen you jackass survival is a dread thing. People do what they have to in order to keep a roof over their head. Admin please set up a phone number or something where donations can be made to assist the lady as well as the gentleman.

  15. langsal
    July 10, 2013

    still feel sad to see our elderly standard of living in 2013,yet the people we put there to make things better make things worse

  16. country man
    July 10, 2013

    Sad..real sad..my advise is go to d government an seek asistance elections cumin up soon dey go organise all u!!!

  17. I laugh to everythin
    July 10, 2013

    lol make stonger houses not allu dt want to go n make fast house n say it strong na see wat a little tropical storm do allu muchless for a hurricane :-P look bowdel lololol haha who doe like my comment get vex and lash me i die na oh yes allu doe even know me :lol: whooosh

  18. african queen
    July 10, 2013

    sorry for your lost but ur lives were save thank u lord.

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