Jonique Gaynor, Staff Reporter

The small community of Redlight district in Irish Town, St. Andrew, received a big blow from Hurricane Dean on Sunday.

Though initial observations suggested that all was well in the community, further checks revealed several damaged houses and dejected residents. Though there was evidence of a major landslide, the road leading to the community was mostly clear. Fallen trees, rocks and utility poles could be seen at the side of the road, but none hindered transportation.

Aldus Crosdale, a 67-year-old resident of the community, was the first to greet the news team. "Whole heap a house get damage man. Di place mash up. All di basic school." He also revealed that the road leading to his house had been blocked by a landslide. He offered a description of the Hurricane's passage. "Di breeze big man, all dem house deh dung deh so mash up. Mi haffi go pull dung mine or jus lick it dung an see if mi can build back. Di road mash up and mi nuh have no whe fi carry di material dem. Dis ya one rougher dan Ivan."

Another resident, 70-year-old Neville Burton, also suffered great damage. The golden ager, who lives alone, revealed that the entire verandah section of his house, as well as an entire bedroom, had been destroyed. He said, "Di house whe mi inna now, it nuh gone, but di verandah mash up completely and di back room gone. Dis morning when mi go dung deh, every crockery mash up." He has no idea what his next move will be and said, "Mi nuh know yet sah. Mi no have no family here. Mi ha likkle food, caw some people help mi out and fada God provide."

Further into the district, an even deeper tragedy had unfolded. A family of 12 was forced to evacuate even before the hurricane struck, when both their houses were burnt to the ground. Shani Olfield, a 14-year-old resident of the house, told THE STAR, "About 12 in di night, wi deh here a sleep and dem only call wi and seh fire, fire and mi run outta di house." The family saved nothing and all 12 of them weathered the storm in a two-bedroom house owned by relatives further up the hill.

One relative was injured during the fire when, during his attempt to escape, a section of the ceiling fell on to his shoulder and burned him.

The residents are not sitting and waiting around for help, however, and have taken a rather proactive approach. When THE STAR visited, several men were seen with machetes and shovels working to clear the lane of mud.