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School: Presentation College, San Fernando

School Code: 160042

Subject: Caribbean Studies

Topic: The Effects of Flooding on the Penal-Debe Region over the Period 2018-2019
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Table of Contents

Introduction......................................................................................................................................2

Literature Review............................................................................................................................4

Data Collection Sources..................................................................................................................6

Presentation of Findings..................................................................................................................7

Interpretation of Findings………………………………………………………………………..17

Discussion of findings...................................................................................................................15

Conclusion, Limitations and Recommendations...........................................................................18

Bibliography..................................................................................................................................19

Appendix........................................................................................................................................20
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Introduction

Problem Statement:

The impact of flooding on the Penal Debe area over the period 2018-2019.

Statement of the Problem:

Due to the relief of the area, this region has always been prone to flooding in times of excessive

rainfall. This study aims to determine whether or not the area has in fact been flooded more

frequently and harmfully over the period 2018-2019 than in previous years, the possible reasons

for this occurrence and how the situation is being dealt with by both the residents of the area and

the relevant authorities.

Research Objectives:

1. In comparison to the past, has the issue of flooding become a more concerning one?

2. What are the short term and longulooding on the residents of the community?

3. Has there been any major environmental changes which could have resulted in this

problem?

4. If so, in reference to the previous question, can they be manipulated in such a way so as

to fix the problem?

Purpose of the Research:

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We have decided to pursue this topic as we students have all felt, directly or indirectly, the

impact of this phenomenon in our lives. We believe the projected study allows us, as well as

those who come across this study, an opportunity to further gain knowledge of this situation.

Educational Value of the Research:

The information obtained in this study has potential to bring light to the situation of the residents

of the Penal Debe area, such that serious consideration and consequent investment and

development by the relevant authorities are put in place to best aid the community.

Definition of Technical Terms:

Flooding- the covering or submerging of normally dry land with a large amount of water.
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Literature Review

An international study done in 2010 by K. Aliasgar, on flooding in the Caribbean gives

an insight into what may cause such. Citing the rainy season as well as the occurrence of various

other weather systems at that time of the year, the article speaks of the increase in instances over

the years as well as what may cause them to have more pronounced effects socially and

economically. Reference is made to ‘developmental changes and urbanization patterns’, as well

as previous economic factors which would have spurred the settlement patterns in the areas

which have always been but are now even more so flood prone. Poor and improper agricultural

practices have also been mentioned as a contributor to this problem.

An article via an online site Looptt.com represents the thoughts of residents through the

voice of one of the area’s political representatives. Concerns arose earlier in the year of 2019,

with the general sentiment being that the area was not prepared for the event of flooding. These

concerns were brought about by the lack of preventative measures, and even routine measures

required within the area for the rainy season. This worry stemmed from the damage caused by

previous years’.

In an article published in the Trinidad and Tobago Express Newspaper, at the end of

2019, during the worst flooding incident in south Trinidad for the year, emergency response to

the catastrophe by the relevant national security forces and political entities was noted. Cited

were, the improper implementation of the necessary procedures which would have, in many

people’s opinions, either prevented or inhibited to a great deal some of the consequences of the

weather.
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In another newspaper article, taken from the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, it was made

clear that the flooding occurring in the Penal-Debe region has gotten worse over the years due to

climate change. The residents of the area have reported that the majority of the flooding occurred

in the area due to overflowing of the Godineau River and the fact that a culvert in the area

couldn’t handle the large volume of water present at that time. If this problem persists it can

place great financial strain on the affected families. The PDRC (Penal/Debe Regional

Corporation) compensated the affected residents with a small sum.

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Data Collection Sources

Two common quantitative methods of data collection were used:

1. Various sources of data from pre-existing literature on the topic were analyzed

2. A questionnaire was designed and distributed throughout the area under study ie the

Penal-Debe region, over the period March 2nd – 4th, 2020. The questions asked were

structured and provided categories within which the participants could answer.

Cluster Sampling or Area Sampling, using geographical clusters, was utilized for the collection

of data ie localized random samples of the target population were chosen based on their

geographical location. This was helpful as it provided an insight into the nature of the problem

through interaction with those who are both directly and indirectly affected. Due to the size of

the area under study, it was not possible or practical, given the time or resources, to collect data

from the entire target population. By using cluster sampling, data collection from the population

was made easier to manage.

Both primary and secondary sources of data collection were used.

 Primary Sources- Personal observation and interacting with the flood victims in the

process. Questionnaires were also used where residents were asked to fill out questions

pertaining to the events that occurred. These were given to persons who were 18 or older.

The questionnaire, as an instrument of data collection, was both advantageous and

disadvantageous.
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 Secondary Sources- were used to acquire and further enhance existing knowledge of the

damage and problems caused by the flooding, including things such as the amount of

government assistance received, and the full extent of the problems caused by floods.

Presentation of Findings

Number of People
25

20
20

15
Number of People
11
10
10
7

5
2

0
Less than 1 1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 More than 16

Diagram 1: Showing the lengths of time residents of Penal have lived in the area
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Affected by Flooding

12%

4%

Everytime it rains
Often
Sometimes
14%
Rarely
50% Never

20%

Diagram 2: Showing the distribution of how much the villagers of Penal are affected by flooding
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Effect of Flooding

Not Destructive 6

Not as Destructive 14

Almost as Destructive 10

Just as Destructive 11

Worse than others 9

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Diagram 3: Showing the effects of flooding on the residents of Penal over 2018-2019 as
compared to previous floods
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Property Lost
16
16

14

12
10
10

8
6
6

4
2
2
0
0
$0 $0 to $1000 $1000 to $5000 $5000 to $10000 Over $10000

Diagram 4: Showing the amount of property that was lost by the 68% of residents affected
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Types of Property Lost

Housing
None
Livestock
Crops
Other

Diagram 5: Showing the types of property lost by the 34 residents

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Types of Assistance

NGOs

Family

Government

Outsiders

Fellow Villagers

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Diagram 6: Showing the types of assistance received by the 27 residents following the floods
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Causes of Flooding
21
25
20 14

15 8 7
10
5
0
e ys es s
ag ce
ain r wa om
acti
r at
e gH r
rD in gP
op
e fW ild
d in
pr eo Bu il
Im nc
fo
r
r Bu
na s e
te ea op
ain A r pr
M bl
e Im
or ita
Po su
Un

Diagram 7: Showing the primary causes of flooding in the Penal area according to residents
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Yes No

Were you personally affected

68% 32%
by the recent flooding?

Did your house sustain

38% 62%
structural damage?

Were you able to stay in your

88% 12%
house after the floods?

Did you receive assistance after

90% 10%
the floods? (if affected)

Did you miss work during the

34% 66%
floods?

Table showing the results of various yes or no questions asked to the residents of Penal about the effects
of the floods
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Interpretation of Findings

The majority of people surveyed have lived in the Penal/Debe area for over 15 years, and 50% of

those people experience flooding every time it rains.

This flooding affects both the daily and long-term life of the residents of the Penal/Debe area.

Though 60% of the total number of persons surveyed indicated that this period’s flooding was

not as severe as others, during the period 2018-2019, 68% of the persons surveyed were

personally affected by flooding by way of property loss. None of the people surveyed incurred

more than $10,000 of damages, however 56% of those personally affected did suffer losses

amounting to between $1 - $10,000. The majority of these damages were to housing (of which

12% of these cases were not able to stay in their houses following the floods), followed by crops,

livestock and other losses.

Relief efforts were carried out, based on the information obtained, in the largest part by NGOs,

followed then by the government, family members, outsiders and fellow villagers. Residents of

the area also missed work due to both aiding in relief efforts as well as impassable roads.

70% of residents surveyed believe that this flooding was due to poor drainage and poor

maintenance of the existing drainage, while the other 30% believe that the effects of the flooding

were exacerbated by poor building practices in areas ‘unsuitable’ for building homes.
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Discussion of findings

It was found that the majority of residents in the area Penal/Debe were affected to some

extent by the floods that occurred in the area. The majority of those directly affected reported

damage to their homes, while other’s crops and livestock were destroyed causing further

financial damage. Most residents were able to reside in their home after the damage caused by

the flood while a few had to be relocated. Help was provided by government personnel, like the

PDRC, and NGOs (non-government organizations) like local religious groups.

Contrary to what was reported, over 50% of the respondents reported receiving help. This

difference might be because those persons in the article complained of minimum assistance from

the government or NGOs.

They also reported major water damage to their furniture and appliances which can be

assumed to be upwards of $1000 in damages. Over 50% of the interviewees also reported

property damage upwards of $1000. The government, with this information, could possibly

implement a policy that provides the people with a large amount of property damage with a

greater compensation in order to better recover from the situation easier.

Exactly 50% of the interviewees reported that the area they reside in floods in times of

heavy rainfall, supporting the findings of this article. One can safely assume that during times of

heavy rainfall, a large portion of the research area Penal/Debe will flood, (a possible identifiable

pattern of flooding coinciding with heavy rainfall).

Also stated is the fact that the majority of flooding occurred in the areas of developing

and backfilled land; 80% of the interviewees live on or close to this land, which further

accounted for the flooding that occurred in these areas. 70% of the interviewees supported the

claim made by this article that the drainage and waterways in these areas are poorly maintained
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and result in rampant flooding. An obtained response even stated that this issue will continue to

result in the flooding of the area in times of extensive rainfall.

Further highlighted was the fact that areas with drains and waterways that receive little to

no cleaning by the government flood the most. Therefore, one can infer that in areas with little to

no cleaning, there is a much greater chance of flooding. Also reported was that persons affected

by flooding from the year before have not yet received their compensation from the government.

This is a good example of why a policy where individuals who suffer property damage of $1000

or more should be compensated by the government as people expect reimbursement for little to

no damage.
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Conclusion, Limitations and Recommendations

Conclusion:
In summary, many residents of the Penal/Debe region experienced flooding which caused severe

damage mainly to households, crops and livestock. Most individuals lived in areas that were

prone to flooding. Many remarked that it was due to improper drainage facilities as well as the

lack of maintenance by the government in the area and any damage done was rectified mainly by

NGOs. The data collected by this research can be used to inform personnel responsible for these

areas in the case that an incident like this occurs in the future it is handled more efficiently.

Limitations:

1. Information collected may have been exaggerated or falsified.

2. The data collected in this study is only a small portion of the entirety of the region

collectively.

Recommendations:

1. People residing in flood-prone areas should be relocated to more stable landscapes on

higher ground.

2. Proper maintenance of existing waterways, as well as the implementation of new

drainage systems, must be endorsed by the government

3. Public announcements that inclement weather is approaching should be sent out as soon

as possible

4. Invest in the acquisition of emergency supplies such as canned foods, flashlights,

batteries and radios.

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Bibliography

Aliasgar, K. (2010). ePublications@SCU, Lismore.

Kissoon, C. (2019, December 12). Flood Disaster Looms in Debe/Penal. Trinidad Express.

Doodnath, A. (2019, August 27). Councillor: Penal/Debe not prepared for heavy rains. Loop.
Retrieved from looptt.com

Chan Tack, C. (2020, January 2). Penal/Debe Flood Victims Fend for Themselves. Trinidad and
Tobago Newsday.

Website
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/flooding
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Appendix

Topic: The impact of flooding on the Penal Debe area over the period 2018-2019

Good day. We are a group of sixth form students from Presentation College San Fernando

aiming to acquire information about flooding in this area. This information is necessary for the

completion of our CAPE Caribbean Studies Internal Assessment. We are looking at the impact

of flooding in the Penal-Debe area, specifically in the period 2018-2019. All information

acquired is anonymous and will not be used for any other purposes than those of this

Assessment.

1. How long have you been a resident of Penal?

o Less than 1 year

o 1-5 years

o 5-10 years

o 10-15 years

o More than 20 years

2. Is the area you live in usually affected by flooding?

o Every time it rains heavily

o Often

o Sometimes

o Rarely
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o Never
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3. How bad was the flooding experienced in comparison to previous floods you have

experienced in your area?

o Worse than the others

o Just as destructive

o Almost as destructive

o Not as destructive

o I never experienced flooding in this area

4. Were you personally affected by the recent flooding?

o Yes

o No

If yes, how much property loss did you incur?

o None

o Under $1000

o $1000-5000

o $5000-10000

o Over $10000
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5. What type(s) of property did you acquire losses to?

o None

o Crops

o Livestock

o Housing

o Other

6. Did your house sustain structural damage?

o Yes

o No

7. Where in the village is your house located?

o Close to marshlands

o On a hilly area

o On backfilled land located in the marshlands.

o In a flat area

8. Were you able to stay in your house after the floods?

o Yes

o No

o Yes, but at risk to my health

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9. Did you receive assistance after the floods?

o Yes

o No

If so who assisted you?

o Fellow villagers

o Outsiders who came to help

o Government personnel

o Family

o NGOs (community groups etc)

10. Did you miss work during these floods?

o Yes

o No

If so, why?

o I was lending assistance to affected persons.

o Roads were impassable

11. What do you think was the primary cause of the flooding?

o Improper drainage

o Poor maintenance of waterways

o Unsuitable area for building homes

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o Improper building practices

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12. Do you think, if such an event occurs again, the area will be better prepared?

o Yes

o No

Why?