Crews Pulled 500 Truckloads From Sandy Gully as Kingston Braced for Melissa

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the days before Hurricane Melissa struck, National Works Agency (NWA) crews hauled roughly 500 truckloads of debris out of Sandy Gully in an effort to keep one of Kingston’s main drainage channels flowing and protect nearby homes and a critical bridge.

Robert Morgan, the minister with responsibility for works, outlined the pre-storm work at the National Emergency Operations Centre in Kingston on October 27, the Jamaica Information Service reported. At the time, the Category Five hurricane was forecast to make landfall on the south coast early on Tuesday, October 28.

Protecting a lifeline bridge

The clean-up ran over five days. On October 26, a front-end loader was brought in to cut a channel steering water toward the sea. The aim, the minister said, was to shield residents living near Seaview Gardens and to safeguard the structure of the Spanish Town Road bridge.

Mr. Morgan stressed the importance of that crossing, noting that for people travelling from that side of the city it is the route to the Kingston Public Hospital and the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

Gully residents told to leave

The minister also issued a direct warning to people living along McGregor Gully and Burger Gully, urging them to relocate immediately. He pointed out that more than 800 government shelters were available and cautioned that emergency teams might not be able to reach residents once gullies overtopped their banks during the storm.

What it means for property owners

The last-minute scramble along Sandy Gully is a reminder that much of Kingston’s flood protection depends on drains that fill with garbage and silt between storms. Homes close to gullies and low-lying corridors carry higher risk, which shows up in insurance premiums, repair bills and, eventually, resale values. Buyers and renters looking in these areas should ask how the property fared in past heavy rains, check its elevation relative to nearby drains, and confirm whether the building has flood cover. Owners already there can reduce risk by keeping yard drains clear and pressing local authorities for regular gully maintenance, not just emergency clean-ups when a hurricane is on the way.

Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com