Evacuation Families In Centres
They had pre-planned evacuation move; saing it was better to be prepared.
Families of Calia Settlement in Navua took shelter at the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) Church Hall.
More than 20 families left their homes to take shelter and ensure their safety during Tropical Cyclone Keni yesterday.
Vateresia Vere, 38, of Namosi, currently residing at Calia Settlement in Navua, was making her way with her family to the LDS Church Hall in Calia Road, Navua.
Ms Vere said they had taken the proactive approach to ensure the safety of the family.
“When the recent flood came, we were caught by surprise and were not able to move to higher ground or any evacuation centre in time,” Ms Vere said.
“This time when we heard on the radio about TC Keni approaching Navua, we decided to move to the evacuation centre and seek shelter at the church beforehand rather than be late again.
“We had pre-planned our evacuation move and ensure that all the children and the food items were taken before we left home.
Elenoa Totoyaki, 24, of Calia Settlement in Navua carried her oneyear-old son, Maciu Taromi, from her house to the LDS Church Hall. “I just wanted my son to be safe. His safety in my first priority,” Ms Totoyaki said.
Vashist Muni Primary School – Evacuees arrive early shelters
When the Fiji Sun team arrived at Vashisht Muni Primary School, which was being used as an evacuation centre for residents of Navua Town, a number of families from villages in the interior of Navua had taken shelter at the school.
Asilika Masiverata, 54, of Vakacegu Settlement in Navua, originally from Namuamua, Namosi, witnessed heavy rain and strong winds early yesterday morning. She did not waste time in asking her family to take her sickly husband to the evacuation centre. “The boys helped me to bring my husband out of the house, which was already being hit by floods,” Ms Masiverata said.
“We had decided in the morning that we will move to the evacuation centre before the TC Keni gets worse or we might not be able to get out.” Another evacuee, Reshma Wendit, 56, of Balakiliya, Navua, was alone at home while her son was working in Suva.
The son could not make it back home, so he called the Police and asked them to take his mother to the evacuation centre.
J N Jokhan Memorial Primary School – Flood forces evacuation
More than 30 families took shelter at J N Jokhan Memorial Primary School, in Navua yesterday. Families from the surrounding areas spent their entire day and planned to stay overnight until the weather cleared.
Alanieta Tabua, 26, of Calia Back Road in Navua, was with her family of 15 at the school.
“We had to evacuate because the heavy rain since early morning resulted in flooding,’’ Ms Tabua said. “We made sure that we had our food and water organised for the overnight stay at the school and a few pairs of clothes to go through in case the water level rises.” Edited by George Kulamaiwasa