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90-y-o refuses to leave home despite earthquake damage
November 06, 2023
An elderly man and his family are now seeking help to rebuild a portion of their home which collapsed on Monday during the 5.6-magnitude earthquake sho0k the island.
Carlton Thomas, 90, told THE STAR that rather than leave the home he has lived in for decades, he would like help to rebuild it, because nowhere else will ever feel like home.
"I'm here 60 years and I'm accustomed to this house," Thomas said. "I want some a di government agency to gi mi some assistance because this an emergency." He said that he has reached out to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, but is yet to get any assistance.
Thomas, along with his daughter, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild are currently still living in the five-bedroom home on Robert Crescent in Kingston. He said that this home means a great deal to him because it belonged to his father.
During the earthquake, Thomas was at home with some of his grandchildren, but he said that luckily no one was hurt. However, there was significant damage to the structure.
"During the course of the earthquake, I was coming from the kitchen to ketch a glass a wata and when I reach near to my room, the building start to shake; and after it stop, me and my grandchildren and everybody came out. We notice a room at the back ... the whole a di wall fall dung, and all the zinc on the roof and everything fell down," Thomas said.
He added that there is additional damage to the concrete structure, such as large cracks in the wall and to the ceiling of his grandchildren's room. He told THE STAR that although he is grateful that his family wasn't hurt, he is worried about their living conditions, especially during inclement weather.
"If the rain come, the rain just fall right dung it because it duh have nuh top. It doh have nuh ceiling, just empty space," Thomas said.
The elderly man also has difficulty walking and requires a crutch for assistance. In addition to that he suffers from heart disease and had a stroke in August.
Anyone wishing to assit Carlton Thomas and his family, may contact his granddaughter, Jahmalia Wallace, at 876-560-1235.
