Generator noise torments residents

The relentless drone of standby generators has become a nightly torment for residents across western Jamaica, already reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

With electricity still out in many communities, the constant roar of these machines has robbed countless people of the restorative sleep they so desperately need.

"Mi caah sleep," Mary*, a senior citizen living in western Jamaica said. "If a nuh the mosquito dem a DJ inna mi ears, a the generator dem... it nuh nice at all," she said.

And while some may dismiss the noise as a minor inconvenience, respiratory therapist and sleep apnea expert George Arneaud warns that the constant noise is wreaking havoc on the bodies and minds of Jamaicans. He compares it to trying to sleep next to a lifelong snorer -- frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes impossible.

He explained that when the body is around loud noise or even vibration, the system remains partially alert, preventing the mind from winding down resulting in a moody and sluggish behaviour.

"The noise coming from the generator is disruptive, it really does affect the brain," Arneaud said.

"Even when people think they are sleeping, the brain is still working and reacting to that sleep. This prevents it from reaching the deep restorative so what happens is that we still feel tired," he added.

Mary told THE STAR that she sometimes fears she is "going to lose her mind" -- a sentiment shared by countless residents who haven't had an uninterrupted night's rest since Melissa ravaged the western parishes.

HARD TO SLEEP

"It's like from Melissa I don't sleep," she said. "It is from one thing to next, it hard to sleep in the night" she said.

Arneaud warns that this sleep deprivation is more than just uncomfortable -- it is a looming health crisis. Combined with the trauma of surviving a Category Five hurricane, the constant noise could intensify emotional and psychological strain.

"With everything people went through -- the losses, the damage -- it's heavy on the brain. Many are already losing sleep because of that, and now the generator noise is making it is even worse. The brain is never getting a chance to relax," he explained.

He noted that widespread sleeplessness, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder make it harder to fall asleep at nights.

"People are dealing with financial, economic, and social stress. Healing takes time, and a big part of that healing is sleep. It does not just go back to business as usual -- there is a lot on people's minds," Arneaud said.

The long-term health implications are alarming, ranging from high blood pressure and diabetes to sleep apnea, Alzheimer's, and dementia, Arneaud said.

Desperate for relief, many residents, like Mary, have resorted to daytime naps -- a temporary fix in a battle with nightly torment.

"This is a short-term solution," Arneaud warned. "Changing your sleep schedule is not ideal. A consistent sleep routine helps the brain and body know when to wake and when to rest."

The sleep expert stressed that this struggle with sleeplessness is reaching dangerous levels.

"The struggle of sleep is affecting Jamaicans more than anything. This has been going on for two months," he said.

For now, generators remain a "necessary evil." Arneaud offered a few coping strategies including the use of earplugs or other sound distractions to help residents drown out the constant hum and reclaim a measure of rest.

"We have to be grateful for the generators right now," he said. "But we also have to find ways to protect our sleep and our health while they keep running."

* Name changed to protect identity.