Earlier on we told you about the aftermath of Hurricane Dean, the post hurricane needs and the response. And indeed everyone in the Corozal District has a story, something changed in everyone’s environment in the storm. Today we got very different perspectives from villagers in San Antonio, Paraiso and Buena Vista.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
Ricardo Gutierrez of Buena Vista Village, some 18 miles south of Corozal Town, was staying at a friend’s home across the street when he saw his house go down. But today he had fifteen men working on the repair.
Ricardo Gutierrez, Buena Vista Villager
“The roof gawn and the water got in and all my belongings got damaged.”
Jules Vasquez,
Were you here when it happened?
Ricardo Gutierrez,
“No. We tried to go in the next house before 7 o’clock because we saw the breeze coming and we decided to move.”
Jules Vasquez,
When you were over in that house did you...
Ricardo Gutierrez,
“We heard everything that went slam.”
Jules Vasquez,
Oh you heard the zinc fly off?
Ricardo Gutierrez,
“Yes and we said it gawn. There is nothing to do only sleep because we can’t see nothing. I respect the earth, the trees, breeze, and water – all of them worked together. I think I won’t take long to fix it, maybe tomorrow it will be finished or maybe this evening they will finish.”
Jules Vasquez,
And you will move back in.
Ricardo Gutierrez,
“Yes.”
But there is no such easy fix for Angelina Gilharry of San Antonio Village, just outside of Corozal Town. Two homes in her yard were destroyed and now twenty of her family members are still in shelters.
Angelina Gilharry, San Antonio Villager
“Now we are staying at the San Antonio Government School until we could fix the house.”
Jules Vasquez,
What is your greatest need?
Angelina Gilharry,
“The greatest thing we need is a house so our kids could have a shelter in to stay.”
Jules Vasquez,
You have food and so?
Angelina Gilharry,
“Well we have a little bit of dinner, like Johnny cake and thing which we had made to eat.”
Jules Vasquez,
But that will only last a while.
Angelina Gilharry,
“That will only last a while. After that we won’t have anything.”
We’ll have storm stories from Paraiso Village tomorrow.