Water is rising fast in the Belize River Valley tonight, and residents in the communities of Lemonal, Maypen and Crooked Tree are most at risk. Estimates are that 3 to 4 families in Crooked Tree have had to move to higher ground. Most in the other communities have been resistant to moving, but the water is rising fast and disaster managers say that starting tomorrow, 12 families in Lemonal, 4 in Rancho, and all of Maypen Grace Bank and Davis Bank will have to move, along with about 20 in Crooked Tree. Jacqueline Godwin was in the valley today and she has a report on fast rising waters and slow to move residents.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
The two hundred and fifty residents who live in Rancho Dolores Village are cut off from the main road as the only access into their community is underwater. In fact the Rancho Dolores Bridge lies under this line of floating debris. One of the first houses to take in water is this one owned by Juanita Herrera, a single mother of three children. The family has sought shelter inside the primary school building.
Juanita Herrera, Resident - Rancho Dolores Village
“When I saw the flood coming I went and packed my things at the house, things I know I could bring, and secured like my clothes and so and the mattress and the bed I sleep on I put it on the top and the things I could bring over, I came over the bridge with me and my two kids to safety.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
While coming over into Rancho Dolores, your house has been greatly impacted
by the floodwater, when you go back into that house what are you expecting to see?
Juanita Herrera,
“What I am expecting to see is so awful and terrible because I didn’t think the water was coming up so high but you know I just saved myself and my two kids because I said we are not going to drown and we won’t stay here for nothing, we will save what we could save and move out.”
Melissa Perez, Resident - Rancho Dolores Village
“It is a little scary seeing it coming up so fast because it is rising pretty fast.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Because looking at your back step there is only one dry step left, after that the water will be coming into your house.
Melissa Perez,
“Yes but since that we have everything secured I hope. Tonight I won’t be able to sleep in here. Last night I slept in my bed.”
Raphael Smith, Resident - Rancho Dolores Village
“This water washed from the Belize River you know. This water washed up about three miles from here, right across from the Belize River right into this river into Spanish Creek and it goes all the way down to Crooked Tree Lagoon. Before the water, this rain came down and Crooked Tree Lagoon was pushing the water back on us so the water was already high. From Crooked Tree Lagoon the water came back way so when the rain comes and the Old River gets full, from the time the dam washed over, Old River overflows and all the water came right down in Spanish Creek come straight over.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
You have been nervously monitoring this water. When did all of this happen?
Kay Young, Resident - Rancho Dolores Village
“It started from since Monday but it increased rapidly since last night.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So you haven’t decided whether or not you’re going to move out?
Kay Young,
“I’m looking at the water right now at this moment in time and probably tonight if it gets even worse then I will decide to evacuate and go to higher grounds.”
Water is already affecting Martha and Walter Belisle’s residence. We
found the couple moving out some of their household possessions.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Right now you are standing in ankle deep water.
Martha Belisle, Resident - Rancho Dolores Village
“Well I will try and take out my things because I don’t want them to be condemned. It has been two years since I moved here. Two years since I’ve lived here and I am 54 years.”
Walter Belisle, Resident - Rancho Dolores Village
“I bought a pig. I had it in the pen and I moved it out two days ago and this morning when I got there it was dead. So the pig dead. I met it dead.”
Cipriano Smith, Resident - Rancho Dolores Village
“If it is to come more, it is yet to be seen.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So there is still a possibility you and your family might have to move.
Cipriano Smith,
“There is a possibility if it gets worse because we will not be able to live in the house if water is in there.”
While cameraman Alex Ellis and I managed to make it by boat to Rancho Dolores Village we had to wade in flooded waters to get into Lemonal Village as the only road into the community was underwater. Here in Lemonal Village 18 families have been affected but the villagers are concerned that if it continues to rain for the next three days then more people will need to be evacuated.
Olive Banner, Chairperson - Lemonal
Village
“So far 17 people have to evacuate their homes.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Where are these families staying?
Olive Banner,
“They are staying at the shelter and with families and friends and some are staying with the school and the church.”
Fredrick Reynolds, Resident - Lemonal Village
“My bank side runs way under those trees there and for the last four days now it reaches to the creek there because I have a little creek that runs down there and by yesterday evening the water was by my house side. But what happened probably is that it has not affected me much at this stage because my house has a little height. But if it comes this serious by now and tomorrow, I have to move because as you see it is my dorey I am using to back and forth on the road. I can’t move back or front, I have to keep my dorey tied right at my step.”
Olive Banner,
“They say that we will get more water, that water will come higher.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
I know we had to literally wade through the floodwaters to get into your village, how has this affected the villagers from going to and from their community and in getting supplies to Lemonal Village?
Olive Banner,
“Well you see we can’t even get out from the village. We are cut off, you can see for yourself when coming in.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
How concerned are the villagers about the flood?
Olive Banner,
“They are quite concerned because suppose if anybody gets sick, so the Red Cross says if anybody gets sick we can call them. They give us their cellular number so we can get in contact with them and they will come this side.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
As you look at your house and the water surrounding your house, what is your
concern tonight?
Rosenda Herrera, Resident - Lemonal Village
“We hope it doesn’t get higher because I have my dog, my children. I will need help to take them out.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
I notice you’ve put both your dogs in the boat.
Rosenda Herrera,
“Yes all the dogs are in the boat.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
How safe is it though for the children to be wading through the water, do you believe its clean water, its contaminated water, do you believe their safe?
Rosenda Herrera,
“It is not clean and not good either. That is why I keep them upstairs, I don’t make them play in the dirty water.”
While the parents are concerned about the rising water their children have been enjoying the event. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7NEWS.
There are about 20 at risk communities in the flood affected areas of the Belize River Valley.
