Lord’s Bank is also among the communities which are under sustained and increasing threat from rising water. 50 homes have already been affected and 17 of those are under water. The village’s shelter was opened this evening and what’s worrying is that the worst may be yet to come. Keith Swift reports.
Keith Swift Reporting,
These used to be the streets in Lord’s Bank but today cameraman Paul Munnings and I travelled – or rather paddled through the streets in a canoe. To
give an idea of the flooding situation here in Lord’s Bank let me first set the scene – first of all we are on a street but we are in a canoe because some homes are now only accessible by water.
And that’s why some areas of Lord’s Bank, with the exception of stranded dogs, are now deserted. Vehicles left on streets have been consumed as those streets are submerged and now isolated – virtual islands within the village.
And that’s why villagers are ferrying out their possessions and fleeing. We met Esperanza Duarte with her 4 children, and their beds, appliances, and other possessions on the side of the road. Her daughter Jocelyn says they fled because water is now only inches from inside their home
Jocelyn Sanchez, Fleeing Flood
“The house is about to flood because only five inches is left for it to come in, to enter, and right now the water is really really dirty and
I think I already got a rash.”
Keith Swift,
These are your stuff?
Jocelyn Sanchez,
“Well not all but just the basics because we’ve already found a house in Belize and we will just try and stay there until the flood waters come out.”
Mark Castillo was also packed and ready to flee but he couldn’t. At least not when we met him because the moving truck encountered mechanical problems.
Mark Castillo, Fleeing
“I’m moving, I’m getting out of the area. Most of the things I have taken out of the house and so I should be done by tomorrow but right now what happened the engine got wet because the water has been rising since we got here so the engine got wet and it is not starting. I have another truck coming.”
Keith Swift,
Did you expect it to come this high?
Mark Castillo,
“No. I didn’t expect to come this high but once it started to
rise it didn’t stop. It is about four inches before it gets into the house so it makes no sense to be here.”
John Smith still has time to leave but he knows it is limited.
John Smith, Lord’s Bank Resident
“I know there is a lot of water so I need to get out. I am trying to move out some of my stuff so that they don’t steal it because I cannot afford to buy any more. I plan on leaving right now.”
And that’s probably the best thing because village council Chairman Andre Rivero says the water is high and rising.
Andre Rivero, Lord’s Bank Village Chairman
“In this area where we are standing right now we have 50 houses that are in water and of these 50 houses we have 17 that are completely under water so it is affecting, it is a great concern of ours and we’re doing every humanly possible effort, every effort we’re putting in to try to get them out. All indication is that the worse is yet to come and that is what is most worrying about the situation “
Rivero says the village’s hurricane shelter will be opened this evening.
Lord’s Bank has about three thousand residents. Our team would like to thank Shane Pollard and John Ortiz who were the captains on our canoes.
