And just like in those rural and exurban areas, residents of Belize City's low-lying areas were not spared by the heavy rains. And that's why the City's Emergency Management Organization opened 4 hurricane shelters to accommodate residents who have been or could be flooded out.
They've opened the Saint John Vianney Primary School, All Saints Primary School, Unity Presbyterian Primary School, and Saint Luke Methodist Primary School. These shelters are opened, and the CEMO is encouraging residents of Jane Usher, Gungulung, Krooman Lagoon, and Belama to make use of them if they are in need.
This evening, we spoke with Deputy Mayor Michael "Chips" Noralez about the high-level caution with which they are treating the City's flooding:
Michael "Chips" Noralez, Deputy Mayor
"Yes, so far we have 5 people in shelters at the Unity Presbyterian. That is the first shelter that we opened because earlier in the morning we were called and people expressed that they would really like some help with a shelter. We decided after an emergency meeting to open 4 shelters around in the city for the low lying area. We opened one in Port Loyola which is Saint John's Vianney buildings one and two. Same thing with Unity Presbyterian on Antelope Street extension. We came up with an idea because of the condition in Belama, we had to open all Saints School as well. For Gungulun area in Lake Independence, we had to open Saint Luke. We had sent out a press release so that the inhabitants in Belize City would know that so far in Belize City we had opened 4 shelters. Along with that we have activated the EOC (Emergency Operating Center) and we've given out numbers so that in case anyone needs help getting to a shelter, not necessarily transporting you but giving you information on how to get there we have emergency numbers. I don't think it makes sense that I list those numbers right now but you can pass it on as a graphic please. We have been doing assessments since Wednesday and have been on alert since Sunday when we heard about the powerful hurricane Eta. Even though we knew that we'd be getting a tropical depression or minimal storm, we have been on alert. The mayor, city administrator and the entire CEMO team have been on alert. Today was just a culmination where we had to call a meeting and right there we decided to let's spring into action with the EOC. We are up here at city hall, so you will see a lot of people coming in and out. We have our shelter wardens and shelter managers there already, we suggested that incase if anyone needs to come we are there, we don't want to meet them there, let them meet us there for time and safety. We have the security forces and everyone who should be there, all the COVID-19 protocols have been put in place."
The Deputy Mayor spoke to us shortly after he and Mayor Bernard Wagner went on a tour of the city to assess the flooding. Here's what he had to say about the City residents who have no choice but to wait for the waters to recede:
Michael "Chips" Noralez, Deputy Mayor
"I just came back from a tour with the mayor, because when I explained to him what was happening in Belama Phase 4, it is not that he doubted me but I think he wanted to see for himself. We realized that area used to be a water catchment area so we will have a lot of depressions in there. The water will find its level but the streets have now become canals. There was a project some time a few years back where they were supposed to drain that area properly but if that area is not filled up properly, we cannot drain it. So we went there, but the people seem to be upbeat, that's the worst they've seen the water come up so far. They said they are okay, but if not they will call for help when it is time. Then we have the Jane Usher boulevard, you know when you talk about this area it the entire area at the back. Some of the outlets are clogged up with garbage, I wouldn't know and I'm not about casting blame. After clearing up some of the garbage from the outlet we realized that the water has somewhere to go, once the water has no other way, it will go the other way. We are just asking the people to have patience with us because we are getting there. We have the sanitation department and drainage technicians out there on a daily basis. Sometimes I go separate place from them and when I find some sort of obstruction I say guys put it on your agenda to go deal with it as quickly as possible. I also notice that some of the residents are there actually trying to unclog their drains which is good so that when we go around, they can tell us their experiences and we try to facilitate as much as possible."
City residents in need of assistance with an emergency can call City Hall's EOC at the telephone numbers: 223-2448, 223-5234, 223-1524, 223-2433, 223-1521, or 223-7289.
