And the Coast Guard has had a change of scenery - instead of patrolling the seas, over 150 officers were on land assisting NEMO. The Commandant explained that the directive was given through the Ministry of Defense, and the officers jumped at the chance to help deliver relief to residents in need. He also noted the public relations dividend from storm sufferers were grateful to see them.
Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"We were called out by NEMO, directive sent out to the Ministry of Defense, that the concentration of forces must be within Belize City. Immediately we marched all our personnel who were available to work and within 24 hours we descended in Belize City in numbers. We started off 24 hours after the all clear was given in Belize City with a small number, and then we increased, we started off with a small EOC team that assisted with damage assessment thereafter we provided personnel team on the ground to work with the cleanup effort and distribution of relief supplies. And so what started off as initially an understanding and an assessment of what's been going on in Belize city quickly translated into personnel working relief supplies and cleaning up Belize City. So throughout the weekend, we had on an average day, 150-160 personnel doing a series of jobs within Belize City. That effort expanded into Ladyville. We reported that they also received some serious damages and required some military support as well so we're doing Belize City, we spread out into Ladyville as well and we're all the way up the Belize River Valley into Lemonal. We're doing Ladyville, Hattieville, Freetown Sibun area providing support to all of those communities that are affected."
"We've seen individuals that are affected and welcome the Coast Guard into their sphere of dwelling, not only dropping off supplies in front of people's houses but going inside their homes, having a chat with them, so we've seen a good sense of appreciation from those who have been affected."
"I've never seen a well coordinated effort like this, when I say coordinated not only in the government's part but the individual's part, the neighborhood, public, private sector coming together, government agencies working together under one umbrella in order to achieve one effort. I have never seen this before and I've never seen a drive like this before."
