For the last three days Belize has been pounded by some serious rain. Rainfall totals aren't collected for Belize City but at the Phillip Goldson Airport 2.2 inches of rainfall fell yesterday. It may not sound like much but in an average June, there are only 9 inches of rainfall for the entire month. More than 20% of the entire month's rainfall fell in one day. The Met Office says things might get worse before they get better due to a tropical wave that crossed the country today. That is bad news for residents of the city and particularly those at City Hall who are dealing with their first flood. Today's break in showers gave them a chance to talk to us.
Keith Swift Reporting,
These shots of South Park Street, George Street, and Johnson Street are only a glimpse of a city that was partially submerged. Most of those streets basically remained that way until this afternoon when there was finally a pause in the shower. And after three days of rain city councilor in charge of streets Anthony Michael says that they couldn't prevent the flooding but they did mitigate it.
Anthony Michael; City Councilor
"Within the first three or four days we felt very good because although we had hard rain, nowhere got flooded. That showed that the drainage system, the culverts, the maintenance of the drains, the new drains that we had put in was working. Because the ground is now saturated, we're experiencing presently a highs tide and that is causing some of the problems right now.
What is creating a lot of problems right now is the amount of potholes that have been created on the highways, the main streets, and the different arteries within Belize City. I must assure the residents of Belize City that we have people to dispatch. If your news media could drive around you could see SEL and BSM workers along with the City Council workers presently on the street dealing with some culverts that are clogged to alleviate some of the problems."
And that says Michael is why when we checked this afternoon - most streets were drained or close to it. For example you can compare South Park Street on Friday night with South Park Street this afternoon.
Anthony Michael,
"Belize City on an average is right at sea level and when the tide is high and we have rain like this we will have some flooding. I think the residents of Belize City accept that. What they did not accept in the past is that when the rain has stopped, after two or three days, their yards and streets and stuff were still flooded. That is not happening anymore."
And as much as the rains for the first test for Anthony Michael and his team at the Pound Yard. It was also the first test for that now infamous of paved road known as Banak Street. Burton Coleman has lived on Banak for 15 years and he says over the last three days he saw a first.
Burton Coleman, Banak Street Resident
"We improved a lot. When it rained like this right now we would have been flooded out but right now we don't any water on the street and everybody straight man. They did a good job on the street."
Keith Swift,
How long have you lived on Banak Street?
Burton Coleman,
"I've lived on Banak Street for about almost 15 years. This is my main address."
Keith Swift,
And it would have been flooded?
Burton Coleman,
"Yes it would have been flooded and the traffic couldn't go. Well right now the traffic is flowing too sweet and we would need something to slow down the traffic because like I said there are kids and thing."
