The entire country is under a hurricane watch but since yesterday the entire city has been in panic mode. There have been long lines at gas stations, ATMs, and in supermarkets. That was the scene we met when he the city today. Keith Swift covered the city side.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Belize City was on alert today – with crush of people at ATMs, gas stations, and supermarkets. And nowhere was that sense of panic more evident than at the marine terminal – which was a drop off point for Belizeans and tourists fleeing the storm threatened islands of Caye Caulker and San Pedro. Evacuees arrived boatful after boatful.
Caye Caulker Evacuee #1
“We’re going to Orange Walk. I live on Caye Caulker. We decided to leave because we are afraid of the weather. We experienced Keith already so that wasn’t nice. So any time this Caye, anytime this weather comes on, we got to leave.”
Keith Swift,
Where did you come from?
Caye Caulker Evacuee #2,
“Caye Caulker.”
Keith Swift,
Where are you going to go?
Caye Caulker Evacuee #2,
“Belmopan.”
Keith Swift,
Why did you decide to leave the island?
Caye Caulker Evacuee #2,
“Because the hurricane is coming straight to us and I don’t really want to stay there knowing I have the baby and the hurricane is coming right.”
Caye Caulker Evacuee #3,
“We had to come out from the island because its not safe and we have to find a better place to stay.”
Keith Swift,
Where are you going to go?
Caye Caulker Evacuee #3,
“I think maybe to Chetumal. Yes I think so, I its best I am not here.”
Josh, Rob, and Michael are also leaving Belize. They are tourists from England who arrived on Caye Caulker a week ago. Their trip has been cut short because of Hurricane Felix.
Rob, Tourist from England
“We were supposed to stay maybe a week, maybe go down to San Ignacio and then Guatemala but we’re heading out to Tulun now.”
Keith Swift,
So you’re leaving Belize now?
Josh, Tourist from England
“Yes we’re leaving Belize.”
Keith Swift,
Did you expect to encounter a storm in Belize?
Michael, Tourist from England
“We thought that Dean would be the only hurricane and we wanted to spend more time here but we’re being evacuated from Caye Caulker and so we thought our best option was to go to Mexico.”
Keith Swift,
So this messed up your trip to Belize?
Josh,
“Well we came mainly because we wanted to dive in the Blue Hole and luckily we went yesterday but yeah, we were pretty worried this morning. Like the whole of Caye Caulker was deserted, banging up their windows.”
Of course most of the traffic from the islands was one way and most evacuees ended up here at the Novelo’s Bus Terminal on West Collet Canal.
Blanca Garica, Evacuee Waiting for Bus
“I am from San Pedro and I am going to Pomona Valley.”
Keith Swift,
You know that the hurricane is going south right?
Blanca Garica,
“Yes but we will be going with our families.”
Erline Castro, Waiting for Bus
“Yes I came from Maskall and then they have a one o’clock bus and the three thirty bus but the buses were so full that the one o’clock bus went a quarter to one and the three thirty bus went quarter to two and right now we are stranded. We are waiting on another three thirty bus and I don’t know if they’ll have a five thirty bus.”
Keith Swift,
So what will you do?
Erline Castro,
“I’ll have to wait and see.”
And those who weren’t leaving the city were probably in supermarkets. This was the scene inside Public’s Supermarket at 1:30, as you can see the aisles were filled but most of the shelves were empty. For shopkeepers - it was a challenge restocking those shelves
and keeping them stocked. That was basically the same scene at Xtra House where lines for the cash register stretched down to almost the entire length of an aisle. To deal with the crush of shoppers – Xtra House had to create this special area for Hurricane basics. These shoppers say its better to safe than sorry.
Keith Swift,
What are you stocking up on for the hurricane?
Shopper #1,
“On groceries, non perishable groceries, and like bread and sausages…you never can tell what can happen and you don’t want to be left without food or anything.”
Shopper #2,
“I am stocking up because I have my kids and I don’t know if I’ll be able to come out to buy any more things for them so they can eat. I am buying lone can food right now.”
Shopper #3,
“I am stocking up on the main things that we need; can foods and you know all the necessities that you need for the hurricane.”
Keith Swift,
You found everything that you need?
Shopper #3,
“I still need bread and flour. I came here and I didn’t find any flour and several things. I’ll have to try and find it somewhere else.”
Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya told us that there is free transportation to inland destinations for evacuees from the islands. Most supermarkets won’t open tomorrow. Extra House says it will.
