And one community that jumped when it heard that is Placencia. Even with all the uncertainty about the hurricane’s true track, Placencia isn’t waiting around. The peninsula village was flattened by Hurricane Iris in October of 2001. So when the computer projections put landfall just south of Placencia, the community reacted swiftly. And now even as Felix strays from that track, for peninsula residents, they’re not worried about what they don’t know, they’re worried about what they do know about what storms can do.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
All across Placencia today, residents of the peninsula were boarding up or as the case may be, zincing up due to a national plywood shortage created by two hurricanes in three weeks. For those who can’t find zinc or plywood, there are these pieces of wood which if necessary have to be taken on a bicycle. For this Placencia woman, she is packing up her kitchen, preparing for the worst. And while some are open, the airlines too were also open but they were battened down for the storm. Glass louvers are a big worry for Placencia residents and at this home, the shutters are built on and locking them down is a family effort.
Fiona McFarlene is boarding up her business and heading out. She isn’t
as afraid of the storm as she is of the aftermath.
Fiona McFarlene, Putting up Shutters
“At this point I don’t really know because I think it is still far enough away that we are not positive that it is coming particularly to us but Placencia has been through this before so I am trying to be as prepared as possible. Last time I lost all the contents of my shop so I am packing it all up and putting it in my house which is more of a secured building and hopefully we’ll have all preparations done today and be able to hit the road first thing in the morning.”
Jules Vasquez,
So you are evacuating.
Fiona McFarlene,
“Definitely.”
Jules Vasquez,
You rode out Iris here on the peninsula?
Fiona McFarlene,
“No, I evacuated then also. I don’t hang around for hurricanes. I will definitely be out of here. I think most people will evacuate. You might have one or two who will try to fare the storm but I think most people are planning to leave.”
Jules Vasquez,
As the storm approaches, are you nervous, apprehensive about loss to property and that type of thing?
Fiona McFarlene,
“I guess so. Not so much the loss of my shop. My house is fairly substantial and I am hoping, all fingers crossed, that it will fare as well as it did in Iris, more than anything else I fear the loss of some business afterwards, the loss of the economy in Placencia. It took a long time to come back from Iris so I really wouldn’t want to see it go through that again.”
Visitor #1 from Texas,
“We’re actually leaving. We are heading up to Cayo so we are going north and getting up into the mountains so if this place gets under water, we’ll be in higher ground.”
Visitor #2 from Texas,
“Our plans definitely changed. I was supposed to fly to Belize City to go back home on Tuesday but looks like I’ll be here for a little while longer.”
Jules Vasquez,
Tuesday being tomorrow?
Visitor #2 from Texas,
“Yes.”
Jules Vasquez,
And you’re heading west as well?
Visitor #2 from Texas,
“Yes.”
And while he’s heading out, Brenda Bernard is staying and she is not alone.
Brenda Bernard, Staying in Placencia
“I am very nervous about this one. This is a very dangerous hurricane.”
Jules Vasquez,
Will you be staying here on Placencia?
Brenda Bernard,
“Yes I will.”
Jules Vasquez,
Why have you chosen not to evacuate?
Brenda Bernard,
“Because I trust myself that the shelter is strong and this is my home and if I should die, I am going to die right here.”
Jules Vasquez,
Is there anybody who can tell you anything to get you off the peninsula?
Brenda Bernard,
“No, I rather stay here. I chose to stay here. I could’ve been gone from this morning but I just don’t want to go. I want to stay here. I love Placencia. I want it to stay beautiful just like this.”
Tracy Eiley, Staying in Placencia
“Right now with my situation I don’t have the money to buy boards to board up my windows but I have faith because I’ve been watching the
storm and I have faith its going to breakup over Nicaragua and be a two when it gets here. So I think we’re going to be okay, I honestly believe that.”
Jules Vasquez,
Now your home has glass windows and you say you don’t have...
Tracy Eiley,
“Not the proper boards to do it but I am going to do what I can tonight. I’ll wait ‘til it cools off. I will secure it, I’ll be safe. I have faith, I really do. This country has given me a lot of faith.”
Jules Vasquez,
Dwayne you’re here from the United States, a hurricane is about to come. Why are you still here?
Dwayne Adams, Visitor Saying in Placencia
“Well at this particular point I am not exactly sure where the hurricane is going to hit and according to the weather news, its not coming in this direction. It’s a pretty nice community, things are happening. It’s going to be okay.”
Jules Vasquez,
So you’ll make your decision later or you’ll just ride out the storm here in Placencia?
Dwayne Adams,
“I’ll make a decision later on but as far as riding it out, that depends on what’s coming when a decision is made. I want to still stay alive.”
George Lukovic, Visitor Staying in Placencia
“I’m a little concerned yeah but I came down here to get away from Hurricane Dean. The folks over at the commercial port at Big Creek were absolutely spectacular in helping every boater that came in seeking safe harbor last time. I’ve already spoke to them, they’ve told me I’ll have no problem coming back trying to hide from the storm. Again I am hoping it stays a little bit south and the eye doesn’t come right over but I can’t outrun so it is just trying to bunker down and try to be as safe as possible.”
Jules Vasquez,
So you’ll be in Belize for both Hurricane Dean and now the approaching
Hurricane Felix. Certainly not what you had in mind when you planned your vacation.
George Lukovic,
“No I was told that there hadn’t been a hurricane down here for more than seven years and then before that it was like forty years before the last hurricane so I thought Belize was pretty south of the hurricane path so its quite a surprise to have two inside of two weeks in my first couple of months here.”
Jules Vasquez,
But all things considered, you don’t seem to be having a bad time.
George Lukovic,
“I love Belize. I’ve met a lot of nice people here. The country is beautiful, the diving is incredible. It is a beautiful place but you have hurricanes – Mother Nature will get you anywhere you are.”
And while they expect the best, Brian Young is preparing for the worse. He was securing the canopy on his gas station today.
Jules Vasquez,
What’s your greatest concern as the storm approaches?
Brian Young, Gas Station Manager
“According to the last report on the storm, if it goes that way and passes over Nicaragua and Honduras, my concern would be for flooding and usually it doesn’t take much of a storm to submerge Placencia so that would be my major concern.”
Jules Vasquez,
You’ll stay here in Placencia?
Brian Young,
“No, not with a category 5 or category 4. Maybe a category three and that’s a maybe too.”
And maybe, that word weighed heavily on the peninsula today and as children fished on the dock and played on the beach, don’t mistake their distraction for absence. They are living it up but only while they can.”
12 year old, Leaving Placencia
“I don’t really know but I just know I am not staying here for this hurricane because the last hurricane, that did we a lot of damage so I’m not staying here now.”
Jules Vasquez,
So now you all are having your fun, playing on the Placencia Beach before the hurricane comes. You think that when you come back, let’s say Thursday or Friday after the storm passes, everything will be as you’re leaving it?
12 year old,
“Not really, I think this storm will be much worse than Iris if it stays the same direction.”
Brenda Bernard,
“I’m very very nervous and I am pretty confused but as I said, what should be will be."
Later on, we’ll have an interview with village Chairman Brian Yearwood who ordered the evacuation of the village this morning.
