Preliminary Flood Impacts Currently Stand in the Tens of Millions of Dollars

John Briceño

Hurricane Julia swept through Central America almost two weeks ago and left in its wake several countries coping with flood damages. In Belize, early estimates are that tens of millions of dollars in losses or damages have been identified, with more projected in the coming days as the waters continue to push across the landscape toward the Caribbean Sea. In many instances where damage was reported, residents in the Cayo District lost access to clean drinking water when their wells got contaminated. Today at the National Assembly, Prime Minister John Briceño said that there is a budget of five million dollars that can be used immediately – the accounting for which will be shared at the next house meeting.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The main effects of Hurricane Julia is damage to homes and subsistence farmers and people’s livelihoods, especially the residents of the Belize, Toledo and Cayo Districts. Our infrastructure, crops, livestock, household items, people’s personal assets, even like vehicles. We saw one I think was in Benque where heavy flooding actually washed away a small SUV – and equipment were all affected by those who were in the way of the rising waters. Initial reports from the Disaster Risk Management is that fifty communities, an approximately twenty thousand people have been affected, of course some more than others. As we speak, we still have four shelters remaining open, three in the western villages – one in Calla Creek and one in More Tomorrow. As of this past Saturday, ninety-six persons were being house in these four shelters. Of course, Madam Speaker we’re happy that no lives were lost, but many lives were affected, with some families losing everything due to the flooding. Preliminary assessments indicate that cost for the impacted communities is estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars with a higher amount attributed to the agriculture, tourism and infrastructure sectors.”