State of Recovery: Hurricane Lisa One Year Later
It’s been exactly one year since Hurricane Lisa battered Belize, leaving behind hundreds of millions of dollars in structural damage and economic losses. It was a category one hurricane that even to date, and despite all efforts by government to rebuild, the country has not been able to fully recover. Tonight, News Five’s Duane Moody speaks with those who were affected, as well as NEMO, about the efforts to return to a sense of normalcy. But how resilient have we been?
Duane Moody, Reporting
One year ago, today, Hurricane Lisa, a category one storm, made landfall in Belize. For hours, residents braved the brunt of the strong winds and rains that flooded their communities, taking down trees and ripping roofs from beams. In some cases, houses were flattened and tons of debris were strewn across the streets. Lorna Nixon and her husband have been living on the seafront in the Caesar Ridge area. A small zinc structure is where they have been living after their home was washed away by the hurricane.
Lorna Nixon
Lorna Nixon, Belize City Resident
“Whole house. My son-in-law Patrick come and rebuild me house and put me in there. Then yah times yah, Look yah, I be so suffering, I be bearing. I got a hard time with my house and I be suffering and nobody come out to help me.”
Fortunately, Nixon says that her living condition will soon change because help has come through with a new house for them in Lord’s Bank.
Lorna Nixon
“Last year, I neva got the house and Mister Frisco in Lord’s Bank come and build the house and I am so happy and I am so glad for it and I thank him very much. I asked God to give me and God give me it. It’s just the septic tank and the light and the water and I will be moving out.”
Hundreds of millions of dollars in damages were recorded.
Daniel Mendez
Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“We were able to determine that we suffered a hundred and thirty-one million dollars approximately in damages and also the country suffered approximately sixty-three million dollars in loss. Of course, there was the human aspect; there were all types of issues that occurred as a result.”
For several days, there were communities without access to utilities – electricity and water. And while that was resolved, there are so many others whose lives were turned upside down. The government employed a post disaster needs assessment that looked at loss and damages, beyond simply looking at physical damages to structures.
Daniel Mendez
“We looked at the social aspect which looked at housing, education and culture. We also looked at the productive sector, looking at what happened to the agriculture sector, what happened to fisheries, forestry and tourism. And of course, always, we look at the infrastructure. So we do know that livelihoods were impacted; we do know that there were already people who were in precarious situations, a lot of people who were already vulnerable. The PDNA helped us to look at it and determine that the livelihoods of over a hundred and seventy-two thousand persons were affected; there were losses in their capacity to generate income and there were also loss in personal income and of course, there was the issue of physical damages to their infrastructure, to their homes.”
The National Emergency Management Organization plays a critical role in disaster relief. A committee looking at damage and needs would provide a report that is used to assess where assistance is most needed.
Daniel Mendez
“In the initial response, a lot was provided to people – tarps, food and water and shelter were provided to people. In the long term, the medium term, assistance was provided to many people. The government spent over three million dollars in providing housing assistance to people and that continues. Recovery takes a long time. Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, it doesn’t happen over a few weeks. Recovery can take a long time. Some people are able to recover faster than others. And so that effort continues just like it has after every event. NEMO and the government will continue to support and promote the recovery of affected population.”
Thankfully, Nixon was able to get assistance from a private business owner, but for Patrick Ottley, he is still displaced. He had received a house from Hand in Hand Ministries, but the storm pushed the wooden structure off its concrete stilts and is now exposed to the elements. It’s unliveable and is inundated by the rising tide daily.
Patrick Ottley
Patrick Ottley, Belize City Resident
“The hurricane do me this sir. Nobody come help me mien, nobody. Up and down everywhere – dehn push me around. Hand in Hands help me build this house, they tell me about me have to get money on my own fi do that by myself. I have to live with it sir; I can’t do nothing. Every day, I have to live with this. You see how it deh; everyday.”
Duane Moody
“Where are you guys living now?”
Patrick Ottley
“I stay with that woman right there. I go dah she house cause mi can’t use bathroom; nothing me can’t use. I di explain to you, I got every day and they push me around. I have to go dah this one, I have to go dah that one deh. Tell me I have to go dah Belmopan; sign up form and nothing happen. Everybody I see the get help before me and me nobody come look pan me.”
Duane Moody
“This dah one year later?”
Patrick Ottley
“Can’t do nothing, mi boss.”
National Coordinator for NEMO, Daniel Mendez, says that assistance has been provided, but recovery takes time. But what about Ottley, who says he has not received any form of assistance?
Daniel Mendez
“The machinery is still out there. The machinery is still out there promoting and helping people. I am quite certain that there has been a record of the persons who have received assistance and there is assistance that’s still available and that assistance will continue to be provided by NEMO.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
