NEMO Activates Operations Countrywide

The National Emergency Management Organization’s response teams have been activated countrywide as more rains are expected to affect the country throughout the rest of the week. NEMO’s latest advisory indicates that a slow moving tropical wave is affecting the country. This comes after a low pressure system caused severe flooding in northern Belize over the weekend. Reporters spoke with Shelton Defour, the National Emergency Coordinator at NEMO, via Zoom this morning.

Shelton Defour

Shelton Defour, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO

“Since last night when we sent out the advisory, following the hydrology report in terms of their flood forecast, monitoring the hydromet hydrology report in terms of potential flooding forecast, monitoring the Met Department weather report, we noted that the situation needed more NEMO intervention based on what was happening. So, we activated NEMO to a full operational state, as was coordinated by the Ministry operational group with the Minister and CEO, where they were in communication with all the Area Reps in terms of the concerns in order to protect people, public safety, get people in a safe place. So, from that point until now, the weather has subsided a lot in terms of the rain fall amounts. Now, I understand the Chief Met did state that we have to brace for an additional two to three inches of rainfall a day. So, NEMO across the country is fully activated in view of the ongoing risk from rainfall, we recognize it would have been best to advise the Ministry of Education to not have classes today due to the fact that more rainfall is likely to take place.”