NEMO preparing for potential floods
As we said earlier, the tropical depression does not pose much threat of making direct landfall over Belize. In fact, the projected path of the weather system has it taking a northerly then north-westerly track. But the folks at the National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, have taken steps to prepare for any possibility or eventuality, including heavy rains and flooding. NEMO held a news conference at its headquarters in Belmopan this afternoon and Marion Ali files this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
While Tropical Storm Ida has slowly lost strength, its remnants now down downgraded to a tropical depression, still have the potential to bring heavy flooding as it passes Belize this weekend. Chief Meteorological Officer, Ann Gordon says the weather system’s track is guiding it away from our path.
Ann Gordon, Chief Met Officer
“We have a mid-level range that is steering this system northwards today, tonight and Saturday. Sunday we have another system over the south-eastern United States that is going north-northwestward. That system would be further north of us at that time.”
But even if the system changes course or brings with it flooding, Minister of NEMO, Melvin Hulse, says they are ready to respond.
Melvin Hulse, Minister of NEMO
“We have contacted tractors and trailers to move people. We have boats put in place because, as you all well know, out at San Roman and San Antonio and Santa Cruz always experience these floorings out there and it’s difficult to move. Our biggest concern is to be in place because the experts and I’m certain that Ann is going to make comment to that, is that they keep advising us; guys you got twenty odd inches of rain that may reach Belize, MAY. We are not certain to what extent it will survive once ih pass the mountain Nicaragua and Honduras so we cannot be reckless and not put things into place.”
The Minister also said that because three bridges are out of commission in the south, they have already dispatched boats and adequate supplies of food items.
Melvin Hulse
“So aside from having food out there, we have B.D.F. boats out there, we have police out there, we have Fisheries out there, we have Customs out there. We have private boats and dories because many places dah dories yoh have to use out deh. We have busses whether dah James or school bus, we have them parked. Some parked in Punta Gorda, some in Bella Vista to be able to handle the Monkey River, Bladen, Swasey area. Right now we have boats, we have people in place. We have everything in place. We have identified where they’re going to go and everything.”
While there are areas that are vulnerable to flooding, Hulse said he was not concerned about Melinda Forest Station in Hope Creek, which lost many homes to Tropical Depression in August of 2008. This is because the villagers have been given new homes at another location in the village.
Melvin Hulse
“Each and every one of them have a home, a cement house that was built after Author. They have the keys to their houses. The only reason they have not been relocated to the housing mandatory is because we’ve been asking B.E.L. to provide electricity. We just get a costing from B.E.L. Anyway, in this week B.E.L. give me a cost. What we have told them now, guys we di watch di north Stann Creek; if ih start to get flooded, we are going to move you into your own house that you have a key for.”
Meanwhile, CEO in the Ministry of NEMO, Col George Lovell also warned residents in the north to be prepared for flooding.
Col. George Lovell, CEO, NEMO
“We are looking at those areas again like Douglas and those areas that are susceptible to flooding as being likely areas that can be impacted. So those are the focus areas that we’re looking at, at this time.”
NEMO advises the public to monitor local radio and TV stations over the weekend. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
NEMO Coordinator, Noreen Fairweather, said NEMO will be activated at seven on Saturday morning.
