Flood waters receding slowly

It is a little less than a month, since the persistent rains from tropical depression sixteen caused historic rises in water levels. In areas that are bound by rivers such as the Macal, Rio Hondo and Mopan Belize waters rose by eight feet. In the Blue Creek Village water levels peaked at over thirteen feet high. But tonight, there is good news and bad news for Belizeans who have been affected by the increased water levels in their area. The good news is that waters are receding, but the bad news is that the regulatory process will be rather extensive. Hydrologist, Rudolph Williams, explains.

Rudolph Williams, Hydrologist, Belize Nat’l Met Service
“Although the water level is going down, the velocity is still strong and that’s what we call moving very fast so there is risks of drowning that persist in those are. In the northern part of the country people will not be able to go back to normal in a short time at all. Crooked Tree lagoon is still above normal, significantly above normal and above the causeway. The good news is that it’s falling a little faster than it normally falls. So we are expecting that for the next month or so that water level will remain above the causeway but it will be falling gradually. We have a monitoring gauge near the Williamson Industry’s Factory and at that point it has gone down in excess of a half a meter that puts you at a foot and a half in that area. Water levels have been falling very rapidly in the Belize River Valley area and slowly in the New River and slowly on the Rio Hondo at this time. In the Belize River Valley area, water levels have gone back within the banks, however, there still at flood stage at this time and they are going down pretty rapidly. Here at the international airport there has been a significant drop in water levels and they have seen a significant drop in water levels in the Belama area and on the western highway.”

Williams emphasized that caution is better than cure.