NEMO says sixteen thousand plus affected by floods

A preliminary damage report from NEMO for Tropical Depression sixteen has just been released and it indicates that many more families comprising at least sixteen thousand four hundred and fifty-five persons, are in need of relief assistance and aid. Areas that have severely been impacted in the north include Burrell Boom, Crooked Tree, Lemonal, Maypen, Scotland Halfmoon, San Roman, San Antonio, Douglas and San Victor. Jose Sanchez has a report from one of the affected communities.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The rains have gone, but the waters on the Northern Highway and in Lords Bank Village like other Belize District communities, will remain for another week. Homes still have the appearance of being built in the middle of a river. Seventy-two families are affected by the flood waters and at least twenty-two homes have serious flood damage.

Walter Sosa, Vice Chairman, Lords Bank Village Council
“Well, for this week we kinda see it kinda lee tough for residents who are still in their house and so they have to travel in canoes. It’s kind of difficult, we try and assist as much as we could but some people still have to walk in water because we can’t reach them because the water is still kind of shallow in some areas.”

Eleven persons are staying at the Lords Bank Community Shelter Storm Center. Though that number is low, there are others like Gildon Rowland who sought refuge at the homes of families outside of flood areas.

Gildon Rowland Sr., Resident Lords Bank Village
“Sunday the waters have raised brethren and I left and by di time I come back down da because water deh inna my house at least wah foot. I observed dat almost everybody inna di neighbourhood round yah start to move out dehn things weh dehn could save and thing and put inna truck and whip out. But unfortunately for me, I unemployed so I couldn’t do nothing like dat. So dah just me and mi wife gone and try fi seek refuge dah mi mother-in-law areas.”

Jose Sanchez
“You think you’ll be able to move back here?”

Gildon Rowland
“I mi hope dat di water look like ih gone down at least today because I want try get home as soon as possible but dis noh look like wah next week, dis look like months; rough for me.”

Walter Sosa, Vice Chairman of Lords Bank Village Council, it will take time for life to return to normal.

Walter Sosa
“Some, like in a month time. Some others, a bit longer because they lost all their furniture, you know lots of items in their place, in their house. So it will be longer. I don’t even think they will have a Christmas this year.”

Gildon Rowland Sr.
“My only other alternative dah dis shelter and I noh di stay deh cause dehn noh even have facilities deh proper of wah family really deh. So I would ah really want dehn try do something bout dis fast or si weh kinda drainage dehn could do fi get out dis wata cause dis noh di work.”

Walter Sosa
“Right now maybe we can try work with the private sector in donations to help with some of the people who really need it. Food items, water because, as we know, the water coming in from the pipe right now is not really healthy, right. I can say food and thing like that but we will try and allocate some private places where we could get rice, beans sugar and the main important thing right now for some of the people in the community right weh affected.”

Sosa says that they are appealing to individuals and the business community for support. You can reach him at 662-1639. reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

According to NEMO, the Government of Belize has provided one week’s worth of food and water supplies for six thousand and thirty-five individuals. Two hundred and ninety-seven individuals remain in official government shelters, while it is believed that a much larger number are staying with relatives and friends until the flood waters recede or their homes are repaired.