NEMO Corozal puts first red flag up as storm approaches the horizon
As we reported at the top of the newscast, a weather system is heading our way. Tropical Storm Richard is the fourth storm to track its path towards Belize since the start of the 2010 hurricane season and threatens to become a hurricane. It is the third storm that appears to be heading for northern Belize. Corozal is in the projected path of most computer models and red flags are now flying on public buildings. News Five spoke via phone today with the Mayor, Hilberto Campos about preparations in the north. According to Campos, the Town Council and NEMO Corozal are already on the move and with all the practice they’ve had this season, their action plan is ready.
Via Phone: Hilberto Campos, Mayor, Corozal
“Unfortunately, the Tropical Storm Richard, has possibility that it will be heading north. We have already entered the first phase; the flag is up, not only in Corozal Town but in the entire district of Corozal, all the villages. NEMO Corozal, I am the vice chair and we are all on alert already. We have notified all our members of the committee; everybody is monitoring the storm and tomorrow morning at the in the morning we’re having our first meeting in the NEMO Office to unfold our plan of action in the case that the Tropical Storm Richard makes landfall or comes closer to Corozal. But we are all on high alert already. We have been calling our members of NEMO Corozal at the district level.”
Delahnie Bain
“Okay, and in terms of the shelters. Are plans for those in place?”
Via Phone: Hilberto Campos
hilberto campos
“Yes, fortunately, to a certain extent we have been practicing ever since we had the different threats of Karl and all those tropical storms that were kind of approaching Corozal, we have our shelters in place. Everything is in order.”
Delahnie Bain
“Outside of the official preparations, what is it like in terms of the individual residents’ preparation wise?”
Via Phone: Hilberto Campos
“Well, we have been on the radio from early in the hurricane season. The Corozal Town Council, for example, has its own hurricane preparedness plan and we have twenty minutes, thirty minutes to put up our shutters and prepare the staff. Similarly in Corozal Town we have been on the radio making the public aware to have their own plans in place, each family as to whether they will need to come to a shelter or whether they will need to put in security measures for their own homes.”
In case of emergencies, residents are advised to contact NEMO Corozal or the Town Council for assistance. More on Tropical Storm Richard coming up in the weather report.
