The calm before the storm, hours before Richard lands on shore
Over the past weekend, the nation held its collective breath in anticipation of Hurricane Richard, the first to hit Belize for this 2010 season. Many residents did not appear overly concerned; perhaps because of two recent threats that did not come to pass. But by Saturday it was abundantly clear that Richard was heading directly for the old capital. The rains begun later that evening and by Sunday afternoon, the winds picked up force and the skies opened for the deluge that accompanied Richard. At ninety miles per hour, the devastation to property was felt sharply in the south side of the City. On the north side the water rose dangerously along Marine Parade; but good fortune was with us and so far there have been no confirmed reports of fatalities. Still yet the human drama begun to unfold since Sunday afternoon as families headed to shelters. We’ll have dramatic coverage of the hurricane including a fly-over of the devastated areas in Richard’s path. We begin with Marion Ali and cameraman Alex Ellis who braved the winds as the hurricane approached the City.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The preparations for Richard started from last Friday after the National Emergency Management Organization met in Belmopan. And while the storm’s projected path had it crossing over Belize early Monday morning, plans for its arrival had to be fast-forwarded. By Sunday morning, Richard became a looming threat and all commercial flights were grounded and a small craft warning was put in effect.
Three hours prior to the impact of the hurricane, the sea state in Belize City, as shown in this video clip was normal, although the clouds were ominous, of what was to come.
This mother and her children decided to make their way to a nearby hurricane shelter before the storm barreled down. By the time they arrived, many more had flocked to the safety of the shelters. And by four o’clock Sunday afternoon, the weather had significantly deteriorated as tree limbs had already begun to sway and snap across the city under the wind-force.
The seawall by the hangar area in the old capital played no role in holding back the swelling Caribbean Sea and it became one with the street as Richard approached.
As the storm pummeled its way through Belize on Sunday night, it continued to tear up everything in its path that it could and caused flooding to a major portion of the city’s low-lying zones, leaving many of the residents with one common question: Is this the worst yet? Marion Ali for News Five.
I want to firstly say well done for hard work of all the emergency team (Mr Espejo and others) and the Belizeans in the general public who went that extra mile to assist others. The all radio stations really played their part to make sure people were safe with regular accurate updates and support, fantastic work guys.
What I will say though that there were people out there really playing with their lives and the lives of the emergency team. There was so much notices of the impending storm and yet we found people in homes not structurally fit to withstand a tropical storm let alone a hurricane. Furthermore the hurricane could had gained category 2 or 3 which would have proven deadly for many. There were so many people mainly women using the radio stations as a call in centre to order the emergency as a taxi service. Quite frankly it is unacceptable and unfair, if you live alone with little children you should start making arrangements as soon as you hear about the storm to find shelter. You put not only your life as risk, but the children you love and the emergency team who also have families themselves. Attitudes really need to change and maybe this need to come with some work from the Met guys and the older generations of the dangers of these Hurricanes.
Its been fifty years (Hattie in 1961) since we have been hit with a category 5 winds estimated at 150-200 mph (240KmH), and so most of the population do not respect these storms. I am in my thirties but have spoken to the older family members who share their experiences of the devastation caused by the hurricane of September 10, 1931 which we now know was a category 3, killing more 2.500 people in Belize and then Hattie on the 31 October 1961 unsure how many died then. My family lost several members in 1931 and so I grew hearing of the horrors of seeing zinc roofs falling off severing heads etc, and it has though me to respect these storms. I see how nerves the older family members get when we have notices of these storms heading our way, yet the younger population like my generation think its a good idea to drive around or wonder out and about as though its a sunny day. These storms are probably are to going to be a regular occurrence and we were lucky this time but we need to educate ourselves about these storms.
It is very heavy on my heart to hear the recent news of the devastating losses and upheavel in my beloved second home of Belize. I am with you spiritually and offer up prayers to God that you will soon recovery. Belize I last saw your shores 22 years ago and had stayed for 2 years, my love for you began in 1980, and I came for the first time in 1982 to Belize and stayed one year. I fail in love with the people and the land. The Cities, towns, villages and hamlets of every size that visited in Districs of my beloved Belize. I miss you and wish you well dear Belize. Ernest Bradley October 26, 2010.
Does anyone know how things are at Gales Point?