More families suffer in the wake of Hurricane Richard
Every day we come across families that have been battered by Hurricane Richard. Some are on the road to recovery while others have not been able to begin to rebuild their lives. The wellbeing of one Hattieville family is now complicated by the frequent rains. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
There are many stories of Hurricane Richard’s destruction. The story of the Gongora family is one that is ongoing because when it rains at night this family of eight struggles to keep dry in their home at Tropical Park in Hattieville.
Martha Gongora, Needs a Roof
martha gongora
“Last night we sat down eating and the rain start. Where we mi di try fi shelter in di back piece, drippings start, we put two tubs and that get full up and then the whole thing just to drip and get wet up. So we had one little corner dah back and deh dah weh all ah we sit down with the baby and everybody just stay there til the pastor and the chairman come and look pan it and they try see how deh could help we. They come back with some tarpaulin and climb the roof and try help patch it up. After they done that ih no rain yet but when ih rain again we wah see if it still leaking. But we still need fi mek the roof get fix.”
ruperto mendez
Ruperto Mendez, Needs a Roof
“They come about three or four times and every time they come around they say they will help but all I see they do dah take out some paper and pen and write down weh happen to the house, do some measurements and that they will come back and do some certain stuff, but that dah all weh happen. The noh come back with no material to fix the place.”
Jose Sanchez
“Are you ready to start to work on that roof?”
Ruperto Mendez
“I ready fi fix the roof but I have to wait fi deh bring the material. I ready fi go up there one time and just try nail up deh roof, but no progress noh deh di get make. I have to wait till they come with it.”
It’s a story that the village chairman says needs a new ending.
gilbert domingo
Gilbert Domingo, Village Chairman
“They do a lot of paper work—paper work everywhere. Mister Bood is doing his work, but nothing coming. So what I want to ask if you get enough paper work, can we start the rebuilding process, can we start to put lives back together again because it’s in a very slow mode right now. Right now we still have three families in the center where their property needs to be fixed in order for them to go back or repairs and other stuff. We also have over forty houses that have been destroyed totally. Some of people have tried their best to put it back together and do what they could to get back in the house, but the situation is very grim. This is what we are facing now with the lot of people that are displaced still. We have a group like PROTO and them that come around and help us very greatly; cook food, warm food, clothes and all of that. So I have to say thanks to Mister Mark and the pastor. Other than that we really need help with the NEMO situation. We need material, we need zinc we need replacements we need a place for these people to go.”
The threat is no longer of Richard but of rain. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
I saw a Habitat for Humanity sign somewhere on Central American Boulevard years ago. Do we really have one? Who is in charge? If we choose to donate supplies & ship them to you, who will document receipt of the goods & give us written & visual documentation to confirm that they went to the right recipients, used for its intended purpose & no one will be asked to pay for donated supplies or anything other than labor for work they cannot do.and yes if they are physically able, every man woman & child need to work to fix their own house. Maybe we can regain that sense of community we once had.
If we choose to donate to a specific family whom we are certain lost their home, will the government suspend the duties?.
I saw the my 2cents video, I believe many are still in need but the Courts Promo at the beginning probably had the same effect on most of us who saw it. Please list the address of a site where there are pictures posted showing who needs what along with their damaged home, it may be easier to get individuals to donate or purchase specific items for specific families & not fear opportunists bending us over.
How many square feet or panels of zinc do these people need, the cost, how much extra will the 1/2″ plywood or OSB which should be used underneath to make it stronger add to the cost.
Well i knw exactly how these ppl feel i live in the southside area of Belize City and my home was damaged due to Richard, We call several places for assistance they take down names and address and I feel relieved that maybe someone will help me with my roof, am still waiting for a response its sad to say that the relief is not reaching who needs it. I have no idea who to call to get real assistance.
wonder why some people can’t help themselves!!!!
@ Macal rivera Do you honestly think if those ppl had it in means they would be on tv begging for assistance? Ppl only take such desperate measures when they have nowhere else to turn, nobody in Belize expected to be affected so much by the hurricane, pls think before you speak!
i feel bad cause thats mii home town and i havent been there in a long time . i miss over there i hope everybody recovers from richard