Rare footage shows devastation of Hattie

We overlooked it on Tuesday when we covered the anniversary of Hurricane Hattie. But the following dramatic footage of that deadly storm is a reminder to all Belizeans–especially those in Belize City–that hurricanes are not to be taken lightly. The remarkable pictures were shot on eight millimetre film on the morning of November first, 1961 by a young Canadian surveyor named Bill Wildman. At the time Wildman resided in the Newton Barracks neighbourhood behind what is now the Belize Pickwick Club. Forty-five years later a still young Wildman, who lives in Corozal’s Consejo Shores, has made it available for all of us to experience.

(Clips of Hattie’s destruction)

Yes, that was then First Minister George Price visiting the ruins of the Old Belize City Hospital. Again, thanks to Bill Wildman for making that remarkable film available to us.