For those of us who may be interested in "coming on down" from the US to help out, is this recommended?

Didn't know if NEMO needed folks for labor-intensive building, etc. or if there are any recommended points of contact for this.

Several of us feel pretty helpless, and really like the hands-on methods in addition to the financial giving.

Thoughts?

Thanks immensely!

I agree. I feel so helpless here in the states when I want to be helping, hands on in Placencia. I know that the cleanup is going to require many, many hands, and there just aren't enough people in town to do it. In one of the pictures on the Yahoo site, I saw my friend, Norman Leslie, (Do-Do) from the Seaspray hard at work starting his repair. As soon as is practical, I'm heading down to help. I'd like to drive down with a truck full of supplies, but I don't know if the borders are going to present big problems. I think it'd be great if many of the Americans that love Belize show that we're not simply "fair weather friends", but are in it for the long haul

A resounding yes!! I definitely agree -- I am already booked with my husband and family members for a 2-week in March, after having fallen in love with the country last August.

I have two friends who will be moving to Toledo District next week and have been conversing via email about some of the situations there.

I am just so tempted to hop a plane right now, or, at the very least, by Thanksgiving, to do my part to contribute to the local economy. Air fares are excellent right now, too.

It would be an exercise in frustration for outsiders to go any earlier than next week, at the earliest. Money, money, money - convenient, portable and directed at obtaining what is needed most.

I'm going to point something out. Placencia has no services for the people who live there. How would they support extra bodies going in right now? They can't, they can't support themselves.

I know we all want to help, I know we all feel helpless and sad for our friends and families.

Best to probably stay put for now & send money. Money is easy to ship, gets to where it is needed & supplies the things they need the most.

I know typing a few characters to donate money doesn't seem like you are doing a lot, but, really, you are doing the best possible thing for right now.

Here is what the people on the ground are telling us:
If you want to help, send MONEY to the fund that Marty set up. The funds are being used for direct relief, delivered personally to the people who need it most. Or if you know of a similar fund (not the government or a big beaurocracy) where you know the individuals who are running it and what they are doing with it and prefer to send it there.
As for "hands on labor" needed to rebuild: There are thousands of UNEMPLOYED WORKERS in Belize who are available for this effort. They need JOBS. That requires MONEY. The local people need help rebuilding. That requires MONEY.
MONEY will put PEOPLE and WORK together where it needs to be put together.
Really, the best thing you can do is to send MONEY to funds or organizations that will get it DIRECTLY to PEOPLE who need it the most (with no spilling to pol pockets or paper pusher perks).
The only exception to that would be if you are a construction professional experienced in disaster rebuild work and have been asked to help by the people on the ground.
Anybody else will only be a hindrance, not a help.

Just so happens that I was a historical building restoration specialist for 15 yrs.,so I do have a few skills. As a
property owner in Placencia, I also may need to do some clean up. I'm going to wait a bit, but I will go down there, fully self supporting, to help.

Seems to me that they would need and appreciate a few people like you, Bob.

Thanks for all info. We would definitely not wish to be in the way; however, my husband has special skills that may be of use either there or from here on a consultancy basis.
He is a Disaster Preparation and Recovery Manager for the State of Virginia (has worked floods, hurricanes -- Floyd being most memorable/recent in these parts) -- any disaster, either man-made or natural, is his forte. He just returned from Southwest Virginia, working a flood disaster in conjunction with FEMA.

We both are adept at home renovation -- he has roofed, etc. We both have gutted entire rooms and "started over" from scratch, etc.

We're just very "hands on" and wish we could help in some fashion in addition to the financial side of the equation.

I think you and your husband would be helpful and appreciated as soon as things settle down a bit Barb. I wouldn't want to take a Belizean's job but the truth is that I've spoken with MANY builders in the area in the last year and they all said that they have a difficult time finding workers. Perhaps there will be an influx of knowledgeable building personnel from other areas, but Belize is a small country and I'm not sure if there are enough to fill the great need that will follow.

Thanks so much for your insight, Bob. We are sending money for now, and will keep reading these message boards in the coming days and weeks for additional info., needs, etc. Possibly we can be of assistance in a more labor-intensive way at some point in the clean-up/rebuilding stages.

Incidentally, you had mentioned that you have property in Placencia. How did your place weather the storm?

Best wishes and good luck to you and all.

I can guarantee you that conditions for working construction will be very primitive. They are gritty and dirty under the best of conditions. Everything is done by hand - there are no forklifts to unload trucks of supplies and no OSHA safety rules. Think about it: what would you do if you got hurt? I've seen the worker guys down there work 14-hour days, with an hour for lunch and not really break a sweat. Then they go clean up, sleep, and they're back after it at 6:30AM. Six and a half days a week, in eleven day stretches with three days off. It's awesome.

Best left to people who know the terrain for now. Sure don't want to hurt anyone's feelings whose intentions are to help. They are just now getting batteries for flashlights, there is no refrigeration for groceries and water service is limited. I'd sure want a bath after a day of doing what those folks have to do to get a roof over their head and I'm sure they have no expectations of that luxury for the moment. And I have a house there with bathrooms that survived free of damage. We're sending money now to Marty's fund and we'll go down to assess things when the vibes are calmer.

[This message has been edited by ckocian (edited 10-11-2001).]

[This message has been edited by ckocian (edited 10-11-2001).]

Barb, FORTUNATELY, We hadn't begun building yet

My two cents: Stay home, donate the money you would spend on a ticket, fuel and feeding yourself to the relief fund.

Bob, that IS fortunate. I believe I mentioned earlier that we have a couple of friends who will be moving to Toledo next week -- they had not yet begun building, either.

I wish you the best as you begin this process.

Barb, FORTUNATELY, We hadn't begun building yet.
I agree that conditions will be difficult and I certainly don't want to act innappropriately. However, someone has to do the work, nasty as it is. I don't want to be one of the Americans that will leave all the tough or dangerous work to the locals and come in at the end. This is my community in Belize, with very good friends that are in trouble. If I want to be part of this place, I need to be there when it's difficult as well as when it's pleasant.

Bob, I'm with you. At this point I don't have allot of cash to contribute, but 25 years of construction experience and 20 years of living in the rural mountains of Colorado with training as an Emergency Medical Technician give me something I can offer. Also figure clean up of our land will be in order. Geri

let me know when you're thinking of going down Geri. I'm going to try to get in touch, by cell phone, with friends down there to find what the reality of the situation is, especially water wise. I can treat polluted water, but I'm not set up for sea water. The Seaspray looks like it's somewhat intact so may be able to rough it out there.
By the way, Lucky Dog has again beaten the odds and survived. That dog must have a little cat blood in her!!

let me know when you're thinking of going down Geri. I'm going to try to get in touch, by cell phone, with friends down there to find what the reality of the situation is, especially water wise. I can treat polluted water, but I'm not set up for sea water. The Seaspray looks like it's somewhat intact so may be able to rough it out there.
By the way, Lucky Dog has again beaten the odds and survived. That dog must have a little cat blood in her!!

I would not want to even suggest that volunteers are not required. I
am however concerned that the organization of the volunteer
presence in PG is not as good as it could be. i believe that they currently have
enough volunteers in medical, clean up and food distribution etc.


Volunteers may be required to assist in housing construction. It has
to be organized.


We are concentrating in PG and will know by Sunday what the
proposed program of house construction will be if the people want
what we have proposed. (Bze 750 per house) In Honduras after
Mitch, the Mennonites of Belize, working with their Christian Aid
Mennonite Group out of the USA rotated groups of volunteers each
two weeks and constructed several thousand houses.


After the initial rapid emergency relief and clean up, efforts are being
concentrated on the long term rescue of housing, food supplies
whilst farmers replant etc.


The GOB sent an organizational team into the area today, to
organize the official government rescue effort (NEMO) which is sadly
in need of co-ordination.


Hopefully the picture will be clearer by Sunday. I believe that the
initial emergency needs are being met. The longer term
requirements of repairing services (roads, electricity etc) will take a
little time.


Both the Belize Red Cross and other relief organizations are now
focusing on the longer term needs. This will require a lot of money,
and possibly manpower. I do not believe that the manpower
requirement have been identified yet.


So, I do not want to say no, but can't say yes yet.


Take care,


Frank REdmond