Hi everybody,


Here is the latest update from Punta Gorda on the progress of the
housing project:

MATERIALS ON HAND (approximate)
Lumber for at least 20 houses
Roofing for 50 houses
200 bags of cement (4 bags per house)


PROGRESS OF HOUSES
Completed:
16 in Blue Creek
3 in Big Falls
40 in San Marcos
1 in Santa Cruz (due to fire on Thursday)
In varying stages of completion:
10 in San Marcos


Surveys done:
Crique Jute
Medina Bank

i hope to have 40+ pics of when i was down there with peter and frank up on the web in next couple daze...

i think we'll hit that 200 houses $80,000 number we were shooting, thanks expecially to the red cross matching our funds....

building in san marcos, big falls, medina bank, blue creek, and mafredi so far...

[This message has been edited by Marty (edited 11-03-2001).]

Absolutely wonderful job ! It's so rewarding and they need us, as well as we need them !
Thanks for the update, Marty.

Thanks SO much Marty for making the trip and ensuring the efficient spending of that money! It's fantastic....
YOU DA MAN....MON.....

Marty: I was wondering why there has been no relief building news about Placencia? I have Belizian friends there who lost a home in the village and a business on one of the cayes, and I'm not sure how to help them. How can I reach the Stann Creek Land office in Dangriga. Can you give me any advice? Thanks for any info and help.

Thanks for the info Marty.

marty, i too am wondering why there has been no relief for placencia from the donations to this board.
i was under the impression when i donated that placencia was included.
i just returned from placencia and it is far from on the mend.

I thought I posted a message this morning but it seems to have disappeared. You can reach the Dangriga land office by calling 011-501-5-22220.
Also Mary Toy at Kevin Modera website is posting updates on Placencia and what is going on.
Big problem is that BTL is giving no time for when they will have telephone service restored and naturally they are dependent on BEL getting their lines run first.
Afraid it is just going to be a long process.

The structures we are building are not recommended for along the beach.

we are building inland a bit in the villages. it was by far the most roofs per dollar we could build.

marty,
i would of liked the specific information that the donations to this board would not reach placencia. it seemed since they were hit the hardest the funds would be used to re-build SOMETHING in placencia. my donation would have been made directly to those in the village had i known.

we did not know what the best way to spend the money would be when we began to collect it. Also, the money we spend in the villages gets matched by the red cross, and I do not believe that monies contributed to general relief in Placencia would have been doubled.

anyone who would like a refund let me know, I have a lil left in the bank i have not sent down yet i can refund from.

here's our latest report:
=====================
Medina Bank;
Four men from Barton Creek are working on this project. Progress has been
hindered by lack of aggregate. That seems to have been remedied now. They
have 12 forms (2 sets) and have been able to pour them two times a day on
sunny days, making posts for 4 houses in one day. They should finish in
about 6 days. 45 bags of cement were left there on the first trip and 100
bags should be coming today. The lumber is supposed to be sawed this
weekend by Tommy Gomez.

Crique Jute:
Again this project has been hampered by lack of aggregate. A load arrived
last evening and another is supposed to arrive this morning. There are four
sets of house posts completed, and more being poured today. A change of
volunteer help has also detained the work here. Probably the largest
hindering factor is the terrain. It's one thing to pour 6 cement posts on
level easily accessible land, it's another matter to carry cement,
aggregate, steel, forms and water over hills and try to set up on a slope
that's 20 inches off level in 12 feet. The villagers have done real good in
carrying materials, but it is taxing work and takes a lot of extra time.
Trusses and beams are ready and being transported to Crique Jute today.
Materials are on hand to make more trusses when the shop is cleared out.
Our main sawmill was broke down for a week so we ordered a semi load of
materials for 50 houses from Shipyard. It is supposed to arrive November
20. They will deliver for $1.04/ft. Freight and half the lumber will be
paid upon delivery and the balance in two weeks.

Other:
Several houses have been built in other areas where there are special needs.
One in Santa Elena, where a house burned down and the family lost all their
possessions. We were able to erect a building by the next day. One for a
old widow woman in Golden Stream and plans for a sick man in the same area
tomorrow. He has a family of 10 children sheltering under a leaking tarp.
A little more about this unfolding scenario. We had added a fifth
classification to our categorizing system. This is called "self-improved".
Red Cross asked us to provide houses for these self-improved people. In
order to move refugees out of the schools the government hauled in cahune
leaves from less affected areas. These were portioned out to 150 leaves per
family Normally leaves are tied by 8 every 4 inches using approximately 500
leaves per house. With the 150 allotment they tied 5 leaves every 10
inches. This stop-gap measure appeared good at first. However now since
the leaves have dried out, you can see the sky through the roof. Of course
the rain comes in too as our investigator found out yesterday in a cloud
burst in Aguacate. Several men this morning from Queso Creek, told me they
spent the night sitting up to try to stay dry. Now there is a dearth of
leaves in the surrounding areas too. They also need leaves for their own
villages. So this measure is now effectively removed cahune leaves as an
option for roofing. It takes about 1 year to grow back cahune leaves.
Something else we are looking at is the danger of fire. The bush in this
whole area has been leveled and is now drying. In the event of a hard dry
season there could be some serious fires. Cahune houses are very
susceptible to fire. So it appears that we have a lot of tin roofs to
build.

Investigations are completed in San Miguel and Aguacate. Santa Cruz will be
completed today and Tambran tomorrow. We are planning to do Silver Creek
the beginning of next week. I will try to send a tabulated result of the
classification for these villages this weekend.

I will have about $800 in the bank left, not sent down yet. I can send this to Placencia, if that is what folks would like.

otherwise, it gets doubled and sent to the villages and builds four homes.

Since Marty has been very open about reporting the disposition of the money he kindly volunteered to be responsible for, and the consensus of the majority of contributors to every move he made was that the money be maximized where MOST needed, he has done a wonderful service to humankind in Belize. It's impossible to meet every need in every place stricken by such a devastating hurricane.

What help is not needed because of these contributions will undoubtedly trickle into areas where it is needed. In my community of Placencia and Seine Bight, there is much activity and hard work by government and volunteers using donated materials and labor to give folks a leg up.

This isn't meant to say that more help isn't needed but patience is required to let the mechanics of all sources of help work. I know normalcy can't come too soon for those affected.

IRIS RECONSTRUCTION PROFILE PHASE I
NOVEMBER 19,2001

Villages completed: houses built
San Marcos 58
Blue Creek 16
Misc. Individual houses 11
Total villages completed 2 houses 85

Villages work in progress: Estimate date of completion:
Medina Bank 24 November 30
Crique Jute 23 November 30
Total villages work in progress 2 houses 47

Villages surveyed and funds allotted for: Estimate date of completion:
Santa Cruz 26 December 15 - 20
Tambrin 10 December 15 - 20
Villages surveyed 2 houses 36

Grand total 6 villages; 168 houses.

Funds and materials, etc. donated are right around $140,000.00 Bze. Value.
This brings the actual cost of houses at about $850.00 Bze.

Please note: This work has / is being done with all volunteer help and many other misc. costs not included (they are being donated).
This is basically how far the funds and goods donated up to present will reach.
If we are to proceed further to Phase II we need your help just like we needed it in Phase I.


IRIS RECONSTRUCTION FUTURE PROPOSED PROFILE
PHASE 2
SUBJECT TO CHANGE ETC.
NOVEMBER 19,2001

Time: December 15, 2001 - February 15, 2002
Build additional 120 - 130 houses to bring total to 300.

Villages earmarked for project:
Aguacate houses 7 survey completed
San Miguel houses 21 survey completed
Silver Creek houses 15 est. survey not done
Santa Elena houses 15 est. working on survey
San Antonio houses 30 est. survey not done
San Pedro Columbia houses 30 est. survey not done
Total of 6 villages and 118 houses estimate.


Funds needed to complete Phase II: $100,000.00 Bze.

Funds Received:
Red Cross matching from 1st Phase 50,000.00 Bz.

Possible sources of funding:

#1. Christian Aid Ministries as in 1st Phase 25,000.00 Bz.
Misc. Personal Donors to raise the rest 25,000.00 Bz.

Note: No funds are promised as to date for this Phase. We could use your help. Also as to work crews; we have appreciated the ready responses so far. We will be needing from 5 to 8 volunteer workers each week for this new Phase. At present we have no crew lined up for after December 11th. Please let us know how you can help us. We need to work together in this project for homeless families. Imagine your house blown down or roof off.

Note: There are still more villages beside these that at this present time are in serious need. This raises the possibility of Phase III, if no other groups help in those villages.
Also note: At present houses are being built by the Spanish Lookout Mennonites under the oversight of James Yoder's Group. The Pine Hill Mennonites have built a few houses on their own in Indian Creek, and they have expressed a desire to help us build in Silver Creek. Also the Holderman Mennonites are working with NEMO to build a few houses; these are completely separate operations.

Let's continue being open to working in these areas..


[This message has been edited by Marty (edited 11-23-2001).]

Marty..did everything work out OK with the wiring of the money made from the benefit that we did at the HIdeaway??? Let us know... C&R Should have been enough to build 6 homes.

I personally agree that you are doing the best thing spending the money where you get the most return for that money.
Thanks Marty for doing a great job...Richard

Marty,

I trust you to do what's best with the money. You have been on the ground and seen what's needed.

Thank you for your devotion and hard work.

Oh yes Rick and Cheri, all came thru great, thanks SOOOOOO much....

Hi all,


With current funds on hand and materials in stock we can finish
170 shelters. This would include finishing Medina Bank, Crique Jute,
Tambrin and Santa Cruz villages. We would consider that as the
termination of Phase One of this reconstruction project.


Investigations are showing that a real need continues to exist.
Volunteer help is available so if funds can be found, we are
proposing to begin planning for Phase Two. This would be for 125
houses in six villages. Namely, Santa Elena, San Miguel,
Aguacate, Silver Creek, San Antonio and Columbia. This is a
conservative estimate allowing only 20 houses in each of the last
two villages mentioned which had a combined
total of more than 600 homes. This would be a total of 300 shelters
for Phase One and Phase Two. During Phase Two we will again
assess the need and make plans accordingly.

I was advised by red Cross today that they will match the second
group of 50 houses as counterpart to our own funds raised.


We have current funds for 170 houses, plus now this additional 50.
230 houses. Wow!


The Mennonites tell me they are game to continue to 300 if we can
raise the funds.


The need is there. So now we are looking for an additional Bze
$56,000.............US $23,000.


We have to publically thank the efforts of all those on this board, and the good
people of Hideaway Hotel in San Pedro, The New York City
Firefighters, and all those who have given with no fanfare.


This message board has so far been responsible for sending US $20,000 to the
housing effort, with currently an additional US $2,500 promised.
That (including the matching funds from the Red Cross) represents 112 houses.


Anyone with deep pockets out there for more.?


Sincerely to all,

Frank Redmond and Marty Casado

IRIS RECONSTRUCTION PROFILE PHASE I
NOVEMBER 19,2001

Villages completed: houses built
San Marcos 58
Blue Creek 16
Misc. Individual houses 11
Total villages completed 2 houses 85

Villages work in progress: Estimate date of completion:
Medina Bank 24 November 30
Crique Jute 23 November 30
Total villages work in progress 2 houses 47

Villages surveyed and funds allotted for: Estimate date of completion:
Santa Cruz 26 December 15 - 20
Tambrin 10 December 15 - 20
Villages surveyed 2 houses 36

Grand total 6 villages; 168 houses.

Funds and materials, etc. donated are right around $140,000.00 Bze. Value.
This brings the actual cost of houses at about $850.00 Bze.

Please note: This work has / is being done with all volunteer help and many other misc. costs not included (they are being donated).
This is basically how far the funds and goods donated up to present will reach.
If we are to proceed further to Phase II we need your help just like we needed it in Phase I.


IRIS RECONSTRUCTION FUTURE PROPOSED PROFILE
PHASE 2
SUBJECT TO CHANGE ETC.
NOVEMBER 19,2001

Time: December 15, 2001 - February 15, 2002
Build additional 120 - 130 houses to bring total to 300.

Villages earmarked for project:
Aguacate houses 7 survey completed
San Miguel houses 21 survey completed
Silver Creek houses 15 est. survey not done
Santa Elena houses 15 est. working on survey
San Antonio houses 30 est. survey not done
San Pedro Columbia houses 30 est. survey not done
Total of 6 villages and 118 houses estimate.


Funds needed to complete Phase II: $100,000.00 Bze.

Funds Received:
Red Cross matching from 1st Phase 50,000.00 Bz.

Possible sources of funding:

#1. Christian Aid Ministries as in 1st Phase 25,000.00 Bz.
Misc. Personal Donors to raise the rest 25,000.00 Bz.

Note: No funds are promised as to date for this Phase. We could use your help. Also as to work crews; we have appreciated the ready responses so far. We will be needing from 5 to 8 volunteer workers each week for this new Phase. At present we have no crew lined up for after December 11th. Please let us know how you can help us. We need to work together in this project for homeless families. Imagine your house blown down or roof off.

Note: There are still more villages beside these that at this present time are in serious need. This raises the possibility of Phase III, if no other groups help in those villages.
Also note: At present houses are being built by the Spanish Lookout Mennonites under the oversight of James Yoder's Group. The Pine Hill Mennonites have built a few houses on their own in Indian Creek, and they have expressed a desire to help us build in Silver Creek. Also the Holderman Mennonites are working with NEMO to build a few houses; these are completely separate operations.

Let's continue being open to working in these areas..


[This message has been edited by Marty (edited 11-23-2001).]

Marty
Can we have an update on the homes!!! Need to let some friends now.. Thanks, Rick

we need to raise an additional US $32,000 to complete the 300
houses. Red cross have maxed out with money for 100 houses.


We currently have in the pipeline and collected funds to cover 220
houses including the Red cross 100 houses.


Out of the 32,000 needed, I believe we have 9,000 promised, so
23,000 to go.


Any possible sources will be most welcome.

The shortage of good lumber in PG has necessitated the hauling
from Cayo and Orangr Walk which has increased the price a little.

Marty,

I am working very hard to coordinate shipping of donations and fundraising efforts in my area. It will be the first time I have donated money to this board but after reading all these posts I am determined to support your efforts!
Would it be feasible to make an attempt of organizing a crew for January from this board?
As long as there will be supplies, I can bring my own tools and elbow grease!

sarah

It sure couldn't hurt. I'd ask folks in the area what kind of aid they would need at that time.