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the rains in Cayo have been non stop since yesterday morning. It was raining so hard I could almost not hear him on the phone!
in Corozal, they are approaching serious flooding conditions -- forecast is two days more -- at least.
From Cayo area:
The Macal River started rising about 5:00 am, and peaked about an hour ago at close to 35' above normal, and is receding very slowly. Moved our vehicles to higher ground around 8:00 am, and almost didn't get back upriver to Ek' Tun. For the first time ever, our guests couldn't leave as scheduled, so will stay another night. The guests who were supposed to be arriving today are also stranded at Jaguar Paw. Don't know if there is water across the road around Belmopan, but wouldn't doubt it... We were told by a BEL dispatcher that there is a tropical depression sitting somewhere close, so it may continue.... what a lot of water!!
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Torrential rains spawn floods in south and west
Ever since Hurricane Iris carved a path of destruction across southern Belize last October, Belize's weather has been remarkably benign. The recent dry season proved mercifully short and the seasonal onset of rain fell gently and evenly... until now that is. Tropical waves moving across the country have dumped up to twenty-three inches in some areas and the result has been severe flooding, primarily in the southern half of the country. Several older bridges are underwater in the Toledo District, creeks have eroded approaches to bridges on the Hummingbird Highway, parts of Belmopan have experienced localised flooding, while the Sibun and Macal rivers are rising rapidly and may threaten farms and homes in low lying areas. From early afternoon Belize City has been cut off from the south and west by rising waters at mile forty-six and thirty-nine on the Western Highway. News 5's Ann-Marie Williams, George Tillett and Stephen Ferguson are just off the road with the latest update.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting "Two days of heavy rain in St. Matthews Village at mile thirty-nine on the Western Highway is to blame for ten to fifteen feet of water. Several families had to be evacuated, and the Beaver Dam Bridge behind me is impassable to small vehicles and cars."
Even SUV's, which are considerably higher, couldn't make it. The lines went on for miles and several drivers like Maria Martinez from Cayo were hoping the waters would recede so she could get home.
Maria Martinez "I took my friend to the airport this morning and I passed here like around 11 o'clock and this bridge was almost covered. So I tried to rush it, but I couldn't make it and that's how I got stuck here."
Ann-Marie Williams "Did you send a message to family or friends to try to come rescue you? What are you planning to do tonight if the water doesn't go down?"
Maria Martinez "Well right now I see the tractor took over a smaller vehicle than this, so if he could go over, maybe I can go over too, I hope."
Several of the residents who call St. Matthew's Village home for over two decades, say never in the history of Hurricane Keith, Iris or Mitch have they seen this type of flooding. They also say that the flooding literally crept up like a thief in the night.
Elvira Guzman "I have something like twelve steps and only four mi left up to when I left. And just now when one ah my friend gone dah back deh (there) inna (in) the canoe, he say no step left out, it just left fi (to) go inside now through the door. So that dah weh (is what) I di tell my bwai (boyfriend) I the worry bout, because I have some glass things with my radio pan (on) it and I fraid when the water get in, the water wah start to move them bout and that might drop off. So that dah (is) all my worries right now because down stairs weh (where) we deh (are), I mi have the stove, refrige, lockers, chest of drawers and beds and mattress. And all a that di float right now inna the downstairs. I noh know weh wah (what will) happen to dem deh (them) and deh dah (those are) big pieces, because I just buy them, just six to eight months."
Elvira Guzman, mother of six, says she's never seen flooding in this area in her ten years of living in the village.
Elvira Guzman "Due to weh my husband neva deh yah (not being here), I couldn't get out nothing, dah (it was) just me and the lee small kids them. Then I couldn't find nothing fi tek (to take) off the stove fi ker (to carry) it upstairs nor nothing like that. And the water mi (was) well strong because then from weh the hydro deh, the water come in the shot, so I me well strong, so I neva tek no chance and try go out deh because I no know fi swim."
This is where Gwenneth Flowers and her two sons reside. Today life is different, she says she's practically homeless.
Gwenneth Flowers "I feel bad right now because I noh have nothing, nothing. I only have like two suit of clothes fi mi (for my) back. everything food, refrige, stove, everything deh inna the house, everything."
Ann-Marie Williams "You didn't have time to take out your things?"
Gwenneth Flowers "We could ah mi take out some, but then I neva think the flood mi wah come like this. We put some of the things like the refrige high and the TV high, but dah white box dah weh the refrige mi deh pan and that di float inna the house right now."
Ann-Marie Williams "You've never seen flooding like this before?"
Gwenneth Flowers "No, neva, I deh yah (I've been here) two years..."
Ann-Marie Williams "Have you ever spent a hurricane here?"
Gwenneth Flowers "Yes, I spend Iris in there."
Some other families, a little bit more fortunate, saved several pieces of furnishings, including the chickens.
Karisha Sutherland is hoping the water will go down to get her life back to normal.
Karisha Sutherland "The water is inside my house, my things get wet and I can't get anything out of it."
Ann-Marie Williams "You have a warm bed to sleep in tonight?"
Karisha Sutherland "Yes, my mother's bed."
Which is four miles down the road. Although several residents have to secure warms beds with families, they're hopeful the various rivers will soon crest and all will be well. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
According to Chief Meteorologist Carlos Fuller, rain cells continue to develop in the west and along the coast. While most of the flooding remains localised, it is expected that major rivers like the Macal and Sibun could begin overflowing their banks by Friday if rains don't let up. Late word from the Hummingbird Highway indicates that the western approach to the Sibun Bridge has washed away, and although the bridge is intact, there is a growing number of people stranded on both sides. Crews are currently attempting to erect walkways for pedestrians to cross and buses are being called from Belmopan and Dangriga to enable those people to reach home. In Belmopan, the City Council reports that one hundred and fifty-two people are being put up in a public shelter, including thirteen tourists.
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HEAVY RAINS BRING FLOODING Torrential rains in the western and southern parts of the country this week have flooded homes and streets and disrupted travel. Many rural villages in the south have been cut off, and as of Thursday night the Western Highway and Coastal Road were closed to vehicular traffic. The problem on the Western Highway is the Beaver Dam Creek bridge at Saint Matthews Village. According to Ministry of Works Chief Engineer Cadet Henderson, the centre support has shifted and made the bridge unsafe for vehicular traffic. Pedestrians are allowed to cross, and Novelo's Bus Company is running busss to the bridge from Belmopan and Belize City. Henderson and City of Belmopan Mayor Anthony Chanona made an aerial survey of the Belmopan area Thursday afternoon, and Mayor Chanona says the rains have highlighted those areas of the city where improvements need to be made in drainage. Some rains continued Friday, but the National Meterorolgical Service says the rains should end over the weeken!
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Joined: Oct 1999
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NEMO Report No. 2
**** snip *****
Yesterday's rainfall total of 13.15 inches at Belmopan broke the one-day rainfall record of 8.42 inches set on 23 June 1990 for that station. It is also greater than the average rainfall for the entire month of June, which is 12.04 inches. Since 9 o'clock this morning, an additional 3.37 inches of rain has fallen on Belmopan.
**** snip no. 2 *****
The 22.83 inches recorded at Hummingbird Hershey shattered the one-day rainfall record of 10.20 inches set on 26 June 1997. It is also more than twice the normal monthly rainfall total of 11.16 inches, and in one day it exceeded the wettest June total of 18.74 inches recorded in 1997.
My comment:
The rainfall records were broken the last two days by almost 100%. I hardly call that NORMAL rainy season flooding rain, Ray. Its more like a freak of nature to me.
The clippings on the news showed people up on the roofs of their homes waiting to be rescued. Kind of like something along the lines of North Carolina after the hurricane a few years ago. Houses in St. Matthews Village are almost completely submerged under water and the entire village has been evacuated. This is the first time in my lifetime that I can recall seeing something like this. We have had floods before, but not floods that rise so high as to cover an entire village up to the roof area. Wendy
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Office of the Prime Minister
NEMO Localized Flooding Report No. 3 of 21st June 2002
21 June, 2002 - Belmopan Heavy rain fell over the Maya Mountains last night. This will exacerbate floods in the Toledo, Stann Creek and Cayo Districts. Showers will continue today producing another inch of rain. Significant improvement will occur tomorrow.
In the Cayo District, the Macal River at Guacamallo is rising at the rate of one foot per hour and the Mollejon, seven feet per hour. This could produce a major flood in San Ignacio in a matter of hours. Residents there should be at a high level alert. Floodwaters are also on their way down the Belize River to Roaring Creek. At Mile 62 the river has risen nine inches overnight and is only five feet below its all time high. At Banana Bank the river is rising. The bridge at Roaring Creek is being monitored as it can become submerged. Residents along the Sibun River are also warned about the likelihood of flooding.
Rivers, which are fed from the eastern and northern slopes of the Maya mountains, are also subject to further flooding. In Toledo District, these include Deep River and Golden Stream, while in Stann Creek District; they include the Sittee and North Stann Creek Rivers.
Yesterday's report issued at 6:00 p.m. stated:
Unstable weather conditions will continue through tonight and into tomorrow producing localized flooding along the Western Hummingbird highways. The Weather Bureau reports that another rain cell developed over the Maya Mountain early this afternoon, which will cause short periods of flooding along Deep River and Golden Stream in Toledo District.
The floodwaters are gradually receding at the portion of the Western Highway between miles 46 and 47. This will allow limited access to large vehicles after 5:00 p.m. this afternoon. Motorists are advised to follow the directions of Transport Department and Ministry of Works personnel on the scene that will determine whether it is safe for their vehicles to cross.
Yesterday's rainfall, totalled 13.15 inches at Belmopan, broke the one-day rainfall record of 8.42 inches set on 23rd June 1990 for that station. It is also greater than average rainfall for the entire month of June, which is 12.04 inches. Since 9 o'clock this morning, an additional 3.37 inches of rain has fallen on Belmopan.
The 22.83 inches recorded at the Hummingbird Hershey shattered the one-day rainfall record of 10.20 inches set on 26 June 1997. It is also more than twice the normal monthly total of 11.16 inches, and in one day exceeded the wettest June total of 18.74 inches recorded in 1997.
The Macal River at Mollejon has risen 18 feet since yesterday and continues to rise. Reports from Cristo Rey indicate that the river is now rising rapidly. The Mopan River at Benque Viejo Del Carmen was rising slowly, but it has stabilized. The River at Jaguar Paw continues to rise rapidly. The level of water is one foot below the top of the cave and only one and a half feet from the top of the Bank.
The North Stann Creek River at Melinda has risen an additional two feet since morning and at the Belize Water Service facility, it has risen by an additional one and half feet. Mullins River has risen by about four feet.
The National Emergency Management Organization advises motorists that conditions on the nation's highways are extremely dangerous and people should not use the Highways unless it is absolutely necessary.
NEMO will continue to monitor the situation and advises those people living in areas prone to flooding, particularly near rivers, to be alert and keep listening to the radio for the latest advisories on flood warnings, and be prepared to move to higher grounds if necessary.
End
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Joined: Feb 2002
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OMG. i left there on the 11th.
my thoughts are with everyone.
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 288
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We just got back from Ambergris. Weather there last few days was weird...(6/17 onward). VEry windy, unstable seas, overcast with occasional sprinkles. Lots of threatening looking clouds around.
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Joined: Oct 2001
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Do we know if anyone is going to be needing donation relief stuff again? It sounds terrible!
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