San Pedro Before The Storm

But we start out in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye; that was supposed to be the first major population center that the storm would hit. Monica Bodden went there on Saturday morning and she has this report.

Monica Bodden Reporting
"San Pedranos are getting prepared for Tropical Storm Alex which is located about 200 miles East of Belize City. For some they are evacuating off the island but for the majority, they are getting prepared to weather the storm right at home."

Upon arrival we found the boat terminals overflowing as a number of residents and visitors attempted to evacuate the island voluntarily. As you can see this boat was packed to capacity and there were still quite a number of people waiting to board. In an effort to facilitate such persons another boat was provided which quickly reached its full capacity. But was the island rapidly being emptied? Not at all - the contrary was true - as we later discovered, many residents as well as visitors displayed a more nonchalant - wait and see- attitude.

Jennine Yoakley, Tourist
"Initially this morning was kind of scary because we heard there is a tropical storm warming to evacuate and were like 'ayyy' but doesn't seem so bad right now."

Monical Bodden
"Mr. Marin you said that you are staying on the island. Aren't you scared or afraid of what's coming?"

Aldo Marin, San Pedro Resident
"No, I am not scared because I know that nothing will happen. You see when Janet and Hattie came about 30 years ago nobody died here. All of the hurricane passes on top of the island. Nobody died."

The two red flags flying from the island's Town Hall indicated the storm was likely to strike within 24 hours. Inside the Building, NEMO representatives were working around the clock making sure things were in order.

Frank Panton, Chairman, Information Committee NEMO
"NEMO's plan is coming along fine. We put out plan of action into effect as I said since yesterday. We're coordinating with the central NEMO office for the whole country in Belmopan and we are following their predicts and their requirements as much as possible. Of course there is also some lee way for local activities."

According to Area Representative, Manuel Heredia, he had been on the ground all day making sure that those who reside in high-risk, flood prone areas of the island are evacuated to safe structures on higher ground.

Manuel Heredia, Area Representative
"Well at this point what we have done, we have held I think 2 or 3 meetings already just to coordinate that all the chairpersons who are in charge of the different responsibilities, utilities and so on, that they have everything in place and also we have been on the local radio informing the people; one; if they want to evacuate voluntarily, they are welcome to do so. If they want to just evacuate on the island to higher grounds then at this point we have designated two places with is the San Pedro high school and the Belize Yacht Club conference room and probably we should have another 3 places where people can move as soon as we decide that it is time for that to happen."

Monica Bodden
"Now I know that you have been on the ground since early this morning. What have you guys been doing in terms of, have you guys visited different areas and so forth?"

Manuel Heredia
"Yes, I have been around making sure that I see what is happening and at this point I can say that a number of people have been nailing down their windows and doors and in particular, the one that is more problematic are the tour guides, they have been hauling in their boats to safer places. Some of them taking it to creeks or other areas behind to make sure that they are safe. So basically it's the same routine thing that have been done over and over and I think San Pedro has been known to have done the best job when it come to this type of disaster."

Monica Bodden
"It is 1:30 in the afternoon and as you can see winds are getting stronger on the island."

Frank Panton, Chairman, Information Committee NEMO
"The wind is just picking up out here about 12-15 knots. We expect it to go up to 20 knots and then as the further effects of the storm gets closer and closer we'll be having numerous showers, thunder storms and winds will start picking up sometime around after 5 this evening up to tropical force winds, that is winds above 40 miles per hour and at this time we expect all the way up to 55 miles per hour with a little higher gusts."

Jerry Ack, San Pedro Resident
"Right now we are just preparing putting up some shutters and covering the windows you know, protection from the wind and in case it comes harder. We might get some winds later on but I don't think it's going to be a major hurricane, so I am just being prepared."

Resident
"For me I guess it's better for us to understand what is coming by nature you know and we suppose to understand that this is the time for it and don't run away from it because it cost money. A 45-50 miles an hour wind is great enough to damage but not powerful as a hurricane."

Monica Bodden
"But you are still prepared for what is coming?"

Resident
"That's right. That's certainly right; I have to be prepared as being a responsible person."

Monica Bodden
"But no evacuation?"

Resident
"No evacuation."

And for many Water Tour Operators such as Searious Adventures - first priority was to make sure of all vessels seek safe harbor.

Wayne Cumberbatch, Tour guide
"First things first, we always secure our boats either on the backside of the island or further in to the coastal line. Then further on we secure our stuff in the office like paper works and so forth, things that are pretty much valuable."

Monica Bodden
"So the boats are already secured?"

Wayne Cumberbatch
"Pretty much, already said and done, so right now we are just kicking back waiting on the report from the weather bureau."

By two o'clock in the afternoon all planes had stopped flying out of San Pedro - as the airstrip was closed due to strong gusts. By 3 o'clock, chances of leaving the island were slim - which hardly seemed to matter to most of the storm seasoned residents of this island town:

Reporting for 7 News, Monica Bodden.

Reports are that a number of visitors left the island in anticipation of the storm. But even on San Pedro it wasn't much of a storm. Winds hardly gusted past 35 miles an hour.

Channel 7

Alex, Where Did You Go?

Dennis Gonguez- Chief Meteorologist
"Well I feel sure that tropical storm Alex made land fall just to the north of Belize City, so our indications are that the central of tropical storm Alex passed north of Belize City. This is the track of tropical storm Alex and we can see the repositioning just about here at 3:00 pm on Saturday, it was originally heading in a west northwest track and suddenly, there is this jump here that's where the reposition of the centre just offshore Belize and from there land fall was brought to Belize City and then it continued on a west northwest track. Land fall was 5:30 or between 5:30 and 6:00 pm, it started at about 5:30 pm and finish some minutes after 6:00 pm. The pockets of strongest winds that the aircraft found were in the south and the southeastern quadroons of the systems so that wouldn't have had any effect on Belize City itself. It would have been out to sea over the outer atolls of our Country. The models were indicating that the systems would have moved somewhere between near Chetumal area, it would have made land fall near Chetumal, but on Saturday at 3:00 pm when the reconnaissance aircraft came out of the system there was relocation of the center to a more westerly track at that time."

According to international news reports Tropical Strom Alex caused four deaths on Central America.

Tropical Storm Alex has now regained strength and is now located in the South Central Bay of Campeche Mexico. But the storm's after effects are a continuing story in Belize.

This evening the National Emergency Control Management Organization sent out a press release stating there is a flood warning for all rivers of Belize.

Current flooding situations are: the Rio Hondo river levels at Blue Creek, Douglas and San Antonio are rising slowly. At The New River water levels are rising slowly at Tower Hill and Caledonia.

The Macal River Reservoirs levels are below spillway at Chalillo, Mollejon and Vaca. While levels are normal they are rising near Chaa Creek and San Ignacio.

At San Ignacio water level remains above the low lying bridge. The Mopan River near Benque Viejo Town is rising. On The Belize River levels are below bridge and rising near Iguana Creek. On the Crooked Tree lagoon, levels are below the causeway and steady. At Double Run, river levels are rising.

Downstream to the Belize River Valley, river levels will continue to rise slowly. Near Maypen and Double Run, levels are rising. Sibun River levels are rising near Jaguar Par, while at Mullins River, the river level are slowly rising. North Stann Creek is rising near Middlesex and rising rapidly near Hope Creek.

Kendal on the Sittee River is rising and below the low level bridge.

And in the city Residents of Belama Phase 3 and 4 are advised to remain vigilant as river levels may rise. NEMO officials say they remain on alert and are monitoring the potential flooding across the country.

Channel 7