AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Weather Tropical Storms & Hurricanes HURRICANE RE CONSTRUCTION PHASE STARTS TODAY ON CAYE CAULKER AND SAN PEDRO

OCT 4th, 2000 Wednesday


6 a.m. Wednesday by Ray Auxillou
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Most needed are reconstruction supplies to replace roofing.


In short supply are:


a) corrugated zinc roofing in 6 ft, 8 ft, 10 ft, 12 ft, 14 ft and 16 ft
lengths.


b) lumber - 1"X4", 2"X 4", 1" X 6" and 2" x 6" in lengths from 12 ft
through 18 ft in length.


c) galvanized coated nails in 3", 4" and 5" size lengths


d) zinc roofing nails

Whoever owns the dredge at Caye Caulker, needs to get the engine
dismantled starting today. The heads have to be removed, inside engine
cleaned with fresh rain water and then soaked in diesel. Re-assembled
quickly and started up pronto with fresh oil and filters and new diesel.
Otherwise that is going to be a lost dredge if they leave it sitting for
a week. It could be the operator covered the exhaust and air intake
holes with plastic and tape, if so, then the engine base needs draining
and new oil and fresh fuel and filters and the baby kicked over and
started before rust sets. Thats at least a $100,000 investment needs
attending to fast.


Old people who have house damage are going to need assistance with
repairs. Don't know if the BDF are any good at that, but quick work can
save things from getting progressively worse. Supplies are going to be a
problem.

I would think manpower and supplies will be the biggest drawbacks.
Plus shipping.


BTL and communications are another quickie problem to be solved. Taking
one day's work and $30 in water taxi fees to go to the mainland to make a
phone call, is not efficient.


Rice, beans and flour should do the trick for food. Supplies of these
and maybe cooking oil. Nothing much should be wrong with stoves.


Expect today will be a drying out day and working day moving debris.


Mother nature waits for nobody. You are either prepared, or not. Any
seaman knows that one, as your life hangs in the balance always at sea.


CLEANUP DAY TODAY ON THE OFFSHORE CAYES. LOTS OF LABOR NEEDED. Due to
the nature of the shock of a catastrophe, outside labor teams are needed
to start the impetus and get things moving. People on the ground are
often paralyzed by shock. They may not think so, but they are slow when
there are too many things to get done. They are frozen and cannot make
choices. It takes about three days to wear off. If labor teams can be
got out to the islands and start things rolling, human nature will
recover and things go faster and smoother.

This is so true. In that respect, I am looking for volunteers to help me repair my CAye Caulker home damaged in the hurricane. I would not even know WHERE or HOW to begin, even to get materials (that is, of course, if I even KNEW which materials I needed). Volunteers please contact me.

Wendy

Marty ,
Are you sure it is a dredge at Caye Caulker or is it the one in San Pedro?

Same dredge...been on Caulker reclaiming beaches that never existed anyway...thank god all the sand didn't disappear and cover the entire reef.
Although it's just a matter of time before that happens and puts the entire ecological scene in jeapardy for the sake of sunbathers.
chris

Contrary to Chris I say thank god for that dredge and the beach reclamation. My sister live right on waterfront and the beach had been recently completed. That saved their houses from major damage. If the beach were not there they would have had water in their houses from Sat. night even though they are approx. 5' off ground. As of Sat. night 30' of the 60' of beach was gone. Better that than their houses gone and loss of life.

Sharon