Hurricane Keith Fact Sheet #3 (FY 2001)
October 5, 2000
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT(USAID)
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
U.S. Government Response
Belize:
There is now a 12-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)/Ground Operations (GO) Team on the ground. The DART/GO Team is supported by Department of Defense (DOD) SOUTHCOM-provided assets, including one Chinook (CH-47) and two Blackhawk (UH-60) helicopters for assessments and delivery of relief items, and six support personnel (in addition to the helicopter crews) to assist with distribution of relief supplies.
USAID/BHR/OFDA-provided relief supplies, including 80 rolls of plastic sheeting, 1,000 wool blankets, 1,000 five-gallon collapsible
water jugs, 1,008 hygiene kits, and various medical supplies, were consigned to NEMO on October 4. Today, NEMO plans to distribute
these commodities to affected populations on Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The Chinook helicopter will be used to transport these
supplies, and members of the DART/GO Team from Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue will assist NEMO with the distribution and use of
plastic sheeting for emergency shelter. The DART/GO Team is awaiting the results of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
initial assessment of emergency health needs (which should be available by the end of the day) before distributing the hygiene kits and
medical supplies.
On October 4, one Blackhawk helicopter transported DART/GO Team members and U.S. Embassy officials to conduct an aerial damage
assessment of the northern barrier islands and north coast of Belize. They overflew Caye Caulker, Ambergris Caye and San Pedro,
Corozal, Orange Walk, and the northern Highway back to Belize City. The team confirmed extensive, but minor, damage to structures in the cayes. They found that 85-90 percent of houses had sustained minor roof damage. Approximately 1,000 people live on Caye Caulker and 7,000 people on Ambergris Caye.
The second Blackhawk overflew the area southwest of Belize City and transported the DART/GO Team Leader, along with the U.S.
Ambassador, other DART/GO Team members, and U.S. Embassy officials, to Belmopan, Belize's capital. The team met with NEMO officials to discuss assessment information and projected relief needs, and to coordinate relief activities.
The DART/GO Team is coordinating closely with PAHO, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Relief Agency, the World Food Program,
and the American Red Cross. These agencies are working together to determine emergency needs in health, water/sanitation, and
shelter.