NEMO ADVISORY 10

TUESDAY 20TH October 2015

6:00 A.M.

A weak area of low pressure located in the Gulf of Honduras is producing showers and thunderstorm activity across portions of Belize. The disturbance is moving slowly westward to west-north westward across the southern Yucatan Peninsula and into the extreme south western Gulf of Mexico during the next few days. This system will likely produce heavy rainfall across portions of Belize, northern Guatemala, and the Yucatan Peninsula during the next few days.

SCHOOLS

 Belize District: All pre-schools, primary and secondary schools resume classes tomorrow with the exception of Pallotti High School, Queen Square Anglican Upper, St. Lukes Methodist, Unity Presbyterian, Calvary Temple, Bethel Primary, Grace Primary and Sister Clara Mohammed.

 Corozal District: Classes resume in Corozal for all schools with the exception of Guadalupe R.C. in Alta Mira, Fire Burn RC in Fire Burn and St. Viator Vocational High School and Sarteneja (Sarteneja Baptist High School, Sarteneja La Inmaculada RC, Sarteneja Nazarene and Pre Scchool and Sarteneja Community Pre School).

 Orange Walk District: Regular classes resume for all schools tomorrow.

Parents, Guardians and Students are reminded of the following:

1. While classes are resuming in most schools in the affected districts, in considering whether to send their children to school they should assess their individual situation and environments as it relates to the safety and wellbeing of their families and children.

2. They should stay tuned for media announcements regarding any changes that may occur due to unpredictability of the weather.

HEALTH

 People are strongly discouraged from rigging illegal electrical wiring. This practice must cease immediately as it is a serious threat to life and property. Perpetrators will be arrested and charged.

 All who live in flooded sections of the city and other flood areas around the country are strongly discouraged from playing in flood waters for own health safety and that of the community and the country in order to avoid an outbreak of disease. Water must be boiled for at least one minute and cooled before drinking if you are not using bottled water. Or use 8 drops of chlorax or bleach to one gallon of water, stir it well before drinking it. The ministry of Health will be doing larviciding and vector control activities when the water goes down.

SHELTERS

 In Belize City 2 Shelters remain open ITVET with 88 people and YWCA with 28 people.
 In Orange Walk San Estevan Community Center is open with 15 people and San Jose Community Centre has 4 persons
 In Corozal 1 shelter is open which is Guadalupe R.C with 29 people.
 In Bomba 1 Shelter is open with 6 people
 In San Pedro 3 persons are being sheltered in hotel.
o All shelterees are provided with blankets, water, pre-packaged food and two (2) hot meals for the day.
o A total of 158 people in shelters

ROAD CONDITIONS

Flooded and Passable:

 Sarteneja road is flooded but passable ONLY to LARGE vehicles.
 White Ridge Road leading to Gales Point is flooded but passable to large vehicle
 Maskall road is flooded but passable and in some areas the road is washed out and poorly lit.

SHUTTLE FROM SARTENEJA TO COROZAL TOWN:

 Commencing at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning 20th October 2015, the Belize National Coast Guard will be ferrying students from Sarteneja to Corozal Town.

RIVER CONDITIONS

 The Belize River is rising and residents of Grace Bank; St. Paul’s Bank; Willows Bank; Double Head Cabbage; Bermudian Landing; Isabella Bank; Flowers Bank; May Pen; Burrell Boom, Lord’s Bank and Ladyville are asked to observe and make the necessary preparations.

 People living along the Macal and Mopan rivers must remain vigilant, the river is now rising and reports are that the Mopan at La Polvora in Peten is at high flood state as the water head down-stream will cause flooding.

 In Toledo, Bladden is receding but remains 11feet above normal .

DRAINAGE

 Digging of drains can only be done if the utility companies are notified and are involved in the digging.

Digging is taking place in Corozal, in Chula Vista and Libertad, in the Belize District, Lucky Strike and in Cayo in Paslow Falls, Bullet Tree Falls and Maya Heights

We are kindly requesting that the media get as much details as possible from people requesting assistance such as: the exact number of people needing assistance, their location and what is needed etc.

People living along the Macal and Mopan rivers must remain vigilant. The river is now rising and reports are that the Mopan River at La Polvora in Peten Guatemala is at high flood state. This was reported by Cayo District Emergency Coordinator, who is visiting and warning the communities along the Mopan River. As the water heads down-stream it will cause severe flooding in Western and Central Belize. The Communities of Arenal, Benque Viejo, Succotz, Calla Creek, Bullet Tree Falls and Santa Familiar must pay particular attention to this notice.

NEMO Emergency Coordinators can be reached as follows; Corozal, Mr. Williard Levy at 623 0237; Orange Walk, Ms. Suliema Celiz at 605 5046, Northern Regional Coordinator, Mr. Aragon at 615-2264; Belize District, Mr. Calbert Budd at 602 8632 and Mr. Kevin Pollard at 621 2275; San Pedro, Ms. Timrose Augustine at 600 8672; Belmopan, Ms. Clare Moody at 630 9791; Cayo, Mr. Al Westby at 630 3224; Stann Creek, Mr. Victor Castillo at 630 9780; and Toledo, Mr. Kenton Parham at 630 9787. The NEMO Emergency Hotline is 936. The media is requested to get as much as possible details from people requesting assistance such as the exact amount of people needing assistance, their exact location , what exactly is needed etc.

NEMO expresses sincere gratitude for all those persons who are giving selflessly of their time, equipments and services in providing food and equipment assistance; including the Gas Stations which stayed open around the clock to support NEMO’s operations. We are most thankful to the media in getting out our reports and information in particular Love FM and the TV Stations. We are thankful and grateful.