Belize City Resumes Business After Receiving All-clear

This morning, the National Emergency Management Organization declared an All-clear for Belize, confirming that the country is no longer under a hurricane watch. For the past few days, Hurricane Beryl was closely monitored as it tore through the Caribbean and sped towards the Yucatan Peninsula. Ahead of the storm, many Belizeans evacuated flood prone areas or prepared their households to weather the impacts of storm. Today, New’s Fives Britney Gordon took to the streets of Belize City to hear how the public feels now that the threat has passed. Here’s that story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Hurricane Beryl has made landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize is officially in the clear. The category two hurricane bypassed Belize, as was predicted by the National Meteorological Service, and made its way into Mexico on Thursday evening. As a precaution, many Belizeans put into effect their hurricane plans. On Thursday, several businesses suspended operations to give employees time to adequately prepare, should the storm reroute to Belize. We spoke with Owen Morrison, an employee of Shell gas station, to hear how the station chose to handle the situation.

 

Owen Morrison, Shell Employee 

“What our management did is just to make sure that We are here on time. We are prepared and ready for the customers that when they come, we give them that full service. And that for us, ourselves, they make sure that they close a little early so that we can go home and take care of our family as well.”

 

 

 

 

 

As of this morning, most businesses were back in operation. Water taxi services, including San Pedro Belize Express and Caribbean Sprinter, remained closed as they prepared the boats for use. Morrison says that, given the all-clear, the station is ready for customers. Although, he notes that business has been slow.

 

Britney Gordon

“What time did you close yesterday and what time did you open up today?”

 

 

Owen Morrison

“We closed yesterday, four o’clock in the afternoon and then we opened six o’clock this morning.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So now it’s resumed business as usual?”

 

Owen Morrison

“Yeah, business as usual, but then it’s very slow today, as you can see.” 0:55

 

Downtown Belize City was a similar scene, with businesses reopening, but very few people filling the streets. Alejandra Ukan, a resident of Belize District, felt it safer to stay at home until the all-clear was given.

 

Alejandra Ukan, Belize District Resident

“ Well, I prepare just because I afraid for the flood. But otherwise, I stay right in my house. I got my cement house, right?”

 

Britney Gordon

“And you feel that this was the right move to make, being that we didn’t get any sorts of rain or flooding in Belize City?”

 

Alejandra Ukan

“Only yesterday we get wah hard rain. It frightened people.”

 

To the relief of many, Hurricane Beryl passed with minimal impact on Belize. However, the storm rerouting to another country or gaining strength as it neared, remained a possibility until officials declared otherwise. Stanley Lizama, a resident of Belize City, has no regrets about preparing for the storm.

 

 

 

 

 

Stanley Lizama, Belize District Resident

“My preparation was not hard because I am somebody old in the army. So I know exactly what to do. I go close up some of my windows, buy up some groceries, and that was it.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And do you think this was the right choice to make, given the outcome?”

 

 

Stanley Lizama

“I think it’s the right choice and what I find out with this storm, Belize people do everything that they supposed to do. Cause the last hurricane, give us a wake up call.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So you think this was a better safe than sorry type situation?”

 

Stanley Lizama

“Definite. Definite.”

 

 

 

With one hurricane avoided, the season is not yet over. Morrison says that he continues to proceed with caution until the season comes to an end.

 

Owen Morrison

“We always have to be prepared, because we have to expect the unexpected. You could never tell how the weather would have shifted, when it would have shifted, because I heard a story from the older folks that when Hattie was about to hit Belize, it shift. They said it was going to Cuba, but then it end up shift and came to Belize. We always have to be prepared, you understand? It was something sensible to do.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.