Belizeans Brace for Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl continues along a west-northwest path and, while officials from the Met service have indicated that Belize is unlikely to feel the brunt of the category four hurricane, northern districts such as Corozal and Orange Walk will experience heavy rainfall and flooding. The pathway of the storm is still being monitored as it may change course in the days ahead. News Five’s Britney Gordon took to the streets of Belize city to find out how prepared Belizeans are in the face of an approaching storm. Here’s more on that.

 

Britney Gordon

“Do you feel prepared for the hurricane? What are some of the things that you and your family are doing?”

 

Alex Sanker, Belize District Resident

“I don’t feel prepared. I am prepared. Because you live and learn from mistake and when I had just moved to where I live, I didn’t know and I think it was Dean or Lisa, but we got flooded out badly. Thank God I had a lot of stuff left just in case, but this time I’m definitely prepared. Although good news, I saw it shift a little bit left noh.”

 

 

Cynthia Coleman, Belize City Resident

“Well, we’ve been checking the news. I get the reels on my phone. And we’ve been checking the direction of how everything is going so. But we’re prepared. And today I’m out just trying to get some stuff so that we’ll have food for the weekend because I’m here with my aunt and she’s over eighty. I can’t say her real age, but she’s over eighty and we just want to make sure that we’re prepared for the storm.”

 

 

Britney Gordon

“And do you think your shelter is adequate to bear the brunt of potential flooding, winds?”

 

Cynthia Coleman

“Yes. Our house is above ground and it’s all cement. So we’re pretty much prepared.”

 

Martha Salam, Orange Walk Resident

“Well, right now, my mom is moving to a new house. They have to move to the next house. They have to go with my sister. Because right now, it is full of water.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And what about food and water? Do you guys feel like you’re prepared that way?”

 

Martha

 “Yes, we have to go shopping. Like me, I went shopping today at Orange Walk. Bought a lot of stuff for my family, help my family.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What about your children and grandchildren that you’re visiting here? Any concerns with them? Have they gone about shopping or anything like that”

 

Brenda Stephen, Lords Bank Resident

“Well, I don’t stay with them. They live here in the city. I live in the village when I’m here in Belize, so I just hope that everything is well with them too. And they prepare for it and go shopping and don’t come outside. That’s the safest place to be is inside.”

 

 

 

Britney Gordon

“Do you feel that your family is prepared to handle that type of weather?

 

Colin Gillett, Belize City Resident

“I have the money. If you buy the item, but I’m going to wait until the second flag goes up. I’m not going to buy crazy just like that.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So you’re okay with what you have right now on supply for what you anticipate?”

 

Colin Gillett

“Yeah, I got the money and i just have to go buy it.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And what about your building that you’re living in, the structure, you think that’s adequately fit to handle winds and rain?”

 

Colin Gillett

“Yes. It can handle it.”