Belizeans in Diaspora Brace for Category 5 Hurricane

Last month, Hurricane Helene tore through the United States, causing chaos in several states. Now, hot on its heels, Hurricane Milton is making its presence known. On Monday, Milton ramped up to a category-five hurricane as it headed toward Florida through the Gulf of Mexico. We reached out to a few Belizeans living abroad to hear how they’re preparing for this powerful storm. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene tore through Florida, Belizean American Christine Jones is bracing for another major storm and this time, it’s a category five. Jones has been living in Florida for about five years, residing in Ruskin Town, south of Tampa, Florida.

 

Christine Jones, Florida Resident

“This morning I spent helping my neighbors put up their shutters and now it’s my turn. I have my shutters out. They’re going to help me put mine up. I was driving around trying to make sure I got a tank full of gas earlier. I’ve got food, nonperishables. I’m good for a week, as long as I don’t get flooded out. I have my fire camp stove. The skills from the fire heart days in Belize come in handy. Yeah, so the main concern for me is that if we don’t get flooded, my roof doesn’t blow off, which. Hurricane Ian, I think three years ago, I lost a part of my roof, so I have a new roof. So I’m hoping that everything holds together.”

 

Hurricane Helene was the most powerful storm to hit North Tampa, Florida since 1851, leaving a trail of devastation across several states and claiming over two hundred lives. Now, Hurricane Milton is making headlines, having rapidly intensified to a category-five storm and setting a record for the Tampa Bay area. It’s expected to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday. Belizean Shadini Henry, who has called Florida home for over eight years, shared that in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, her family struggled to stock up on essential supplies.

 

Shadini Henry, Florida Resident

“It was hard to find in the stores. Water, couldn’t even find water in the stores. Luckily we found some afterwards. We could not we have the both of our vehicles full with gas, but it was hard all the gas. I imagine by today because we got ours filled last night. It was hard to find a guest to fill in the cars, but I imagine by today they’re all gone. They’re all out. We have stacked up on nonperishable items.”

As the storm draws near, there’s a chance it might lose some of its intensity. However, it’s expected to affect a wider area, including the Yucatan Peninsula. Belizean Windel Castillo, who has been living in Merida for almost three years, shared that he’s decided to stay calm and not panic as the storm approaches.

 

Windel Castillo, Merida Resident

“This is the first time that we’ve had, like, about four hurricanes back to back coming to us. And this is the first one that’s actually turned into a Category five, and it’s not changing trajectory. So I always make sure I’m prepared. And for the last three months, it’s been raining almost every day. From since three p. m. on to six, seven. So just to be on the safe side, always make sure I have my stuff ready.”

 

Castillo has lived through a category four hurricane previously and believes he is adequately prepared for the approaching storm.

 

Windel Castillo

“It’s not my first rodeo, to be honest with you. I think that in the event I do get in panic, then it could be worse. But I have my windows sealed. I have enough. supply. I have everything that I think I need for a hurricane. And so I’m not that worried per se.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.