Flooding Forces Emergency Response in Stann Creek

Weather experts and emergency management officials say they have been closely monitoring a developing weather system affecting the region, one that carried a significant risk of flooding across several parts of Belize.  Over the past twenty-four hours, conditions became increasingly concerning as persistent localized rainfall combined with runoff from continuous rains across neighboring countries. As rivers and streams swelled, authorities heightened their monitoring efforts, anticipating the possibility of flood-related impacts in vulnerable communities.  By this morning, those concerns began materializing in the Stann Creek District, prompting the activation of the Stann Creek Emergency Operations Center after reports of flooding emerged from several low-lying areas.  Among the communities affected was a newly established Mennonite settlement located between Miles Six and Seven on the Hummingbird Highway. Residents awoke to rising waters entering their homes, forcing families to move belongings and seek assistance. Members of the National Emergency Management Organization, along with nearby villagers and volunteers, were seen helping affected residents secure property and relocate items to higher ground.  NEMO Coordinator Daniel Mendez says the activation of the operations center allowed emergency personnel to coordinate a rapid response to communities experiencing flood impacts.

Daniel Mendez, National Coordinator, NEMO: “As far as I’m aware it’s the new community and so we don’t have any data of flooding in that area. But we do know that it’s very near the river and it’s part of the flash flood that was anticipated by the National Hygological Service. So we have been supporting those persons and we remain in communication with them. So yes, it hasn’t happened before in that area. Of course, the rain started last night and we were, we had started to get calls for assistance early this morning. So we have been out in the field, not just NEMO, but all our partners. As part of the response, there was a partial activation of the Stann Creek Emergency Operations Center. And so we had activated several parts of that, including search and rescue, damage assessment, relief and supplies and a few others. So those have been in operation. We have, we know that there have been several areas that we had worked on. There was the case at the Mountain View where we had been participating in the rescue of some persons there. And we have also been working with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development in ensuring that we provide the status of roads. We have been in communication with communities in the affected areas and we have persons on standby in case further calls come in over the evening and into the night. And that will continue as long as is necessary. But generally the posture of NEMO in the Stann Creek District is one of preparedness and there are teams on standby in case there is a need for any response throughout the next few hours.”

Authorities say teams remain deployed in the district and are maintaining communication with village leaders and emergency responders as weather conditions continue to be monitored.

While floodwaters have affected isolated areas, officials stress that the situation remains fluid, particularly as rainfall continues across portions of Belize and neighboring countries whose river systems eventually drain into Belizean waterways.  Mendez says NEMO is preparing for the possibility of additional flooding over the coming days and has been working with local emergency committees to ensure resources are available should conditions worsen.

Daniel Mendez, National Coordinator, NEMO: “We work on the advice of the National Hydrological Service. The latest flood advisory that came out indicated that areas of concern now are the northern and central parts of Belize and some parts of the south. So we will continue to monitor those. There is a flood alert and flood warning currently affecting those areas so we will continue to monitor it and we really encourage the public to remain engaged with not just NEMO but also within National Hydrological Service. If your home is within any of the red zones we really encourage you to take those precautions and to understand if you live near a stream or near a river that you may be affected by flash flooding. So it’s very difficult for us to say exactly where it’s going to be but we just want to ensure that people are aware that these products are out there, that the warnings are out there, and that we really need to pay attention to those because this is what is anticipated by the experts.”

Emergency officials are encouraging residents living near rivers, streams, and flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, closely monitor official advisories, and be prepared to move to safer locations if conditions deteriorate. NEMO says it will continue providing updates as forecasts and river levels evolve in the days ahead./