The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) hereby informs that Southern Belize in particular the Toledo District is experiencing flooding.   Jacintoville is currently under flood conditions. Aguactae village is inaccessible and water is 15ft above the bridge.   Other villages along the Moho River must closely monitor the flood situation and take the necessary precautions. Other villages in the Toledo and Stann Creek Districts must be on alert for flooding.

People who live along rivers, creeks, water ways and low-lying areas and whose home is likely to flood are cautioned to move to a high and safe building with friends, family or in the community shelter before nightfall.    Drivers are asked to slow down and put on their hazard lights when driving through the rain and flooded areas

NEMO Emergency Coordinators in the south can be reached as follows;     Stann Creek, Mr. Victor Castillo at 630 9780; and Toledo, Mr. Kenton Parham at 630 9787.  The NEMO Emergency Hotline is 936.

The public is asked to pay close attention to the National Meteorological Service weather reports and NEMO advisories.

NEMO is on flood alert.

:-End of Release:-

1. PEOPLE IN SHELTER: There are a total of 119 persons in Shelter as follows:  56 in Belize  City:     In Cayo: Teakettle  has  15  persons  in  shelter  and  St.  Matthews  has  31 persons. There are 2 persons in the shelter at Gracie Rock. There are 11 persons in the Hattievile Community Centre.  Orange Walk has 4 persons in one shelter in San Carlos.

2. PEOPLE ASSISTED: about  8,000  people,  as  reported  by  the  National  Relief  Supplies Committee/Ministry of  Human  Development.   We  are  acting  on  information  of  people  not captured in the assessments.

3. FOOD RELIEF: continues, Supplies Management Committee (RSMC) continues to mobilize reaching out to people in the affected communities with food, water, tarp/plastic sheeting, cleaning supplies, mattress etc.  BATSUB,  BDF  and  UNICEF  have  been  assisting  people  in  the shelters. The Belize Red Cross is supporting NEMO with field operations. Pledges and donations coming in. NEMO National Foreign Assistance Committee chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs documenting the information.

4. RESTORATION of UTILITIES: almost completed in the main lifeline sectors
5. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT:  Humanitarian      assessments      and      relief      assistance continues.    Housing  material  relief  operations  with  very  preliminary  roll  out  is  being planned for Thursday morning for self-help cases.   Names submitted are being cross checked by technical staff form Building sections of Housing, CBA and City Council to prioritize the roll out.  Engineers support is required, volunteers may contact NEMO at 626 7127, 822 2054 and at nemohqbmp@nemo.org.bz.

6. Road conditions: Vaqueros and Privassion Bridge is impassable to heavy equipment and big trucks. Small vehicles must exercise extreme caution whilst driving in this area.   Iguana Creek Bridge is open to traffic.  The access route through Bullet Tree Falls village via the Bullet Tree Bridge is open.  Spanish lookout via Baking Pot Ferry is impassable at this time. Succotz Ferry remains closed. The wooden bridge in San Ignacio across the Macal River remains closed and is seriously damaged.   DO  NOT  ATTEMPT  TO  CROSS  THIS  BRIDGE.     The  Hammock Bridge in Calla Creek has been destroyed.

People in Belize City are hereby informed that if they have not yet been assessed by the assessment team, to kindly visit or call the Department of Human Services at #40 Regent Street Belize City, or call 227-7451. In the districts ensure your damage and loss information are submitted to NEMO office in the districts for verification.   Please report details such as size of zinc, type of roof material, size of doors, and windows even though it is being verified.  So if you have yet been assessed when you are contacted please give details.

AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT THERE IS NO TROPICAL CYCLONE THREAT TO BELIZE.

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1. PEOPLE IN SHELTER: There are a total of 170 persons in Shelter as follows:   91 in Belize City: Unity Presbyterian has 16 persons, St. John’s Vianney has 31 persons, and St. Luke has  44  persons.    In Cayo: Teakettle  has  16  persons  in  shelter  and  St.  Matthews  has  31 persons.  There 28 persons in the Hattievile Community Centre recently built by US Southern Command.  Orange Walk has 4 persons in one shelter in San Carlos.

2. PEOPLE ASSISTED: approx. 1,580 household or about 8,000 people, as reported by the National Relief Supplies Committee/Ministry of Human Development. (1200 households assisted in Belize City proper: Belama, Vista Del Mar, Ladyville, Lords Bank and Sand Hill. Old Northern Highway communities: La Democracia, Gracie Rock, Hattieville, Western Pines and Freetown Sibun. 123 Households assisted in Stann Creek. 226 households in Belmopan and the surrounding communities. 23 households assisted in Orange Walk and 10 household in San Pedro & Caye Caulker).  We are acting on information of people not captured in the assessments.

3. FOOD RELIEF: ISSUED: 4,716 food packs, 3,603 gallons of water, 2,300 gallons of Clorox, 946 mattresses and 284 rolls of plastic sheetings/tarps.NEMO National Relief and Supplies Management Committee (RSMC) continues to mobilize reaching out to people in the affected communities with food, water, tarp/plastic sheeting, cleaning supplies, mattress etc. BATSUB, BDF and UNICEF have been assisting people in the shelters. The Belize Red Cross, and USAID are supporting NEMO with field operations.

4. RESTORATION of UTILITIES:                                                                                                                                    a. Belize water system is working. San Pedro continues to operate in low water pressure mode as BWSL continues to repair leaks in the system. Billy White and Santa Familia water have been restored. On the old northern highway a water truck will be providing water for those communities in need.                                              b. ELECTRICITY – BEL UPDAT 99% of Customers have been restored. There are parts of Belize City still without power and in the Belize District along the Old Northern Highway from Altun Ha to Maskall and five villages in the Belize River Valley and parts of Hattieville.                                                                                                     c. Telecommunications Speed net – Burrel Boom cell site was completely destroye (August16th uptime).    The  cell  site  at  Love  FM  was  completely  destroyed,  therefore  surrounding neighbourhoods are being affected (August 16th uptime).  Speed NET, the Renaissance tower site is being repaired.  Two towers near JB on George Price High way are down and are currently undergoing repairs.                                                      d. FUEL: Sufficient Fuel available.

5. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT: Immediate  humanitarian  assessments  and  relief  assistance continue. Housing material relief operations very preliminary roll out is being planned for late Wednesday/Thursday  morning.    Everybody  cannot receive assistance at  the same time.  Names submitted are being cross checked to prioritize the assistance roll out.

6. FLOOD OPERATIONS: People in the Belize District along the Belize River must continue to monitor the river.Area of concern is Belize River Valley.

7. Road conditions: Vaqueros and Privassion Bridge is impassable to heavy equipment and big trucks. Small vehicles must exercise extreme caution whilst driving in this area.   Iguana Creek Bridge is currently is open and passable to vehicular traffic.  The access route through Bullet Tree Falls  village  via  the  Bullet  Tree  Bridge  is  open.   Spanish  lookout  via  Baking  Pot  Ferry is impassable at this time.        The wooden bridge in San Ignacio across the Macal River remains closed and is seriously damaged.   DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS THIS BRIDGE.    The Hammock Bridge in Calla Creek has been destroyed.     Blue Creek road is open and passable vehicular traffic.

8. HUMAN RESOURCES: NEMO Human Resource Management Committee continues to make the plea to those public officers who have not reported for duty in Belize City to show up.  Your absence is causing a strain and fatigue on the dedicated Public Officers doing assessments, providing relief and managing the Shelter operations.People in Belize City are hereby informed that if they have not yet been assessed by the assessment team, to kindly visit or call the Department of Human Services at #40 Regent Street Belize City, or call 227-7451. In the districts ensure your damage and loss information are submitted to NEMO office in the districts for verification.

AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT THERE IS NO TROPICAL CYCLONE THREAT TO BELIZE.

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1. SITUATION. Immediate relief to the affected people and restoration of critical lifeline facilities   continue   as   the   country   returns   to   normalcy   less   those   severely impacted.  NEMO and the Government providing assistance with help from the community. The Utility Companies operations are progressing at a steady pace enabling the country’s recovery.

2. PEOPLE IN SHELTER: There are a total of 170 persons in Shelter as follows: 91 in Belize City: Unity Presbyterian has 16 persons, St. John’s Vianney has 31 persons, and St. Luke has 44 persons.   In Cayo: Teakettle has 16 persons in shelter and St. Matthews has 31 persons. There 28 persons in the Hattievile Community Centre recently built by US Southern Command.  Orange Walk has 4 persons in one shelter in San Carlos.

3. FOOD/WATER RELIEF  OPERATIONS.   NEMO  National  Relief  and  Supplies Management Committee (RSMC) continues to mobilize reaching out to people in the affected communities with food, water, tarp/plastic sheeting, cleaning supplies, mattress etc.  BATSUB, BDF and UNICEF have been assisting people in the shelters. The Belize Red Cross, and USAID are supporting NEMO with field operations.  The Indian community in Belize provided lunch yesterday for the shelterees in Belize City.

4. UTILITIES RESTORATION:  WATER  – Rural  Water  Systems  UPDATE: Billy White and Santa Familia system is still down, emergency water relief is being organized for those in need.   Harvesting of rainwater is always encouraged.  Crooked Tree,  St.  Anns,  Santana  and  Corozalito  water  system  have  been  restored  back  to normal.  On the old northern highway a water truck will be providing water for those communitive in need.

BWS – San Pedro is currently experiencing low water pressure, as BWSL continues to repair leaks in the system

c. ELECTRICITY – BEL UPDAT Today BEL continues work in Belize Rural.

e. Telecommunications Speed net – The Renaissance tower site is expected to be repaired by

Sunday.  Two towers near JB on George Price Highway is down and currently undergoing repairs.

f. BTL UPDATE – Customers in the following areas are experiencing little or no mobile voice or data service due to cell site outages (with estimated restoration times). Lucky Strike (Saturday, 6 pm). The cell site at Burrell Boom was completely destroye (August 16th uptime). Customers in the following areas are experiencing limited or degraded services due to cell site outages. The cell site at Love FM was completely destroyed, therefore surrounding neighbourhoods may be affected (August 16th uptime).

g.Sufficient Fuel oil stocks available.

5. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT: Immediate humanitarian assessments and relief continue.
6. CLEAN UP:  Clean up in the city continues.

HOUSEHOLD AND HOUSING MATERIAL RELIEF to commence this week.

FLOOD OPERATIONS:   People in the Belize District along the Belize River must continue to monitor the river.

Area of concern is Belize River Valley:  

Road conditions:  Vaqueros and Privassion Bridge is impassable to heavy equipment and big trucks.  Small vehicles must exercise extreme caution whilst driving in this area.

Spanish lookout via Baking Pot Ferry and Iguana Creek Bridge are impassable at this time.   The access route through Bullet Tree Falls village via the Bullet Tree Bridge is open.     The wooden  bridge  in  San  Ignacio  across  the  Macal  River  remains  closed  and  is  seriously damaged.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS THIS BRIDGE.   The Hammock Bridge in Calla Creek has been destroyed.     Blue Creek road is open and passable vehicular traffic.

People living in these flood prone areas are being strongly encouraged to seek safety and move to higher grounds to protect life.    MOVE OUT of areas that are likely to flood.  Protect life first. Stay away from flood waters.   Farmers with livestock take the necessary actions and seek safety and move them to higher grounds.  Do not: cross flood waters, especially at night.

HUMAN RESOURCES:

NEMO Human Resource Management Committee continues to make the plea to those public officers who have not reported for duty in Belize City to show up.   Your absence is causing a strain and fatigue on the dedicated Public Officers doing assessments,  providing relief and managing the Shelter operations.

People in Belize City are hereby informed that if they have not yet been assessed by the assessment team, to kindly visit or call the Department of Human Services at #40 Regent Street Belize City, or call 227-7451. In the districts ensure your damage and loss information are submitted to NEMO office in the districts for verification.

AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT THERE IS NO TROPICAL CYCLONE THREAT TO BELIZE.

Listen to your local radio and television for further advisories from NEMO.

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