. According to Jim Janmohamed, acting
National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) Manager for the Stann Creek
South area, building supplies are the major supply need at this time. "Zinc,
plywood and lumber are in short supply," stated Mr. Janmohamed.
The NEMO manager went on to describe the situation at
hand. NEMO operations have been split into separate areas, Stann Creek South and
Toledo. When asked for a comparison to "Keith," he replied that, in his area,
the difference is the amount of people affected. He stated many more people are
suffering in the southern part of Belize; the area is extremely different than
Ambergris Caye with some heavily and some very sparsely populated villages so
facilitating everyone's needs is more of a challenge. (A report could not be
confirmed for the Toledo area as of Tuesday.)
As far as
infrastructure, Mr. Janmohamed informed that water is being pumped by either
portable or permanent generators to all the village water reservoirs. He
explained that 4500 feet of underwater pipe responsible for pumping water from
Independence to Placencia was damaged by the hurricane. A special high-density
replacement pipe was ordered (with help from San Pedro's Ernesto Gomez!) and
should be delivered by Hyde Shipping on Thursday. He reported Belize Electricity
Limited (BEL) representative Moreno was working with NEMO and that BEL was
scheduled to begin initiating power to priority areas Wednesday. Phone service
has been restored in some areas thanks to the aid of representatives Tesecum,
Bevans and Black from Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL). Community-use
phones were restored in Monkey River and Placencia areas first. It was further
mentioned that approximately 100 BTL employees assisted in a clean-up
day.
To facilitate the rebuilding efforts, Minister Henry
Canton has met with village councils in Placencia and Seine Bight. He has set up
a housing scheme whereby local contractors and suppliers will be used, aiding
the local economy.
Mr. Janmohamed gave thanks to friend
John Bell in assisting him with many tasks. Garbage pick-up has resumed, septic
tanks emptied and damaged ones repaired to alleviate some health hazards. He
reported the water table remains high, mostly because rains are steady due to
the season. Controlling the mosquito population is becoming difficult and aerial
sprays are being discussed in order to prevent infestation.
It appears a sense of order is being restored as community
leaders motivate people to become involved in the rebuilding efforts. The speedy
replacement of merely zinc on a roof has made it possible for schools such as
Seine Bight and San Juan to open. Post offices are re-opening and regularly
scheduled flights from both airlines have resumed. It was stated that these
airlines are responsible for the charitable delivery of much of the relief
supplies. Also special mention was made of the Shipyard Mennonite community for
the unsolicited rebuilding of a much used local pier which aided in receiving
shipments as well. It was reported they simply showed up with their own supplies
and materials and began construction.
A meeting of Tourism
representatives and the Belize Tourism Board was scheduled to take place Tuesday
at 3:00 p.m. to discuss when tourists can begin coming back to the area and
other issues. Although many resorts were destroyed, some of those which suffered
less severe damage are anxious to get back to work. (The report below will give
more details on affected tourism industry properties.)
This following informative message was made available late last week from
Placencia resident Mary V. Toy regarding the condition of several properties in
the area and the post-hurricane state of the affairs there. We are sharing it in
an effort to update those wishing more information on specific details. The
San Pedro Sun extends its appreciation and best wishes for recovery to
Mary who lost her Placencia home as well to Hurricane Iris.
"I'm in Belize City for a couple of days. Placencia
has no phones, no water, no electricity, and many, many people have no homes (me
included). We had lots of looting for the first few days after the hurricane
(and even BEFORE the hurricane), but the Belize police and BDF have gotten that
under control. Right now, the concentration is on getting water to people,
putting on roofs and repairing the few inhabitable homes that are left, plus
debris removal. (The area of the sidewalk from BTL south past Serenade looks
like the site of a very large explosion, with almost no buildings
left.)
On the beach, Tradewinds (Placencia Village),
Sonny's (Placencia Village), Coconut Cottages (Placencia Village), Cozy Corners
(Placencia Village), Wamasa (Seine Bight), Ranguana Lodge (Placencia Village),
Julia and Lawrence's (Placencia Village), Sunrider (Placencia Village), Dockside
(Placencia Village), Maya Playa (Maya Beach) and Tentacles (Placencia Village)
no longer exist (except for rubble). Angelfish Inn in Seine Bight looks heavily
damaged.
Three cabañas at Ranguana Lodge survived intact,
but were rolled upside down onto their roofs. When Eddie Leslie tried to right
them, they fell apart. Tony Eiley expects to start rebuilding Dockside and
Tentacles as soon as he can win his argument with his insurance company (he was
on the early Tropic flight with me this morning).
Sea
Spray's oldest building has been condemned, but Norman and Jodie think they can
have the two-story building reconstructed by Christmas. Westwind is still there,
but heavily damaged (a couple of small rooms are somewhat
livable).
Jake Roberts, Kerrie Turton and Brad Turton have
been working feverishly to restore the Internet Cafe (sans Internet) to provide
free breakfasts to hurricane workers. The Galley is feeding the BDF and BJ's is
the NEMO headquarters to provide meals and clothing to local residents. Kitty's
is open, has a few rooms available and is serving a limited menu in the
restaurant. She should be fully operable by November 1
(including the beach-side
pool in the new condo development, the pool in the main hotel area needs some
repairs that may take a bit longer). Not sure about Luba Hati, and Mariposa
doesn't expect to be back on-line until January 15 or later. Miller's Landing
should be ready to go around Christmas. Turtle Inn was virtually obliterated,
but Coppola is already bulldozing the old buildings and we hear he is ready to
rapidly reconstruct with new (and better) facilities.
Village Inn and Sun and Sea Cabañas were also heavily damaged and we don't know
whether they plan to re-open. Only two structures remain on the Mother Ocean
property, both uninhabitable.
I haven't been to Maya Beach
since we drove through from Cave's Branch last Wednesday (a BIG thanks to Ian
Anderson who took in a bunch of Placencia refugees and provided us with
wonderful food and shelter, asking only for a contribution to the Rescue Team).
However, I've been told that Barnacle Bill's is ready to go, plus Maya Beach
Hotel.
The biggest problem may be water. One diver
reported that the main water pipeline under water in the Placencia Lagoon
between Placencia and Independence looks like a corkscrew. We've heard that a
completely new pipe needs to be laid, which could take some time. The larger
resorts will truck in water, but the lack of water could prove insurmountable to
the smaller lodging facilities that are able to rebuild, especially in Placencia
and Seine Bight Villages (not to mention the problems that causes for
residents).
BEL is working frantically to restore
electrical service. BTL has installed a bank of five pay phones and two Internet
connections in a small building located behind the existing BTL building (the
existing building suffered significant damage). The BTL execs from Belize City
wouldn't offer a time estimate for restoration of service, but full restoration
could take up to four months.
Placencia has a LOT of
homeless people right now. One of our best guides sent his wife and baby to
relatives, and he's living in a small house with 14 other people. Four of my
friends and I are living in 2 bedrooms, but we do have two bathrooms, a full
kitchen and a small living room luxury under the
circumstances.
The prospects for permanent lodging for
people who don't own their own property is pretty grim, plus, lots and lots of
local residents have no insurance. I was told by a Department of Natural
Resources employee that people in the villages are sleeping on the beach. Food
supplies are somewhat low as most of the donated food is being funneled south to
Toledo. Atlantic Bank has re-opened, but few people are doing any banking.
(Small businesses here live basically hand-to-mouth, and this is the end of the
slow season, when few people have any remaining monetary
resources.)
Except for the palm trees, most of the vegetation in
Placencia Village is gone, leaving it hot and barren. However, some trees are
already showing signs of new leaves, so we're keeping our fingers crossed. (My
lobster claw plants survived in pretty decent shape, and my neighbor's
grapefruit tree looks better than ever. Most of the craboo trees were pulled up
by the roots, as were many of the cashews and mangos.) The lack of foliage is
causing a big problem for the local iguana populations and I was told that the
Howler Monkey population was seriously threatened.
Many
people believe that lots of tornadoes were within Hurricane Iris. In a number of
areas, one house is heavily damaged, while the structure right next to it
appears untouched. People who stayed in Placencia Village during the
hurricane report lots of wind shifts and that the wind seemed to be trying to
twist their buildings."
