Archive
2000: Hurricane
Keith
October 18, 2000
Restoration efforts are progressing
quickly on San Pedro and Caye Caulker. Aerial photos taken October 17, 2000 are
available at http://www.belizeemergency.net.
October 6, 2000
The Belize government seems to be
doing a good job in responding to emergencies up north and on San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
Emergency teams were dispatched to Caye Caulker and San Pedro as soon as weather
conditions permitted. Road repairs also began immediately and the International
Airport came back on-line the morning of October 4.
Placencia has set up an account at
Atlantic Bank for donations to help with the relief effort (Account No: 100107288. Name of the Account is
Hurricane Keith Relief Fund). In addition, the Belize Consulate in L.A. is accepting
donations: Belize Consulate - Hurricane Keith, c/o Belize Consulate, 5825 Sunset
Blvd., Suite 206, Hollywood, CA 90028.
Placencia also sent a
boatload of donated clothing, food and building supplies to the San Pedro and Caye Caulker
area yesterday. These kinds of donations can be sent from the States, but make sure
they are addressed as follows:
For San Pedro:
Honorable Patty Arceo, Area Representative, and Town Board, RELIEF SUPPLIES, San Pedro
Town, Belize.
For Caye Caulker:
Honorable Patty Arceo, Area Representative, and Mr. Fermin, Emergency Committee Chairman,
RELIEF SUPPLIES, Caye Caulker, Belize.
Conditions remain the same
in Placencia - bright, sunny and LOTS of fish (Kevin was catching them 2 at a time
yesterday at the dock - really!) Road conditions are ok, road is drying out nicely
from the rains. Sea was beautiful and very calm yesterday - great swimming
conditions.
October 4, 2000
 As illustrated by the picture to the left, here in
Placencia we woke up to bright, sunny skies this morning, certainly nothing that looked
like the aftermath of a hurricane!
Other areas in Belize were not so
lucky. We still have little information about conditions in San Pedro.
Flooding appears to be a major concern in the Cayo and Belize districts.
However, the government of Belize
seems to be doing a very good job coordinating clean-up efforts. For example, we
understand that the International Airport, which was flooded and lost electricity during
the storm, will be open today for international flights. Also, supply boats to
San Pedro and Caye Caulker seem to be on regular runs from Belize City and Tropic and Maya
Air are resuming regular schedules today.
So far, there's only been one confirmed casualty - - an
American woman who had a house on San Pedro. She was apparently part of a crew
transporting a chartered catamaran from somewhere near Monkey River in this area to
San Pedro. Five crew members were on the boat, but three are missing and one was
found unconscious. Several other boats have been reported missing, so
there may be other casualties.
Contributions to the relief efforts
for northern Belize can be made to Riggs Bank ABA# 054-00-00-30, Account
Name: Embassy of Belize Hurricane Keith, Account #: 173-165-46. Donors should notify
the Belize Embassy by email or surface mail of donations made to this account.
Embassy email is Belize@oas.org and surface mail
address is: Ambassador Lisa Shoman, Embassy of Belize, 2535 Massachusetts Avenue,
N.W., Washington, DC 20008.
October 3, 2000
Here's what today looks like in
Placencia (pictures taken by Kitty Fox in front of Kitty's Place Resort):
 
Reports on conditions from around the
Placencia area:
Inn at Maya Beach,
Maya Beach: Fortunately we sustained no
damage. Ginger
Inn at
Robert's Grove, Placencia, Belize: We are fine up here at Robert's Grove - -
in full operation. Basilio
Little
Water Caye: Had some rough seas, but nothing worse than a typical winter
norther. No damage at all. Karl
Luba Hati Resort,
Seine Bight Village: Absolutely no
damage in this area. All is as normal. Fiona
Maya
Beach Hotel, Maya Beach: NO damage up here. We're up and running and looking
for guests. Gary
Monkey House
Guesthouse, Monkey River Town: All is
fine down here and we are expecting to enjoy a great upcoming season. Esquire
Magazine will be featuring Monkey River in it's November Issue. I'm on the Email as
we speak telling them to tell all their readers that the entire area is fine and suffered
NO damage from Mitch. Regards, Sam
Nautical
Inn, Seine Bight Village: No damage at
Nautical Inn. Open for business as usual. Dive and snorkel trips offered daily. Ben
Seafront Inn,
Punta Gorda: There is absolutely no damage. The road crew never quit
working on the new road construction here in town, they worked, Sun, mon and today.
We had calm seas, no wind, drizzly rains. No damages at all. Carol
Singing Sands Resort,
Maya Beach: We are of course, just fine up
here...have actually gained a few feet of beach! from the passing storm......the roads no
worse than before with ongoing rain. We have availability...should folks need to rebook to
other destinations. All of Maya Beach is open for business...all resorts and
Mangos... but don't think the shuttle is running yet. Marti
Ranguana
Caye Reef Resort: Can't even tell there's been a storm out here. Joy
and Eddie
Rum Point
Inn, Placencia: Once again we were all
very lucky. There was a little beach erosion, but that happens constantly and this is no
more than usual. Corol
Sea
Spray Hotel, Placencia, Village: Norm wanted to answer, but I couldn't find
him - - I think he's out on the beach having a pina colada. Jodie
Tradewinds
Hotel, Placencia Village: No damage at all, and the tarpon fishing is great
right off the shore right now. Janice
Kevin
Modera Guide Services: Hurricane? What hurricane? I don't know
anything about a hurricane. I am a fisherman. I was out fishing!!!!!
Kevin
9:05 a.m. (Belize
time- CST): The whole Placencia area
and south of us pretty much escaped unscathed by Keith. We got a lot of rain, and the seas
from the dock south were VERY rough. However, seas just north of the cut between Placencia
Caye and the Tradewinds property were almost glasslike. Lots of tarpon rolling in there,
so anglers have been having a great time fishing. However, we imagine that
road conditions will probably mean no supplies in Placencia for about a week.
San Pedro and Caye Caulker got the
full force of Hurricane Keith. Both lost phones and electricity, so we're just now
beginning to get reports about conditions in each location.
Thankfully, no casualties have been reported
anywhere in Belize. A few people were injured in San Pedro (mainly from flying
debris) but no injuries in Caye Caulker. However, LOTS of property damage on both.
In San Pedro, the Lagoon-side received the worst
damage. The Texaco station there has been completely destroyed. The San Juan
received only minor damage, but San Pedrito was extensively damaged. According to
radio braodcasts, only about 12 houses remain standing in the San Pedrito area.
Northern resorts such as Journey's End, El Pescador and Captain Morgan's are in good
condition. To the south, trees were uprooted and a number of small houses were
heavily damaged. Rumors have the Corona del Mar (a concrete building) losing its
third floor, and Mata Chica being completely destroyed.
About 40 houses were destroyed on Caye Caulker.
We understand that Belize City has up to 4 feet of
water in some places and that most areas have no phone or electric service. Many
downed (and live) power lines, so people are being urged to stay in their homes or
shelters. Some reports of price gouging in Belize City.
All highways up north are in bad
shape, and many bridges are down.
Belmopan shelters are full and until this morning
had no food. Amazingly, when the government put the shelter plan together, they relied on
people bringing enough food to last for 2 days (and they told people to do this on the
radio). Question. How could families bring enough food for 2 days without
access to refrigeration, cooking facilities, or ice for coolers (or to coolers for that
matter)?
The Corozal area is reporting little damage, but
some of the villages in the area are cut off from food supplies because of the bad roads.
The Belize International Airport is
Ladyville is closed because of water on the runway. No answer at the local Tropic
Air or Maya-Island offices.
October 2, 2000
8:03 a.m. (Belize Time - CST)
Rained all night, winds are stronger (35 mph,
gusting up to 45 mph), but otherwise not much change since yesterday. Communication
remains limited from the cayes. A Caye Caulker resident did manage to get through on
a cell phone to LoveFM about a half-hour ago. No deaths or serious injuries were
reported. However, Hurricane Keith extensively damaged structures on the eastern end
of the island.
Still no communication with San Pedro since late
last night when it was reported that the Tropic Air corporate headquarters had been
destroyed (information remains unverified). Guests and staff are ok at Lighthouse
Reef Resort, Spanish Bay Resort, Manta Reef Resort, Turneffe Island Flats and Lodge and
Sandbird Caye. Everybody is also safe and sound at Half Moon Caye. No
information from Sarteneja (phones down). No power in most of Belize City and
Ladyville. Shelters in Belmopan are full. The International Airport in Belize
City is closed and no flights are available in any part of the country.
October 1, 2000
5:10 p.m. (Belize time - CST)
Conditions have changed little throughout the
day. Wind intensity has increased a little with stronger gusts. Rain has been
steady. Keith seems stalled between San Pedro and Caye Caulker, but has headed a
little south.
 11:00 a.m. (Belize time - CST) Still raining fairly steadily, intensity of rain has increased and
decreased throughout the morning. Moderate winds from the south/southwest.
Very rough seas from the dock south (as shown in the picture at left taken from the beach
at Tentacles Restaurant). However, the sea is very calm just north of the cut
between Placencia Caye and the Peninsula. Saw tarpon rolling in this area about a
half-hour ago.
September 30, 2000
8:15 p.m. Steady light rain. Rough seas at the dock from about 3:30 to
6:30 p.m., but the Sea has calmed down quite a bit since then. About half the boats
normally moored at the dock have moved around back to the Lagoon. Not much wind, the
little we have is coming from the west. Beautiful sunset this evening.
3:30 p.m. The Belize government has extended the Hurricane Keith warning
south to Monkey River. That's us, folks!
3:15 p.m. CST: Placencia weather is still very calm (almost too calm).
Light/moderate winds from the west this morning have died down and we have very little
breeze. Very cloudy, but light rains of this morning have also stopped. Keith
is expected to head north/northwest, but we're told there is still a possibility of it
heading south. Also, a shift to the west is predicted to bring heavy rains and
flooding to the southern part of Belize. Red hurricane warning flags with black dots
(meaning caution) have gone up at the school. LoveFM is doing a very good job
reporting on Keith, but local color is still amusing (for example, banks were asked to put
money in their ATMs because people are trying to get money). |
