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And all that water didn’t just disappear; it’s coming downstream. That means the Belize River Valley is next. First on the list are Crooked Tree and Maypen. Jacqueline Godwin visited today to see how those communities are preparing.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
According to Chief Hydrologist Rudolph Williams, at this time they cannot say how high the flood waters will be but one thing they do know for sure is that it will be at record water levels. Low lying areas throughout the Belize River Valley and the Crooked Tree Lagoon system are expected to receive the full brunt of the flood waters. The waters are expected to start affecting the area in a day or so.

Carissa Tillet and Delvorine Adolphus however are not waiting to see just how high the water will rise. Today they packed their bags and waded through the flooded waters of the causeway to get out of Crooked Tree Village.

Carissa Tillett, Resident - Crooked Tree Village
“But I live right beside the water side and if the water gets a little higher I will have to go because we will definitely get flood out.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Delvorine what is it like where you live?

Delvorine Adolphus, Resident - Crooked Tree Village
“Well the water has already reached in our house by the water side.”

A boat ride along the banks of the Crooked Tree Lagoon reveal that some properties are already under threat. But the Village Chairman George Guest believes no one will need to evacuate, they will just find higher ground

George Guess, Crooked Tree Chairman
“Nobody will be evacuated, they will just be moved up into higher ground. Nobody will be evacuated from Crooked Tree.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Where will they be staying?

George Guess,
“Some will stay at the community center and some will stay with their own families.”

Today when we visited the area most of the cause way was already under two feet of water that makes it impassable for most vehicles.

Carl Budd, NEMO Coordinator
“Just a while ago they just finished cleaning the channels so that whenever the water gets a little higher the bus wouldn’t be having access to the village so they will be using both the land and here to take out the commuters them to school or work or whatever they have to do. The people over there are organizing to move their cattle or whatever they have to do. The Chairman has a group that is taking care of that.”

The last time Crooked Tree Village was greatly impacted by flood waters was in 1979 and while records are expected to be broken the community is hoping for the best.

George Guess,
“And if it comes to Crooked Tree like it was in 1979 then it would flood most of the village. If you’re living high like this, then you will be alright. But if you’re in the center of the village you will be okay too, it is just on the outskirts of the lagoon that you will be bothered.”

Area Representative Edmund Castro expects the entire Belize Rural North to be affected.

Hon. Edmund Castro, Area Representative
“It seems like majority of the water is now making its way down to the bar mouth so it has to past the Crooked Tree and the river valley communities. Most of the river valley communities are of course in Belize Rural North and so we had checked there in St. Paul’s and the water is high. We checked in Flower’s Bank, we asked our people who live around the water to pay keen attention. The people of Bomba, well of course the road cuts off by the creek and the water is very high so the people will then have to use boat to come to Maskall so that shouldn’t be that difficult for them. The people along the Burrell Boom area and so on are keeping abreast of what’s going on and taking care of that situation as well.

We also have concern with the livestock. We’re asking our people to move their livestock to higher ground. Agricultural products in most areas like what is going on or had experienced in the Cayo District, most of our agricultural will be under water in these areas. In some areas with the rice and so on we will have problems with corn on some smaller farms. We have experienced some of our tilapia ponds, most of them are still in tact and if you drive through the old northern road you will see some of the tilapia ponds are still intact. Also in San Ignacio in the Bullet Tree area we noticed the ponds were still in pretty good shape, only one or so pond that did not survive this high intensive flood.”

Another critical area of concern is Maypen Village.

Olivia Moody, Chairwoman – Maypen
“I am very concerned because right now the water is over bank and if it continues to rain and then the water from Cayo has to come all the way down here that will be very difficult for us.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
How are things looking in Maypen?

Denton Moody, Maypen Resident
“Well things don’t look too bad yet but it could get worse as long as the water continue, we will be in bad shape so I am just asking the government to get in the area and just check conditions before it gets worse.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
How high is the water?

Denton Moody,
“Right now at my house the water is just about to pass over bank right now at my personal house.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
You also own some cattle?

Denton Moody,
“Yeah I got at least about 30 head of cattle right now, a few head of sheep, and my farm is actually under water right now so I just hope it doesn’t get worse than that."

Jacqueline Godwin,
Calvin you live along the river bank, how concerned are you?

Calvin Swasey, Maypen Resident
“Not very concerned, not yet. Maybe when the water comes up a little bit more, maybe.”

Olivia Moody,
“Maypen surroundings is like a little island. We get water from the river and from the savannah.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
What is the situation right now in the village?

Olivia Moody,
“It is terrible at least for who have livestock because we usually have our cattle out in the savannah and now we have to bring them in and so it will be a difficult situation for who have livestock in the village.”

The Belize Coast Guard has also been patrolling the area to render assistance if needed.