Earlier on we showed you the official reaction to much of the damage that’s occurred in the Belize District, but the human dimension speaks volumes more than a politician or technician ever could. Imagine having to scrape up a few precious possessions, leave your house and just leave it to the waters and hope that they are merciful. That’s what hundreds of Belizeans have been going through for the past two weeks of the Great Flood of 08. It’s gone from Hope Creek, to Bullet Tree Falls and now the Belama area of Belize City where Jacqueline Godwin visited today. She found flood waters far higher than when she last visited on Monday.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
While flooding is nothing new for some residents living in Belama Phases theee and four it is the first time that the water is affecting an even greater number of people in both communities. So far seven families have had to be evacuated from the area but now with water covering most of Belama Phases 3 and 4 it is obvious that far more people will need to leave their homes.

But getting some families to move is as challenging as the rising water.

Marva Gillett, Resident - Belama Phase 3
“I will find somewhere to go but right it is kind of difficult for us to move from here because you don’t have a lot of relatives in town who you could go and the children have to go to school everyday.”

Today cameraman Paul Munnings and I got on the back of a trailer bed hitched onto a tractor and toured the flooded areas. On board was Councillor Philip Willoughby, NEMO’s Disaster Coordinator for Belize City.

Councillor Philip Willoughby, CEMO Coordinator
“The situation has deteriorated so drastically that we’ve received numerous calls from residents in Belama areas 3 and 4 respectively in terms of assistance to evacuate as presently what we’re doing.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
What’s the concern as you drive from one flooded street on to the next?

Councillor Philip Willoughby,
“Always that maybe the residents are still procrastinating about when will be the right time and that is a area of great concern because we are in a tractor now and we don’t know if we come later on visibility will be like to navigate the tractor through the water.”

Since this morning the water has been rising slowly and it is not certain how much longer high vehicles will be able to continue to drive through the flooded waters.

Councillor Philip Willoughby,
“As the Chief Met Officer Mr. Ramon Frutos has indicated to us that whereas tide is one issue, the water is still coming down from the Belize River Valley area and likewise it is still raising in some quarters up there so we anticipate that the city is the last stop for this water to come and we are reacting to it proactively and hopefully we get the support from the community here.”

Like Marian Middleton whose three bedroom house is inches away from being filled with water. McNab who personally moved out of the house one week ago today returned to remove her appliances and other household items.

Marian Middleton, Belama Resident
“It is more than sad, I just moved back here two months now and I didn’t do back here was like this. It is almost in the house so what I want to do today is take out as much as I can and save what I can save and try and look for somewhere else like this weekend.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
So you’re looking to move out of the area completely?

Marian Middleton,
“Completely, I don’t want to be back here at all. I mean not after this.”

To make matters more the water level is expected to increase and it will take a long time to recede.

Councillor Philip Willoughby,
“So we have to move very swiftly with the cooperation of the residents. Please do not procrastinate. It will be to your own detriment, to appliances, and to your household.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you know if any families have been evacuated from the mile 8 community?

Councillor Philip Willoughby,
“Some of them have vacated their homes but the father figure from the homes have remained to probably do the security and watch personal property and vehicles and so forth. But if it comes to the point that the water is venturing into or onto the house then what information I receive from those persons is that they will have to evacuate more sooner than later themselves. But again we don’t want to overlook anyone. We will still go there to render the assistance.”

Leroy Salgado, Belama Phase 3 Resident
“What we’re doing is we’re looking for a house in town on higher ground so that we can move out because this is getting really worse and it is not really good because to the back there we have some crocodiles, snakes, and sort of stuff back there and it is not good. Probably by Friday or Saturday the water should be getting higher and it will be worse.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
So when you and your family plan to move?

Leroy Salgado,
“As soon as we get a house in town then we are going to move out.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Did you expect the water to get so high?

Leroy Salgado,
“No not really. We expected the water to be at least the ground level but its unfortunate that it is just getting higher.”

Brian Harris, Belama Phase 3 Resident
“Right now we are really in a drastic state right now so we would really want to know what they can do for us so we can move from back here but right about now my peoples are at work so we really can’t do anything about it right now.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
How concerned is the family though, this water is obviously not clean?

Brian Harris,
“Well it gives us itch and thing in our foot same way so, we have a ointment we are using but we will really have to do something about it because it is really getting out of hand.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
How about the animals like crocodiles?

Brian Harris,
“Well we have a river right at the back there so we have a lot of that at the back there, that is the number one thing.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
So you think by tomorrow the family will move out?

Brian Harris,
“By tomorrow we are supposed to move out. We are just waiting to see what will happen.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Sounds like you still haven’t made up your mind.

Brian Harris,
“We’ve made up our minds but we are just waiting to see what will happen.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
So right now you are waiting to see how higher this water is going?

Brian Harris,
“Yes mam and then we will say if we will move out because right now we are handling it a little bit.”

In the meantime transportation is being provided to families and their children to help them get to work and school. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7NEWS.

Last reports this evening were that water in phases three and four continue to rise.