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Expecting landfall in the Stann Creek district on Sunday Monica Bodden started her storm trek in Dangriga and tracked all the way back to the city. Here's her story:…

We first visited Dangriga where homes were shuttered as this coastal community was packing up and mobilized for the storm. Which according to the map was churning right above their community. The coast however suggested no sign of an imminent threat as the waves gently lapped on the beach.

Still, inside the coordinating center, it was buzzing with activity as the district emergency management organization was on high alert - with their priorities clearly laid out on bulletin boards and supplies properly stored up.

The Delisle Academy - was one of the designated shelters at the community shelter; it opened at 7:00 am and by noon when we visited more than a few families had already moved in, and others were arriving - bringing with them valuables, bedding and supplies to last three days. Thelma Lewis was there with seven grandchildren:

Howard Melendrez Shelter Manager Delisle Academy
"At present we have over 150 shelterers. Each class room we are trying to see how best we can have at least 50 persons within one of the classrooms. Up to this point we have 7 classrooms open and people are still coming in."

Thelma Lewis, Shelterer
"I am not sure if my house can take the winds when it blows so I come in time because I don't want to get hurt on the street when I am coming."

Monica Bodden
"What time you come this morning?"

Thelma Lewis, Shelterer
"I come about 10 am because I was cooking - baking bread and after that I come this side."

Monica Bodden
"So you are fully prepared for whatever?"

Thelma Lewis, Shelterer
"Yes, but the food that I bring that will not serve us for 3 days. I hope that they prepare for us when the time comes."

Monica Bodden
"Ms. Thelma you ever experience a hurricane or anything?"

Thelma Lewis, Shelterer
"Hmmm.. I had experience Hurricane Hattie, that was nothing nice."

Monica Bodden
"Now you know this one is almost a category 2 right."

Thelma Lewis, Shelterer
"Yes."

Monica Bodden
"Are you afraid? Are you panicking?"

Thelma Lewis, Shelterer
"I am not afraid and I don't panic. I just sit down and wait until it comes."

Howard Melendrez Shelter Manager Delisle Academy
"I must say that the cooperation from the residents are overwhelming they listen, they acted as we request and is going well so far."

Going well there and pretty much the same in Ladyville where at the police station, the phase two flags were flying in breeze that was picking up - and residents were already inside, bedded down they had clearly gotten the message:

Minister of State Michael Hutchinson
"Well definitely we have some areas in Ladyville that does flood. Its best when you sound the warning, the hurricane not only just come today from earlier in the week the media houses been telling people to move to higher grounds so those people by now know that this thing is coming they should evacuate themselves from those places. I think at the beginning people are relax but visiting the supermarkets here in Ladyville and in Belize City you see the people are moving, they are taking this thing serious and they are getting themselves prepared. Pretty much I think everybody is well aware of what is happening and have move to higher ground and those people that believe that their houses can endure the strength of the hurricane they are staying put. Nevertheless we are up and about."

No time to spare as by mid-afternoon the increasing winds had already snapped this branch off a tree and deposited it on the shoulder of the northern highway near Williamson Industries.

Monica Bodden
"As you can see we are just about the Haulover Bridge heaving towards Belize City. Out this side the winds are really picking up. I think it's about 50 miles per hour winds we are receiving up this side right now."

In the city the winds had uprooted signs and at the St. Luke's Methodist Shelter - where by 4:30 pm city residents were settling in for what looked to be a scary night

Deseree Swift, Shelter manager
"So far it's going ok as to people coming in and settling down. I am trying my best to get everybody as comfortable as they could possible could in these circumstances here."

Monica Bodden
"We are looking at how many shelterers?"

Deseree Swift, Shelter manager
"Right now in total we have over 175."

Rose Smith
"Right now we feel good, we get a good shelter and we are praying to God for this hurricane to be over and everybody be safe and loving. Our house has just been built but I don't think the house is really strong, the house is a low house so the best thing for us was to get a shelter because if we stay there and get hurt we can't blame anybody but ourselves."

In the St. Luke's yard a tree had already been uprooted sending shelterers a clear sign of what lay ahead.

And while those are some of our storm stories, due to time constraints, power outages, toppled towers and the like, we weren't able to get on all the interviews that we did today. So we'll have those tomorrow….

Before we close, we note that there will be no classes tomorrow in the Belize Cayo and Stann Creek districts while Toledo, Corozal and Orange Walk will have school.

School is expected to resume on Wednesday for the storm affected districts.

And it didn't get a great deal of coverage in the news but we note that the shelter sin Belize City were full during the passage of the storm. We're working on those numbers and hope to have them for you tomorrow.