Fifty years ago, one of the most powerful hurricanes of the last century veered off its northerly predicted course, and slammed into the country of Belize, killing hundreds, displacing thousands, and crippling the economy of the country.
Described as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Hattie's might and force on that fateful day of October 31st, 1961 left an indelible mark in the landscape of the old capital - in fact it made it the old capital! So powerful was Hattie's impact and so thorough the destruction, that plans to relocate the capital were immediately put into place.
Indeed, Hattie left Belizeans with a new respect for the destructive force of Mother Nature.
Now, the images captured of Hattie's aftermath, have been carefully compiled and curated to memorialize the catastrophic moment in the country's history. This afternoon, the media was given a special preview of the Exhibit titled "Eye of the Storm: Hurricane Hattie 50 years later", and Seven News was there.
Shari Williams
"Definitely whether people agree or not we have to all agree that the phenomena of Hurricane Hattie change the course of Belizean history. In 1961 - you have to understand the atmosphere of what Belize City was like. In March of that year they had just held a general election, in September they had celebrate the hundred and sixty third anniversary of the battle of St. George's Caye. The
atmosphere in 1961 in Belize was that of a new nation being form. People were ready to build their new nation and then in October of that year, the entire atmosphere of the entire country change after the devastation known as Hurricane Hattie. In 1961 as we all know Hurricane Hattie imploded on the entire country of Belize. it had winds of 165 mph with wind gust of over 200 mph, there were torrential rains, it had huge flooding, it really change people's attitude at that point. It devastated and simply destroyed the entire country of Belize in particular Belize City and so it was very important for us the Museum of Belize along with the Craig Family collection as well as the Belize Archive and Records to look back fifty years and see where we are as a nation and were we were then in 1962 after this devastation."
Jim McFadzean
"And for those who never lived the experience obviously chronicles of the aftermath and the way the people had to rebound from such a crisis. Hattieville and our new capital are results of that said storm."
Shari Williams
"Definitely like I said Hurricane Hattie actually changes the course of Belizean history. Several communities came up; like you said Hattieville we have Silk Grass and of course our Capital was changed from Belize City to Belmopan, so whether we agree or not Hurricane Hattie changes the course of our history. We want share especially with school children and the younger generation in Belize of what it was like in 1961, so by coming and seeing this exhibit they actually get a feel of what the devastation was like, they get of what the resilience of the Belizean people, because coming back from that was definitely a struggle."
The exhibit is the result of a partnership with the Museum of Belize, the Craig Family and the Belize Archives and Records Services. Williams says the exhibit will be officially opened to the public starting Monday of next week.
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