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Jules Vasquez Reporting
The water taxis leaving Belize City were empty - no tourists - all the big boats had been commissioned by NEMO to assist in island evacuation.

The BBOC busses were lined up in front of both water taxi terminals this morning - their destinations clearly labeled - UB Gymnasium in Belmopan.

Claude Frazer, Chairman, BBOC
"We are just informed that we are supposed to be out here on standby for the evacuation from the islands which BBOC is responsible for Caye Caulker and San Pedro."

But the busses were still parked at mid-morning - when the voluntary evacuation from the islands had started hours earlier. San Pedro and Caye Caulker residents - in the main - didn't want to go to Belmopan; they wanted to go to the North - so many of them hopped in taxi's to take them to a northbound bus.

Claude Frazer, Chairman, BBOC
"On that side passengers are coming in some are going to PG, we have met on that side, some want to go north and I was explaining to the transport officer to try to inform NEMO that whenever they are sending the boat from the island try to send the people that are going to the shelters first, that when the boat arrive then from there we will have a bus full, that the bus could more move in instead of people waiting here too long in the bus."

But that didn't happen and the busses mostly stayed parked except this one which had made the only run of the morning taking 22 people to Belmopan.

Claude Frazer, Chairman, BBOC
"Well right now we have 6 buses right now on standby and as you could see things are slow right now, but if the need arise we could definitely bring up another 4 to 6 more."

But while they weren't coming in droves, island residents were filtering in - entire families packed up and prepared for what may be a long-ish stay in the event that Rina runs into Belize.

People we spoke to were cautious but not overly concern.

Jolene Swift, heading to Belmopan
"We're going to Belmopan because of the weather, it's not too rough out there, our riding was pretty good and the situation is my kid just woke up and he is miserable."

Reporter
"But you not afraid of the weather, it doesn't seem."

Feona Meyers, heading to Maskall
"No I was kind of bit prepared for this so I am not really worried."

Marta Ravanles, Island Resident
"We have to evacuate because our family has children and we have to go now because they gave us the free transport - now that it's free we move because we can't stay in the island to take the risk."

Jolene Swift, heading to Belmopan
"NEMO is doing a pretty good job, San Pedro Express is doing a pretty good job, everybody is attentive, everything is just perfect."

Just perfect for right now, but if the storm turns - today's casual breezy pace could turn into a frantic Wednesday.

According to the Belize City Traffic Department which was managing the mobilization of the evacuees - by the end of the day, six busses had left to Belmopan, two of them full and the next four were half full - that's about two hundred plus persons who have gone to the Belmopan shelter.