A tropical storm hit Belize over the weekend. Now normally this would be a headline but Nadine literally "blow ovah like wah lee breeze." Well, maybe not a lee breeze, but not a big one for sure. Jules Vasquez reports on the storm which made landfall just south of Belize City at 10:00 on Saturday morning while most of you were doing your Saturday shopping:
Tropical Storm Nadine made first landfall in Belizean territory out at Half Moon Caye early on Saturday morning. Rangers there reported winds of 50 miles per hour.
The big swells were rolling in, but there was nothing like any storm surge.
Out on San Pedro, at 10:30 AM journalist Dion Vansen captured what looked like a seaside symphony of swaying palms except for the stinging rains
The winds did upend some roofs on the island - but there was no major structural damage.
On Caye Caulker the winds were vicious and had left a mess in the streets and pulled down a few signs:
Incredibly at 10:39 - with the storm about to make upon Belize - water taxi's were still operating into the island.
This "notice to mariners" directing all water taxis to cease operations was not issued by the government press office until after 12:00 noon - two hours after the storm made landfall in Belize.
And earlier that morning, the director of NEMO refused to make a clear declaration on whether businesses should close:
Daniel Mendez, NEMO Director
"My advice to everyone is that we need to take this seriously. I don't want to be put on record to say that businesses must do these things. These are areas that we need to tighten up on, but as of now I would just encourage everyone, families, business owners that we need to take this seriosly."
And businesses most certainly did not take it serious. They were opening up. It was a regular day at the Michael Finnegan market and throughout the city where barb-ques, Supermarkets and stores remained open.
Winds were light and seas remained calm. But while the city was spared.
Corozal caught a downpour. Rain in the town went on for HOURS.
And by nightfall, more than 8 inches of rain had fallen in the Ranchito area.
There was localized flooding in some areas - but again - not life threatening.
Email
Print