On August 3 we had a hurricane that past over Belize, very few people know about it and not a lot of attention was given by the media. A friend living on a Belize island, was there when it happen and wrote down what she experienced.
Thanks to Laura Hall for this article


Hurricane Earl August 2016 Belize Central America

Caye Caulker (pronounced Key Corker), is one of Belize’s inhabited islands and has a population of approximately 1300 people. The island is 5 miles in length (split in two by Hurricane Hattie in the 1960’s) and 1.2 miles wide.
Monday 1 August The Belize Weather Centre announced there was a strong storm coming and people should prepare for it. The main industry is tourism throughout Belize and therefore the first priority was to evacuate tourists from Caye Caulker either by the two water taxi services or by air from the tiny airstrip.
Hotels were not allowing any new guests to check in and across the island shops, hotels, restaurants, bars and homes were being boarded up.
Most tourists and many island people evacuated although there were a few tourists who remained on the premise that the storm would be an exciting experience!

Tuesday 2 August The announcement came that the storm was now a tropical storm and given the name Earl. People knew from past experience the power and water supply would shut down so preparations were made for emergency packs which included; food, water, candles, flashlights, matches, lighters and pet supplies. The stray dogs and cats on the island would fend for themselves!

Wednesday 3 August Our reef looked as though the water was boiling and the ocean surges were very high. Boats were brought onto land and sandbags were placed outside properties along the beach. The Weather Centre now informed Belize that Earl was a category 1 hurricane. By 9pm Earl hit Belize City, Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. It raged until around 3am Thursday morning.

Thursday 4 August By 5am people were beginning to go outside to be met with such devastation! The Weather Centre informed Belizeans that Earl may have been a category 2 hurricane! The 3 streets of the island and the beaches were strewn with roofs, almond, sea grape and coconut trees, piers, boats, parts of buildings and broken concrete! The destruction of homes, properties and trees was unbelievable! There was no electricity or water, cell ‘phones were not working and the only news was from battery operated radios.
Clean up operations started and the majority of people were out all day helping to clear their own property and then help others. Fallen trees were cut to allow for movement around the island and all the wood from so many broken piers was collected and put into safe piles. Large pieces of metal roofing were everywhere and difficult to move, loose nails were everywhere so people had to wear shoes which is not a Caye Caulker trait!
Friday 5 August Power was restored and cell ‘phones were operating again. However, water was still off. Cleaning up is a continual process and teams of people are getting together and doing their best.
It will take some time for the island to recover. People are saying; ‘We survived!’