Flood Worsens in Belize River Valley: Rancho Dolores Faces Seven Feet of Water

Residents in the Belize River Valley are facing challenging days ahead as the flood waters from Tropical Storm Sara are traveling down from out west.  NEMO has opened shelters for residents in Rancho Dolores as some areas are seeing as much as seven feet of water on the village roads.  Tonight, it is the worst flooding situation, but it does stand to compete with other villages as the days progress.  With emergency officials deployed to the area to render aid, the village chairperson, Elsita Gillett, spoke with our newsroom on the collaborations on the ground.

Ammon Brackett, Village Chairman: “The water has risen very quickly. So the bridge right now is about a foot or more with water on top of the bridge. The water continues to rise at a rapid rate. So before nightfall, I’m assuming that the entire bridge will be under water or most part of it will be under water. We have coast guards on the ground right now, we have a boat. This morning we had a little issue, but we ironed that out with the truck. The truck came and the water rose very quickly on them. When the truck came, the truck was able to pass for the most part, and then suddenly when there was like a burst of water, and then the truck went, the water got into the engine of the truck so the truck could not move. We got a tractor to pull it out. So we’re okay with that part for right now and then, as I mentioned earlier, we have a boat to transport villagers, students, whosoever wants to pass over for the most part. Right now we have a family that moved out but that family went to another family member’s house. We have a teacher who is about to be evacuated. Now she will go today to the school. We will open the school as a flooding shelter because that is a designated hurricane shelter. So we’re going to move that person to the school and along with the coast guard will be staying at the school as well. So, so far we have, that will be two families already. One house is underwater already, has water, but that person that lives there already moved out from yesterday that person went out so he’s not in the house but there’s water in that house already.”

The current situation in the river valley comes as no surprise as the National Hydrological Service had forecast for this and had issued a notice to residents to prepare for the incoming waters.  As a matter of fact, advisories had also gone out to cattle and livestock owners to protect assets and property.  In the area of Willow’s Bank, residents there can breathe a bit easy tonight as the rising waters have not reached historical heights.  Chairperson, Natalie Pook, told Love News that they are hoping for the best.

Natalie Pook, Chairperson, Willow’s Bank: “In Willow’s Bank what we’re seeing is for the most part normal flooding on the banks of the river. We have one community or one village resident living near to the river side and they have reported that the water levels have been rising with what is normal to occur during these times. So pretty much that is what we’re facing. Most of the other residents live more inland away from the river so we’re not affected by the flooding to that extent but I just cannot forget those persons who have maybe cattle or animals and pasture on the river bank they will be impacted. Just that our area is a little bit higher , we have a higher elevation than some of the other communities which are really having a very difficult time at the moment. We have seen it raining, it just started to rain, we had thunderstorms back here and to be honest I don’t think that the communities can take any more water.”

Deeper into the valley is the village of Scotland Halfmoon where water levels are rising but are yet to reach a flood status.  Leslie Charlesworth is the village chairman who indicated to our newsroom that his major concern tonight is the Muscle Creek Bridge that serves multiple communities in the area.

Leslie Charlesworth, Chairman, Scotland Halfmoon: “So for right now the two main entrances, the Muscle Creek Bridge and the bridge leading to Landing have not been flooding yet. The water is rising slowly but as of right now it’s not passing the road or affecting heavily for anyone at this point but from what we’re watching it’s slowly rising so we’re carefully monitoring it as since yesterday and today we have seen a bit of I’d say about eight inches of rise in the water that’s at the Muscle Creek Bridge that’s not at the Landing Bridge. That side hasn’t seen much increase as of late, at least over the last twenty four hours. We have informed all the farmers to look out for it. In terms of the preparation there’s only the main road going in and out of Scotland which also leads to the other villages that we’d need to traverse to to get to Burrell Boom and the other side. The main point of concern right now is the Muscle Creek Bridge which is seeing a significant increase over the past couple days. Everyday we have about a six to eight inch increase so if it continues on that trajectory I’m assuming by this weekend that bridge or road will be impassable.” 

Reporter: What happens if that particular bridge road section becomes impassible ? 

Leslie Charlesworth, Chairman, Scotland Halfmoon: “Well if it’s impassable we’d have to do what we’ve done in the past which would be request the assistance from the authority in regards to transporting essential staff or anybody that needs to be transported to and from the other side. That would also affect every other village because it won’t only be Scotland it will be every other village going back from Scotland; Bermudian Landing, Double Head, Flowers Bank. All other village chairman from Scotland going back would be affected by this.”