TROPICAL STORM NANA APPROACHING BELIZE EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE BEFORE LANDFALL

TUESDAY, 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2020 as at 4:30 PM

The National Meteorological Services of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO)advise that Tropical Storm Nana was located near latitude 16.8N, longitude 79.3W or about 590 miles east of Belize City. Nana was moving to the west at 18mph with maximum sustained winds of 50mph. Nana is forecast to continue moving west and to make landfall on Thursday as a category one hurricane. Residents across the country should be prepared for category 1 hurricane force winds between 74 and 95 mph. This system could also produce rainfall of up to 4-6 inches across the country which could lead to flash flooding and possible landslides. The NMS of Belize will continue to monitor the system and update the NEMO and the general public accordingly. The public must monitor the progress of this system but do not panic!

NEMO hereby declares a HURRICANE WATCH for Belize (one red flag with a black centre), Belize City, and the Cayes are under a Tropical Strom WARNING. The Warning is declared as the system path puts those areas under direct threat. Associated heavy rains can cause flooding, washout roads, bridges, culverts, winds can damage homes, trees branches, power lines and poles, loose items can be blown about and storm surge can cause flooding, drowning and beach vessels not securely moored. The next declaration is expected to be a Hurricane Warning (two red flag with a black centre flown one above the other) which means it is imminent that the Hurricane will make landfall on Belize within 24 hours.

The WARNING means the public must put their family emergency plan into action and to be prepared to seek safe shelter, (2) school management is notified that NEMO will need to access schools as shelters, (3) boat owners must secure their vessels, (4) a price freeze is in effect (5) public and private essential agencies and utility companies must release their employees when they need to seek shelter for their safety, (6) road infrastructure works need to be prioritized to maintain the lines of communication and (7) media houses and telephone service providers are advised to be prepared to secure your communication infrastructure.

All Emergency Operations Centre (Command Centres) countrywide is under partial activation. A joint NEMO Headquarters, national committees’ liaison officers and NEMO district coordinators virtual meeting was held. The meeting dealt with PPEs for public officers, human resource requirements, transportation for national committees, COVID 19 concerns and public health requirements in shelters, possible evacuation, shelter plan, mile 38 situation on the George Price Highway which is being addressed, acquisition of small equipment, sharing of certain standard information, the national needs list, BDF deployment in support to NEMO.

overnment ministries are at this time is in transition where only essential staff engaged in the ministry emergency plan and those who will work NEMO duties should return to work tomorrow or as directed by their CEO in accordance with their ministry emergency plan.We are asking people not to panic, stay calm, don’t listen to rumours. Stay tuned for and adhere to the official release from NEMO and the National Met Service and stay alert. Prepare, and move without alarm, scare mongering does more harm than good considering some people’s medical condition. NEMO will keep the general public updated. Do not panic Belize we have faced tropical cyclones many times before, the bigger threat is COVID 19 we must wear our masks, social distance and clean our hands and all surfaces on a regular basis.