Hurricane Keith in Belize
Status Report: 12 October

Hurricane Keith struck Belize on September 30, 2000 and remained in the area for four days, with wind speeds ranging between 60-135 mph and torrential rains. The Keys (San Pedro and Caulker) were hardest hit, where more than 2,000 persons were affected. Approximately 30,000 persons in the rural districts of Belize, Orange Walk, Corozal and Cayo remain in flooded communities with no access to food and water. Some may be evacuated; others are reluctant to leave their homes. Many houses were destroyed (60% in the Keys). Electric power and phone services were quickly restored in Belize City, although water quality cannot be guaranteed.

Rapid Needs Assessment

Consultants from the Pan American Health Organization in Belize joined teams from the Ministry of Health, and with logistic support in the form of helicopters and boats from the U.S. and the U.K., all affected areas were visited within four days after the hurricane.

Although only one death was confirmed during the passage of the hurricane, more than 570 persons were injured or became sick after. As expected, the main issues were related to environmental health.

Water and sanitation

The affected communities have no potable water and water quality from the main distribution system revealed E. Coli contamination at unacceptable limits. Various cases of food poisoning were already reported and food safety is a major risk.

Epidemiological surveillance

Dengue, malaria (vivax), typhoid fever, leptospirosis and diarrheal diseases are endemic in Belize, especially in rural areas which are now affected and along border areas with Guatemala and Mexico. Cases of cholera among immigrant populations have been reported recently.

Vectors

Stagnant water in all flooded areas is an ideal breeding place for the Anopheles albimanus. A heightened threat also exists because vector control campaigns in the past were not sustained, due to shortage of equipment and insecticides. Belize City has always had a problem with rodents, which has only been compounded by the disaster.

Karl Heusner Hospital

Karl Heusner Hospital suffered only minor damage and the problems there are long standing and of a structural nature. Some clinics also lost their equipment and had minor water damage. As a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Health had sent two full containers of drugs to Belmopan before the hurricane. Click here for more information on this main reference hospital.

International Response

The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance provided significant human and material resources.

The Government of the United Kingdom supply ships, HMS Cardiff and Black Rover assisted in the Keys with clean up and installed water treatment plants for 11,000 gallons per day.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) Coordinator was on the site in Belize.

SUMA (Humanitarian Supply Management System)

The SUMA system is the regional standard for Latin America and the Caribbean when it comes to supply management. A SUMA Team from Grenada arrived to assist Belize and set up the system at the airport.

Taking advantage of the lull in the arrival of international aid during the first few days, the team trained nationals from Belize to use the system to manage incoming supplies. NEMO, the National Emergency Management Organization, was very supportive of SUMA and has decided to have a permanent SUMA team as part of NEMO. For more information on the SUMA system visit http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/SUMA/.

Conclusions

Although the damage caused by Hurricane Keith to Belize infrastructure was estimated at 260 million BZ dollars, the problems related to flooding will remain for the months to come in certain areas. Disaster preparedness activities have been included in proposals for international assistance in order to use the opportunity to update health sector contingency plans in Belize.