PAHO/WHO Belize Country Office	Belize City Council Office

PAHO/WHO Situation Report - Hurricane Felix
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Belize City , Belize

Category 5 Hurricane Felix, which was projected to hit Belize, instead made landfall at Punta Cabeza, northeastern Nicaragua at 7:00 am, 4 September 2007, with winds of 165 mph . Its downgraded tropical storm effects are expected to affect the southern parts of Belize (the Stann Creek and Toledo districts) late Tuesday 4 September and early Wednesday.

Since Felix was predicted to make landfall on Belize as a Category 5 Hurricane, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) advised the evacuation of several thousand residents from coastal areas (San Pedro Town, Caye Caulker and Belize City ) to safer ground. Hurricane shelters were opened throughout the country on Monday 3 September and the Ministry of Health (MOH) opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Belmopan that same day.

In observance of a UN Designated Official decision and its Emergency Management Manual, PAHO/WHO relocated to its newly re-rented Emergency Office in Belmopan upstairs the UN Crisis Coordination Centre (UNCCC, the UNDP office). PAHO/WHO maintained close communication with the MOH EOC and continued to function as a part of the UNSMT.

With the reduced threat of a direct impact on Belize, the Prime Minister of Belize lifted the State of Emergency introduced on Monday 3 September, and declared the country "all clear" at approximately 12 noon on Tuesday 4 September, except for the geographic region south of Independence Village. All public, commercial, and international functions were to return to normalcy as of that time.

On Tuesday afternoon NEMO and the MOH EOC took actions to further strengthen and assess the southern districts' shelter and health preparedness. PAHO/WHO has returned to its Belize City Office and continues to maintain its coordination and support for the MOH response.

Although most of the country is getting back to regular functioning, there is still a risk of flooding due to heavy rains especially in the southern districts. PAHO/WHO remains ready to assist the MOH in conducting its rapid health assessment in the South. The UNSMT and Disaster Management Team have committed to collaborate with NEMO and the respective national sectors to strengthen the rapid post-disaster assessment process.