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When Hurricane Beryl threatened Belize, it stirred anxiety and anticipation along its entire path from the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. I have never seen San Pedro as prepared as it was for Beryl, and I think that’s because we had plenty of time to prepare. Islanders learned a hard lesson from past hurricanes Keith and Earl, which caused extensive damage to Ambergris Caye.
There is absolutely no shame in preparing for a storm, even if it doesn’t hit us. I’ve seen a lot of comments on social media criticizing people for rushing to prepare for a possible strike. Some called the preparations unnecessary and accused forecasters of exaggerating. But from the beginning, the forecasts showed that Beryl was headed our way. At various points as it moved through the Caribbean, landfall was expected to come dangerously close to Ambergris Caye.
Hurricane Beryl is no joke
San Pedro residents took notice and began to pay close attention. Hurricanes are unpredictable; just ask anyone in San Pedro who has experienced one. Hurricane Keith in 2000 and Earl in 2016We can’t take them for granted, even if they don’t seem to hit us directly. It’s always better to be prepared than to be sorry. There’s nothing wrong with being extra cautious.
Look at Hurricane Beryl, a poster child for this unpredictability. On Monday, it strengthened rapidly across the Caribbean Sea on warm surface waters and favorable winds, becoming the earliest Category 4 or 5 hurricane on record. It quickly strengthened from a tropical storm to a major hurricane, with winds increasing to 95 mph in less than two days. It nearly became the earliest major hurricane on record in the Atlantic, and re-intensified to a Category 3 before making landfall.
Island on the move
Islanders were prepared as never before. The Belize National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the weather department provided a wealth of information to keep residents abreast of Beryl’s progress and trajectory. The San Pedro Town Council did an excellent job communicating with the public, monitoring stores to prevent price gouging, maintaining trash collection until the last minute, dealing with construction sites to remove debris, coordinating with NEMO, and ensuring a smooth voluntary evacuation.
Homes and shops were boarded up, and although we expected more buildings to be protected, people were preparing. Businesses closed in time for employees to prepare themselves and evacuate if necessary. No curfew was necessary, and even shelters were opened for those who felt their homes were not strong enough to withstand the hurricane. According to reports, about 5,000 islanders decided to evacuate.
It’s going to be a long season; but I do know that the Sampedranos are resilient and hardworking. We have learned from past experiences and have used that knowledge to be better prepared and know when to move, or even evacuate when needed. We pray for our Caribbean brothers and sisters and our neighbors in Mexico who have been devastated by Hurricane Beryl. If you can, please donate what you can to them, we know what it feels like after a hurricane destroyed your home.
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