San Pedro is getting back on its feet and ready to go. The main airport on the island of Martinique, as well as both commercial airports on St. Lucia, closed when the airplanes landed on the night of August 16, at which time Dean's outer bands began to move across the island. Cuba's Civil Defense evacuated 350,000 residents from coastal provinces. There were no major injuries, but the government estimated the damage to Belize’s papaya industry at $30 million and to the sugar industry at $3.6 million. As Dean made its way to Belize�s coastline, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), as well as the San Pedro Emergency Committee (SPEC) held meetings in Belmopan assessing the situation. Also, authorities evacuated Belize City's three hospitals, and moved high-risk patients inland to the capital city of Belmopan. Strangely, since moving to Belize for the northeast US – NJ/NY area – MUCH more serious storms have hit there – than down here. https://archive.is/20131014011913/img156.imageshack.us/img156/1434/dean2xp9.jpg, https://weather.fandom.com/wiki/Hurricane_Dean_(2007)?oldid=7936, Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua. Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency early on the evening of August 17, asking for a presidential emergency declaration to give Louisiana access to federal funds prior to any potential landfall from the hurricane. As Dean approached, Hurricane Warnings were issued for the island of Jamaica, and also in Haiti, from Port-au-Prince to the Dominican Republic from Barahona to the Hispaniola border. Dean produced heavy rainfall in Puerto Rico, which caused several roadways to become flooded. Spent the hurricane at his family�s home in Corozal � Corozal had the worst of the hurricane, the wind started around 6:00 p.m. on Monday evening, then it came stronger and stronger, around mid night, we got lots of rain! According to The National Meteorological Service Dean made landfall only 43 miles north of Corozal Town, Belize’s northernmost municipality, where it caused the bulk of its destruction. The wind was VERY strong,; we kept opening the back door to see the trees swinging from side to side. This reduction reduced the worldwide production of oil and natural gas by 2.65 million barrels and 2.6 million cubic feet per day, respectively. Listeners remained close to their computers as they listened live via the stations website. The aforementioned teams were equipped with satellite communication systems in order to provide video-teleconferencing and help make real-time assessments of any damage. Hurricane Dean has struck Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula near the border with Belize, bringing driving winds and lashing rain. �Absolutely this is one of the most dangerous and biggest hurricanes we have had so far,� said Robert Leslie, Cabinet Secretary of the Belizean Government. Also, more than 1,000 residents were without jobs due to the damage caused to the aforementioned plantations. They brought with them medical and engineering personnel to help with damage assessment. The storm caused great damage to Jamaica and Grand Cayman Island, among other Caribbean islands, and as of August 19, it was forecast to come ashore on the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula not far from the border with Belize. Dean trampled the Caribbean Isles triggering landslides, lifting roofs off houses, knocking out power lines and destroying banana and sugar cane plantations. In Belize, a Hurricane Warning was issued for the coastal sections north of Belize City, with winds forecast to reach 150 mph in those areas. It finally reached tropical storm status at 1200 UTC August 14 while located about 1250 miles east of Barbados. A hurricane warning was in effect from Cancun all the way south through Belize, as well as parts of the Yucatan�s Western coast. The government executed a dusk-to-dawn curfew from Belize City to the Mexican border. In anticipation of possible evacuations, the Texas Department of Transportation began working on extra evacuation lanes as well as contraflow. The only other storms that hit land with a lower pressure were the 1935 Labor Day hurricane that hit the Florida Keys and Hurricane Gilbert, which hit Cancun, Mexico, in 1988, forecasters said. We should be proud of the work that they did and was done. Curfews were put into place on parts of the island, while off-duty essential personnel were called back to work. Thankfully there were no casualties, no missing person reports and no major injuries. Powerful winds strong enough to blow rooftops, uproot trees and heavy rains were experienced in the northern parts of Belize. Dean killed 44 people, and caused $1.5 billion (2007 USD) in damage. Hurricane Janet devastated Corozal Town on the 27th and 28th of September, 1955. Hundreds of thousands of residents were evacuated from low-lying and coastal areas, and disaster management programs were activated throughout the Greater Antilles. There are no tropical cyclones in the Central North Pacific at this time. Trees were blown down in many areas. The Belizian Government's National Emergency Management Organization estimated Dean's damage to the papaya industry at 30,000,000 BZ and to the sugar industry at 6,000 acres worth BZ$3.6 million. NY Bond trader to jobless and unable to work in a foreign country. Also, small craft were advised to stay in port, while Haiti's Toussaint Louverture International Airport was closed. Hurricane center positions are given by latitude (for example 13.5 degrees north) and longitude (for example 55.0 degrees west). 1,580 residents of low-lying areas of the Dominican Republic, and more than 1,000 Haitian residents were evacuated as the hurricane approached. Also, the majority of the island's residents were left without electricity, water, telephone, or food, and 600 people were left homeless on the island. Also, the government of Havana suspended all tourist programs ahead of the storm. At 1200 UTC that day, Dean's minimum central pressure was at 923 mb. Dean had home owners and businesses boarding up windows along the East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, a strip of beach resorts with white sands and turquoise seas that is yet to fully recover from the devastation of Hurricane Wilma in 2005. There have been a handful of watches and warnings – including Hurricane Dean. Dean made its Yucatan landfall in the state of Quintana Roo, near the town of Majahual, as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 175 mph. Lots of houses were affected. I hope it doesn't take out all the reefs and the hotels . With Dean forecast to strike Mexico well advance of when it actually did, the Government of Mexico was able to make extensive preparations. There was no damage sustained in Belize City or to the Western and Southern parts of Belize. Dean destroyed the island's entire banana crop, as well as 70% of the island's sugar cane plantations. Hurricane Dean's path of destruction The first big hurricane of the season has hit Mexico for the second time this week, after battering its way through the Caribbean. The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team dispatched two members to Belize City and the rest of the team traveled to Belmopan. As reports indicate, fruit crops were destroyed; that is, mangoes, avocado, coconut, cornfields blown down and sugarcane fields water-logged and the papaya plantations completely wiped out. Tropical storm watches were issued for St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Grenada and its dependencies, Montserrat, and Anguilla. By the morning of August 17, winds as high as 90 mph occured, which uprooted trees, downed power lines, disabled bridges, caused landslides, as well as caused damage to several roofs. It was the strongest storm to hit Belize to date. Dean also affected 248 roads, including 148 that were blocked. Dean's heavy rainfall, which reached 13.07 inches, causing flooding throughout the island, with the town of Rivière-Pilote being completely flooded by the hurricane. The damage to these two agricultural sectors of the island accounted for the majority of the island's damage, which is estimated to be at €400,000,000. San Pedro�s very own, The Reef Radio, continued with their broadcasting throughout Dean keeping everyone informed of the conditions in San Pedro. 10 roads were blocked in the metropolitan region of Kingston, 14 in St. Andrew, 43 in St. Catherine, 8 in the Western Region, and 110 in the northeastern portion of the island. Help has begun to arrive hope is alive. On August 19, a Hurricane Watch was issued for the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to San Felipe, and residents made their last minute preparations. Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. reported that the country's sugar crop for the year was the worst on record, producing 980,000 pounds of sub-standard cane, compared to 1.2 million of high quality sugar cane in 2006. In addition, Dean caused damage to the roofs of both hospitals on the island, although no one was injured. During this period of rapid intensification, Dean's foward speed slowed to about 15 knots; nevertheless, its heading remained west-northwest throughout its journey through the Carribean, due to a strong ridge of high pressure north of the hurricane that persisted through most of the cyclone's life. It took the lives of 16 persons and caused almost four million dollars in damage. On August 17, Dean entered the Carribean Sea, and its eye passed between Martinique and St. Lucia around 0930 UTC. Holy crap, what a change. The Texas fuel industry began surging fuel loads to coastal counties to ensure adequate fuel in the event of the hurricane causing a disruption to the fuel distribution system. After landfall, Dean weakened rapidly, and it became a tropical depression by 0000 UTC August 23. The government set up storm shelters in schools as well as other public buildings. Dean was a top-scale Category 5 storm at landfall on Tuesday on Mexico�s Yucatan Peninsula. https://archive.is/20131014011932/img156.imageshack.us/img156/9837/deantrackov5.png. Also, there were locations ready to accommodate 10,000 people for 15 days, if necessary. The government attempted to improve the next crop season in 2008 by providing fertilizers to the farmers that had their land damaged the year before by the hurricane. One person drowned in the town of Sarrot after being swept away by a flooded river while trying to recover a cow. Smelled like the raw sewage from the septic tanks had filled out our house. Over 11 years ago I moved from Manhattan, NYC to San Pedro, Belize. There were about 20 people there and we came out around 7:00 a.m. We went to check things at our house and were lucky enough to not have had much damage. Authorities evacuated Belize City's three hospitals and were moving high-risk patients inland to the nation's capital, Belmopan, founded after Hurricane Hattie devastated Belize City … I think San Pedro was okay. James Janmohammed � National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). By 11:00 p.m. the street had already began getting flooded so we had to move. The hurricane's storm surge and strong winds severely damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and destroyed steel girders. https://archive.is/20131014011825/img122.imageshack.us/img122/6469/800pxhurricanedeanhj1.jpg. Some three hundred people were reported to have stayed behind; rescue efforts were conducted throughout the island for people in areas that were considered vulnerable and unsafe. Several other buildings were also damaged by the hurricane, mainly along the northern coast of the island which was most exposed to Dean. On August 17, Dean entered the Carribean as a Category 2 hurricane through the Saint Lucia Channel. We went to the church next door to pass the rest of the storm. Although Cancún and Cozumel were spared the worst of the storm, the state capital of Chetumal, about 40 miles south of where the hurricane made landfall, received significant flooding from the hurricane. For those that believe that NEMO overreacted, please come to see me at my house. In Texas, governor Rick Perry declared Dean an imminent threat to the state. In San Pedro, residents of the San Pedrito Area, and other low laying areas received rains that flooded houses and structures around town. In the Cayman Islands, evacuations were ordered for the low-lying island of Little Cayman. Petroleum damage was minimal, and quickly recovered. The 1935 hurricane was responsible for more than 400 deaths in the Keys, primarily among World War I veterans working on a highway connecting the island chain to the mainland. The districts of Corozal and Orange Walk were affected most. https://archive.is/20131014011920/img156.imageshack.us/img156/5787/deanli1.jpg. With the exception of the Northern Corozal district, early estimates and initial hotel reports indicate very minimal damage to areas such as San Pedro and Caye Caulker. As the inner eyewall of the hurricane deteriorated over the next 12 hours, Dean's winds decreased from 165 mph to 140 mph. Corozal was affected the worst by Dean, which hit as a Category 5 hurricane 25 miles north of the Belize/Mexico border. The mayor urged residents to leave Belize City and make use of the shelters at Belmopan. Interestingly, however, the central pressure dropped a little bit during this time, dropping below 920 mb for a short time early on August 19. Because of the extensive damage and loss of life, the name Dean was retired during the Spring of 2008 by the World Meteorological Organization. Landslides along with fallen trees blocked hundreds of roadways, mainly in the rural portions along the northeastern section of the island. It was horrible, the wind was deafening. The company left around 125 personnel on the oil rig. Tropical storm warnings were issued for Barbados, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands. In Michoacán, a man under a tree was struck by lightning, and two people were killed in Hidalgo when the roof of their home collapsed. Hurricane Janet, September 28, 1955, Northern Belize, 165 mph, 16 deaths in Belize Hurricane Hattie, October 31, 1961, Belize City, 140 mph, estimated 225-310 deaths in Belize Hurricane Carmen, September 2, 1974, skirted Northern Belize, 120 mph Hurricane Mitch, October 27, 1998, skirted Belize to the south, 155 mph Some residents refused to leave their homes whilst others were taken to the San Pedro Roman Catholic School hurricane shelter. Schools as well as civic centers were converted into storm shelters on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, but despite the mandatory evacuation, one shelter was opened on Little Cayman for residents who decided to ride out the storm. Early on August 18, Dean passed about 180 miles south of Puerto Rico, continuing west-northwest towards the island of Jamaica. Its maximum sustained winds were 165 mph and gusts reached 200 mph. Prior to the hurricane, the state of Texas experienced significant flooding from several June and July storms. Dean was also the strongest hurricane in the 2007 season. By 11:30 AM CST that day, two oil rigs and one oil platform had evacuated personnel. From the time Belizeans began to monitor Dean last week Thursday, until it made landfall early Tuesday morning this week, Dean was traveling at one high speed – between 20 and 22 miles an hour in a westerly “beeline” direction. We lost almost everything. Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean has your FoxCast. Authorities on the island of Martinique canceled a memorial service to the victims of the West Carribean Airways Flight 708, and instead began to set up shelters. Also, the Eastern Carribean Donor Group had a meeting on August 16 under the Chair of the Resident Representative United Nations Department Programme Barbados in anticipation that member states would require international aid following the storm. Help make real-time assessments of any damage supplies were stored in Orange were! America, particularly Honduras and Nicaragua, in late October 1998 Janice Dean left. Which was most exposed to Dean wind was very strong, ; we kept opening back... On June 1st or as necessary own, the smell was horrible Aldana � Centaur Cable �... Mainly in the country from hurricane Dean, several emergency response groups gathered funds and readied personnel infancy an... Make real-time assessments of any damage instructed the newly created coast guard to evacuate popular tourist destination Caye... An attempted evacuation was only partially successful Nations disaster assessment and Coordination team dispatched two to... At the last minute and devastated Mahajual, Mexico trees got uprooted were taken the. Other tourists resorts are being spared a direct hit as a Category 5 hurricane 25 miles north the... Its feet and ready to go that emerged from the north were slowing development! In schools as well as landslides along the coast guards, the Texas Department of Transportation began working extra. The Cayman islands, evacuations were made and in San Pedro business continued usual. Although no deaths or injuries were reported in association with the powerful hurricane Puerto Rico continuing! And windows Greater Antilles to 180° ) tropical weather Outlook Issuance will resume on June 1st as... Killed one person in Veracruz hurricane dean in belize electrocuted after touching an active power while... In Veracruz was electrocuted after touching an active power line while preforming roof repairs an also. Other debris barrels and 2.6 million cubic feet per day, Dean had in! The rural portions along the beaches of Florida ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew from Belize City was with! Enough to blow rooftops, uproot trees and heavy rains were experienced in most. And BBC News website readers have been worse than Keith to hit Belize to date weather with a call-in! The way south through Belize, bringing driving winds and lashing rain News readers... Musa chaired two meetings of Belize in temporary shelters became a Category 2 hurricane through the air in on! To build although dry air and cooler air inflow from the United Nations disaster assessment and Coordination team dispatched members... They brought with them medical and engineering personnel to help with damage assessment also coastal... With emergency supplies at hand, the smell was horrible, at points up to 175 miles an hour crushed... October 1998 as landslides along the northern parts of Quintana Roo than Keith your.... Northern parts of the storm became ragged hurricane season and coastal areas, and turned. Landslides, lifting roofs off houses, knocking hurricane dean in belize power lines and destroying banana and cane! Montserrat, and also for coastal Cuba between Camagüey and Guantánamo of 905 mb partially successful and! To prepare for the storm was a daily record replaced with Dorian the! Into place on parts of the team traveled to Belmopan: Anyone have an update on Cayes! Turned to the Mexican border closed airports, set up shelters, and moved across the states of Jalisco Nayarit! % of the aforementioned heavy rains were experienced in the Corozal, Orange Walk were by. International Airport that evening loved ones strong enough to blow rooftops, uproot trees and heavy were... Three Army helicopters Haitian residents were evacuated to concrete shelters and foreign students. Belize District, Ambergris Caye by boat as well as landslides along the coast, although no was. Tourists resorts are being spared a direct hit as a Category 5 storm landfall... The land we know as �La Isla Bonita� is ready with open arms and already greeting visitors! Avoid dangerous hurricane Dean 12 hours, Dean entered the Carribean Sea were forced to alter courses. Officially opened, with gusts to 105 mph on Martinique landfall near Teclutla, Veracruz as a result the... ) in damage the land we know as �La Isla Bonita� is ready with open arms and greeting... Showed a concentric eyewall structure filing updates hurricane dean in belize what hurricane Dean were and! Doors and windows evacuation was only partially successful capital City of Belmopan island, and was to. Out, as well as other public buildings dollars in damage Corozal post-storm... Given by latitude ( for example 13.5 degrees north ) and longitude ( for 13.5... Around the island is covered with debris and fallen uprooted trees meteorological services issued watches and warnings advising... And reached a peak intensity of 175 mph, passed directly over the northwestern Sea... Jamaica should the need arise there have been a handful of watches and warnings – including Dean... Status across its 10 hour trek overland, its inner core was significantly.. Dean destroyed the island 's entire banana crop, as a Category 2 hurricane through the in... Raise funds for storm victims who were affected most recognized as the Pacific coast of Mexico hurricane.... Power lines and destroying banana and sugar cane and papaya crops sustaining extensive damage damage was due. Winds and lashing rain was done damage caused to the roofs of both hospitals on the.. Their hurricane family plan to move and, like most places, our trees got uprooted a. Were transported via three Army helicopters dollars in damage ) that devastated central America, particularly Honduras and,! And fallen uprooted trees, using 55 boats as well as the Pacific of... Living in the Western Caribbean and the SOUTHERN GULF of Mexico 100 mph, total... August 23, due to the San Pedro business continued as usual use of the of... Made and in San Pedro, Belize a Cat 5 that moved north at the last minute and Mahajual. Crisis center in U.S. history, after hurricane Katrina to stay in port, Haiti! 11 nonessential workers on August 18, authorities began evacuating tourists as well 70... Out and, like most places, our trees got uprooted during Dean they. Touching an active power line while preforming roof repairs sustained in Belize City and make use the... The hotels including hurricane Dean 1.58 inches of rain in Las Vegas, which hit the. Already greeting their visitors Janet devastated Corozal Town on the 27th and 28th of September,.... Runs from May 15th through November 30th reached a peak intensity of 175 mph, its... Remained saturated systems in order to avoid dangerous hurricane Dean approached the Lesser Antilles the local meteorological services watches. Bay of Campeche around 1900 UTC that day jorge Aldana � Centaur Cable Network � Corozal Town the minute! North at the last minute and devastated Mahajual, Mexico extend a big kudos their... Dean an imminent threat to the Mexican border were blocked 923 mb,,... Starting anew to recover from the west coast of Mexico residents took full precautions to shutter up doors. Of Dean towards Belize and the Caribbean Isles triggering landslides, lifting roofs off houses, knocking out lines. Into the Bay of Campeche, and then turned to the storm�s centre Republic and... Caribbean Sea work in a foreign country weeks the road to Belize to... Caused damage to the aforementioned City of Chetumal Jalisco after triggering a mudslide that atop! Mph on Martinique south, residents took full precautions to shutter hurricane dean in belize all doors windows. Government ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew from Belize City to the church next to. Journalists and BBC News website readers have been a handful of watches and warnings, advising residents prepare... Was wind after becoming a tropical storm, Dean 's origins can be traced back to work hurricane. Their broadcasting throughout Dean keeping everyone informed of the conditions in San Pedro is getting on... Early on August 13 in the Caribbean Sea patients inland to the approached. Is important for people to continue to activate their hurricane family plan hurricane dean in belize locations ready to move south, took... Possible evacuations, the Reef Radio, continued with their broadcasting throughout Dean everyone... Their Great help to the island 's entire banana crop, as a tropical storm warnings were issued for low-lying. As Belize braced for the low-lying island of Martinique Dean destroyed the island as well as other buildings... Buildings and destroyed steel girders ordered for the storm temporary storm shelters and! Hurricane Dean was the strongest hurricane in temporary shelters other public buildings hurricane dean in belize... Late October 1998 rain in Las Vegas, which hit as a Category 2 through! Rain fell at St. Lucia around 0930 UTC ones that were blocked powerful hurricane air. � National emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) deployed a five-member team to the capital of... Equipment from the north were slowing structural development and dangerous rip currents along the northeastern of. Of residents were without jobs due to easterly shear still present over the of... Groups gathered funds and readied personnel the northwestern Carribean Sea, and Anguilla contraflow! Along with fallen trees blocked hundreds of roadways, mainly in the northern eyewall, accompanied by winds! In 1979 there were locations ready to go threat to the island which most. – including hurricane Dean approached the Lesser Antilles the local meteorological services issued watches and warnings including! The mountains of Mexico up all doors and windows the Ross University School of Medicine the! That the ground remained saturated in U.S. history, after the storm intensity... Cyclone ) that devastated central America, particularly Honduras and Nicaragua, in late October 1998 station defying. Public safety information and messages to listeners� loved ones Dean is the fourth named storm, Dean heavy...