Belize Country Report Status, Advances, and Needs Rudolph Williams and Eden Garcia Hydrology Unit/University of Belize 2/18/2009
Background Climate : Subtropical Seasons Wet: June November Transitional: December February Dry: March - May Temperature: 70 85 F Rainfall 1500mm 3800mm Population estimated 2007 311, 500
Risk Situations and Disasters in Belize Lies the Tropical Atlantic Hurricane region Hurricane threatens every three years Threats more frequent in the northern part of the country Floods oftentimes accompany Tropical systems 39 identifiable river basins 18 Major watersheds
Settlements at Risk of Flooding in Belize There were some ~263 populated places Of these 263 settlements, 163 (62%) lie within areas at risk of flooding. 149 are in floodplains which flood annually 11 in areas which have a flood recurrence of 20 years 3 areas with a flood recurrence of 1,000 years
Mexico Belize Flood Risk Map Guatemala ^ Belmopan ^ Belize City San Pedro > 0 10 20 40 Settlements District boundaries International boundaries Major rivers Flood risk No flood risk 1: Exceptional flood risk (1,000 yr) 2: Every 20 years 3: Every few years or annually 4: Swamp or marsh forest 5: Savanna plain / saline plain 6: Swamp or mangrove 7: Very poorly drained / herbaceous swamp 8: Permanent water bodies miles Data sources: Belize Land Information Centre,
Recent Disasters TS ARTHUR Accumulated rainfall (May 29 th June 4 th 2008) 254 mm (10 in) - 152 mm (6 in) 500 year flood event 5 persons lost their lives 2 Major Bridges destroyed Kendal Bridge Mullins River Bridge Roads damaged Numerous Homes destroyed Crops destroyed
Recent Disasters TD 16 Accumulated rainfall (May 13 th 20 th October 2008) 547 mm - 105 mm 1000 year flood event 2 persons lost their lives Bridges Flooded Roads damaged Culverts destroyed Numerous Homes destroyed Crops destroyed At least a combined 146 communities 98,594 persons were affected by TS Arthur & TD16
Settlements in the Belize at Risk of Flooding The Rio Bravo - upper, middle and lower confluence with Blue Creek & Rio Hondo. Albion Island :San Antonio, San Roman and Santa Cruz; Douglas; San Victor New River - Middle and lower. TowerHill, San Estevan, Santa Cruz; Caledonia. Belize River - Middle and lower -Roaring Creek to Haulover Creek, north side of Belize City. Crooked Tree lagoon/wetland Biscayne, Grace Bank and Davis Bank Middle and lower Sibun River. All coastal communities in the lower Sibun River watershed including Gracie Rock, Cedar Bank and Freetown Sibun.
Settlements in the Belize at Risk of Flooding -Cont d Manatee River - Gales Point. North Stann Creek - Middle and lower Middlesex, Pomona, Melinda, Hope Creek and Sarawee, and northside Dangriga Town. The Sittee River - Middle and lower Sittee River villages
Technologies used to Prevent and Mitigate Disasters Modeling GIS Land Information Center & Hydrology Unit CAFFG Forecasts Historical data Expert Judgment Hydrologic Modeling Data collection Telephone Satellite Internet Advisories Radio Television Talk Shows Internet
Needs for the development of Information and Communications Technology NEMO More Trainer of Trainer Courses in Supplies Management & Damage Assesments Acommunication network down to the Village level A functional and effective early warning system to alert vulnerable communities Computerization-and networking of Plans at all levels using the recently acquired 'Cassandra' software.
Needs for the development of Information and Communications Technology - Cont d Data Collection rivers levels and rainfall data should be automatically uploaded electronically to the database using VHF radio signals, satellite and computer networking Advisories In the event of a Dam failure evacuation routes and safe zones should be identified so that the public may quickly move toward safety.
Chalillo Hydropower Project EWS EWS Project - component of the Belize Electric Company Limited Environmental Compliance Plan Redundant submersible depth transducers detect reservoir level changes that exceed the possible maximum decreasing rate Such a rate will be considered a dam failure
Chalillo Hydropower Project EWS Datalogger via VHF radios and a repeater system activate siren alarms in all vulnerable communities Signals will be simultaneously transferred to the NEMO, NHMS, BECOL, Police, Medical Headquarters via a similar automated VHF radio communicating network Mandatory system test before every flood season
Thank You