National Emergency Management Organization Advisory No. 5

ADVISORY NO. 5 – HURRICANE LISA

As at 12:30 PM, WEDNESDAY, 2nd NOVEMBER 2022

The National Meteorological Service of Belize (NMS) and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) hereby inform the public that at 12 midday (local time) Hurricane Lisa was located near latitude 17.3N, longitude 87.7W or about 35 miles East-Southeast of Belize City. Lisa was moving to the west at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and minimum central pressure of 987 mb.

Lisa will continue on a general westward track today and make landfall on Belize in a few hours. Lisa is expected to maintain its current intensity or strengthen just a bit more before it makes landfall on the coast of Belize between Dangriga and Belize City (near the Northern Lagoon) later this afternoon. Residents across the country are reminded to be prepared as a hurricane warning is out for the entire coast of Belize.

Heavy rainfall from this system has already started to affect the country and that will continue for the remainder of today through to Thursday with amounts of 4-6 inches and locally higher values of up to 8-12 inches. This will result in flooding across low-lying and flood-prone areas of the country and flash flooding especially over the south. Winds of upper category 1 hurricane strength of 80-90 mph with a storm surge of 4-7 feet to the north of where the center makes landfall. Strong gusty winds will result in very rough sea conditions with large battering waves.

A state of emergency will be declared for the Belize and Stann Creek districts from 3:00 p.m. today until the “All Clear” is given. A curfew will go into effect from dusk today until dawn on Thursday, 3rd November, 2022. Only emergency and security agencies are allowed to be on the roads and streets during this period.

Residents are advised to continue monitoring this system very closely and to follow official information coming from NEMO and the NMS.

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and Response Act to safeguard persons, employers are strongly urged to release non-essential staff so that they may make preparations to secure themselves, their families and property prior to the arrival of the storm. Employers must allow their staff adequate time to make final preparations.

A hurricane warning (Red II) has been declared for the entire coast of Belize. A flash flood warning is in effect for the Moho and Temash rivers.

• Shelters are available countrywide including Belize City. (Attached is the list of the first set of shelters). Public Officers are to standby to report for your emergency management duties. Kudos those already working hard.
• The public is advised that borders will close at 2:00 p.m. today. Airports, water taxis and public bus transportation have ceased operations. Movement on the highways today is to be kept to a minimum, essential services need the space to preposition assets and supplies.

NEMO’s emergency hotline is 936 (NEMO Offices countrywide contact information is attached, to be read to the public). Stay alert, be prepared. Get ready tomorrow to weather the storm in a safe place. Don’t panic, just be prepared!

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