Arthur blamed for at least $77 million worth of damages
Posted: 10/06/2008 - 01:17 PM
Author: Adele Ramos
Agriculture takes a $40 million hit, GOB report says
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) announced at a press conference held in Belmopan on Friday afternoon, June 6, that the preliminary estimates place the total damages caused by Tropical Storm Arthur in Belize at $77,691,066 - $52 million in direct costs and another $25 million in economic losses. NEMO claims that the country needs $45,868,256.60 for immediate restoration works.
In addition to the economic and financial losses tied to Arthur, there have also been significant environmental damages.
“There were some incidences that we refer to as land slumping and slides, and particularly in the Stann Creek Valley area – which are not regular or normal events in Belize. So because of the heavy rainfall, they did have some slippage of the lands of those areas,” said Lands Commissioner and NEMO member, Noreen Fairweather, at Friday’s press conference.
“We have a significant amount of siltation, sedimentation…going out into the sea from the North and South Stann Creek Rivers, also from the Sittee and Mullins Rivers, and that would impact the marine life and the reef. So we will get some environmental loss in those areas in the days to come.”
Arthur dumped massive rains over Belize just at the start of the hurricane season, Sunday, June 1, flooding vast residential and agricultural acreage in Belize, primarily in the northeast and southeast of Belize – worst hit being settlements and villages close to rivers and along the coast. Mullins River, Gales Point Manatee, Hope Creek, Sittee, Hopkins, Sarawee, and Hope Creek are listed among the worst impacted villages.
NEMO reports that most of the villages along the Rio Hondo, the New River, the Belize River and their main tributaries suffered flooding.
The Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA) Report of June 4, 2008, details restoration needs by sector: infrastructure - $25 million; housing - $10 million, health - $0.7 million, agriculture - $1.5 million, education - $1.6 million, tourism - $0.8 million, finance (for produce and housing sector) - $5 million, and social and humanitarian needs - $0.8 million.
“Total economic loss to the agriculture sector resulting from Tropical Storm Arthur is estimated at around $25 million,” the DANA report says. “This includes direct loss to the farmer (damage assessment), which is estimated at around $11.7 million, and other losses to the country of Belize.”
Reported direct losses in major crops are substantial: for rice - $1.7 million, for sugar - $1.6 million, for banana - $2.3 million, and for citrus - $8.2 million.
“We had destruction of 914 acres of rice in Blue Creek, another 460 at Big Falls…all of which were ready for harvesting,” Fairweather reported.
The estimated losses in agriculture are made up, in part, by a projected $5 million loss from lobster production due to the destructive effects the storm is said to have had on sea-grass beds and lobster traps. The Government also claims that Paradise Shrimp Farm and Melinda Mariculture Ltd. lost $0.4 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
Government lists the total direct cost for losses in agriculture and fisheries at $24 million – the area which, the DANA report indicates, suffered the biggest impact.
A total of 714 homes were affected, and 26 homes destroyed due to the storm, and an estimated 5,324 people suffered direct impact, the DANA report says.
Government bills the total housing damages at nearly $10 million - $3 million for houses and $7 million for household items.
The most substantial damages are reported for the Stann Creek District – and particularly the Hope Creek/Melinda area. The Belize, Orange Walk and Corozal Districts also reported significant damages, but not nearly as massive as seen in Stann Creek.
The country’s infrastructure suffered $18 million in damages, as reported below:
• At least 3 culverts on the Hummingbird Highway have suffered from washouts. Replacement costs are estimated at $150,000.
• Kendall Bridge on the Southern Highway has been completely destroyed and will cost approximately $10 million to replace.
• Mullins River Bridge on the Manatee Road has also been completely washed away. The cost of replacing this bridge is estimated at $5 million.
• The Soldier Creek Bridge was also lost and will cost $5.6 million to replace.
• The approach to the San Lazaro Bridge has been washed out, compromising the structural integrity of the bridge. It will cost approximately $20,000.00 to remedy this situation.
• Road shoulders will need to be replenished.
• Damage to feeder roads, farm roads and village streets and drainage was also noted.
• Waterways will need clearing.
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