A national Hurricane Dean ‘After Action Review’ was conducted with representatives from the districts and national committees including NGOs during the first week of November. It highlighted the need to improve Housing and Shelter. Suitable buildings will be identified throughout Belize to shelter people who must leave their homes when threatened by a hazard.  Emphasis will also be placed on private sector, municipalities and the national NEMO committees’ coordination in areas of early warning; GIS application to disaster reduction; public education; transportation; evacuation; emergency care; damage assessment and relief supplies management. We will work closely with schools, builders and financial lending institutions to look at ways of how we can reduce vulnerability for people at risks. Our efforts must always be geared towards humanitarian assistance for the affected before, during and after an event.

NEMO’s Relief Phase is over for Hurricane Dean and we are now in the Reconstruction Phase.  The priorities are considering other hazards such as Floods and Fires as we replace homes; regenerate the economy, rebuild infrastructure, improve drainage, repair roads and other critical lifeline facilities such as schools that are used as shelters and hospitals.  The Caribbean Climate Change experts are predicting that the intensity and frequency of Tropical Cyclones should increase in the coming years. Individuals, families, private and public sectors must ensure they have an emergency plan of action.  NEMO, the Government of Belize (GOB), educational institutions, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), UN agencies, USAID-OFDA and the Red Cross will continue to play a leading role in protecting our vulnerable population. 

NEMO, through the GOB and CDERA regional programme known as Comprehensive Disaster Management or CDM ensures that NEMO continue to build capacity to lessen the impact from not only Hurricanes and Floods but also from Dam failure; Oil Spills; Epidemics; Earthquake, Tsunami and Mass Casualty incidents.

A very special thanks to all who assisted those affected in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean, especially the Governments of Taiwan; Brazil; Korea; Venezuela; the United States; Mexico; Guatemala; the United Kingdom and Honduras. Gratitude is also extended to UNICEF; UNDP; World Food Programme; the Belize Red Cross Society; IDB; CDB; CDERA; IFRC; USAID; PACT; SSBand the Bowen Group of companies to name only a few of the many organizations.

NEMO wishes to thank, in general, the Belizean people, all embassies, high commissions and our government ministries for all their hard work and support in 2007.  In particular we thank those Public Officers from the Departments of Human Development; the Met Service; the BDF; the Police; the Coast Guard; Public Works; Customs; Foreign Affairs; Agriculture  and Fisheries; Medical; Transport; Lands; Housing; Rural Development; National Development; the Press Office; Services Commission; the Fire Department and indeed others who gave selflessly. 

We look forward to more practical work in 2008.  It is of paramount importance that as a nation we start our preparations for the 2008 Hurricane Season from as early as next month. 

May God continue to bless Belize.

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