Belize activates its hurricane plan as Emily moves towards Yucatan

July 16 Belmopan Belize: The National Emergency Management Organization, and Prime Minister Said Musa have declared the preliminary phase of Belize’s hurricane plan to take effect as at 6:00 p.m. (Friday) as Hurricane Emily moves slowly westward in the Caribbean Sea toward the Yucatan Peninsula.

Hurricane Emily was located near 14.7 degrees north latitude and 72.8 degrees west longitude, or just over a thousand miles east south east of Belize City late Friday and is moving toward the west at 20 miles per hour.
NEMO’s advisory committee, decided to advise the Prime Minister that the Preliminary Phase of the national Hurricane Plan be declared as a precautionary measure. This declaration a release stated will allow residents, particularly those living in the offshore islands and the coastal areas of Belize, at least forty-eight hours to prepare for hurricane conditions if it becomes necessary.

Emily weakened during the day and maximum sustained winds are now 105
miles per hour. However, as it moves toward the western Caribbean, it
will intensify and could attain Category Three or Four status again.

Residents on the offshore islands are advised that as Hurricane Emily
moves toward Belize they could begin to experience tropical storm force
winds on Sunday morning; therefore, they should plan to move to the
mainland on Saturday.

Residents on the mainland were also advised that they should begin to take precautionary measures and be prepared to take further action if a hurricane watch is declared for portions of the country. Saturday.

NEMO says all operational committees have been activated and are in a
state of readiness to take the necessary preparatory measures.