AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Weather Tropical Storms & Hurricanes Remembering: Hurricane Hattie, 1961

Newspaper Headlines from the Hattie era, rebuilding and reconstruction, from The Belize Billboard. Right click on an image to open in a new window, then zoom in for larger versions. March 15, 1962, also check the price of newspaper during that time period.

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Devastating Hurricane Hattie 31 October 1961 from my Father's album, St. George's Caye and Belize City. The aftermath, the destruction, the loss! The fight to rebuild, and they did! Debbie Gegg

The beginning of the split

For most who could afford , the rebuilding process after hurricane Hattie was more inclined to ferro concrete buildings.A lot of the wonderful colonial style houses were wiped away. Others say that didn't start until the late 1960s early 1970s with development in Kings Park (following the construction of Princess Margaret Dr.). The colonial houses of the more affluent residents of the city in the Southern Foreshore and Fort George areas were rebuilt after the hurricane.

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You can just see the Gann's clock tower behind the house on the left of the picture. These old homes were very well constructed. Most were built by shiprights, from Louisiana pine and used mortis and tennon method. Those homes were very strong and actually creaked liked a ship in strong winds. All joints and beams were pinned together with wooden pegs.

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My grandparents house which was just down the road on Eve St. from the Grants and on the water was totally gone. Completely washed away. Same approximate size as the the Grants. My mom recalls when they were finally able to get back to the house there was nothing but mud where the house stood and the brick pilings/piers it sat on. They think the house was not secured to them so when the tidal wave came in it lifted up and smashed it across the street. Lesley Sullivan

THE CHETUMAL CONTINGENT TO BELIZE AFTER HURRICANE HATTIE
by Albert Paul Avila

How many remember the story of the Mexican Relief Plane that crashed in the Chan Pine Ridge in 1961 and was never found ...until some 40 years later? There is a monument in Chetumal cemetery with the names of those who perished.

Soon after hurricane Hattie struck Belize, a seven person contingent comprised of a priest (The priest was José Fuentes Castellanos, brother of Mrs. Libia Fuentes, wife of Mr. Jorge Marzuca Ferreiro, he was of Campeche origin), two doctors, two lieutenants, a professor, and a first sergeant aviation mechanic were dispatch from Chetumal to provide relief to the people of Belize. The flight never arrived and for eight years no one knew what happened to the flight. It was assumed it had crashed. The wreckage was discovered by a farmer on April 3, 1969, with the bodies still inside the plane. The location of a crash is by the area near the village of Maskall. At the time of the crash the area was high jungle. I was told that the crash was about half mile from the main road there, the old Belize Corozal road.

These Mexicans and their families gave the ultimate sacrifice for us Belizeans when we were in need. It made me remember how I got a little emotional looking at a YouTube remembrance service in the Netherlands on behalf of Belizean WWII Aviator Cassian Waight who lost his life when his RAF D-267 bombing flight was shot down over a small town In that country. Cassian Waight's body was found in a meadow and buried nearby and thus the remembrance service on his behalf (every year for 80 years). The purpose of this story is to show how great full the Dutch people who found his body were of Cassian. They realized he and his family had made the ultimate sacrifice in a war that he had nothing to do with and his death had contributed to the liberty they are enjoying today. They also realized that they should never forget that sacrifice and they haven't.

We as Belizeans should learn a little from the Dutch and honour our foreign born patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us. I understand that a plaque was placed in Corozal (It is a pity that in the 1990's the plaque was destroyed), but we should have something permanently enshrined in Belize City where the devastation was the greatest and their ultimate destination.

The Belize National Historical Society and our members recommend that we posthumously conduct a rememberance service for these patriots with their family in attendance and a plaque/ shrine be placed somewhere near the Mexican Institute on the promenade by the sea. Let us not forget! It is never too late!

These were the heroes who did their best to help a troubled Belize
1- Lieutenant of the Frigate JUAN JOSÉ MARTINEZ
2- Sub Lieutenant GILBERTO HERNANDEZ VEGA
3- Master Sergeant Mechanical Aviation JOSÉ MAGAÑA SANCHEZ
4- Chaplain JOSÉ FUENTES CASTELLANOS
5- Doctor RAMÓN MENDOZA VEGA
6- Doctor ENRIQUE PAREDES AGUILA
7- Professor JOSE SEVILLA SERDÁN

The Cassian Waight Memorial Service as an example below.









In 1965 during the inauguration of the Corozal Town Central Park, Felipe Santiago Ricalde laid a plaque/stone in the water fountain with the names of the medical brigade members who perished in that crash. Ricalde was very much involved with Hurricane Hattie relief efforts in collaboration with the Mexican Government and was to be on the ill fated flight itself. The plaque laid there for many years. The fountain, a gift from Mexico, was originally destined for Belize City in 1961 but never made it because of Hurricane Hattie. You can see it in the photo.



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From the information I have this contingent came from Mexico City. My grandfather Santiago was to take the flight with the but due to a family emergency he was unable to go to Chetumal.



If you take a look behind my grandfather is the fountain and the plaque.



This photo was when the former Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos visited Corozal after the inauguration of the Amity Bridge.
Elisa Ysaguirre Ricalde

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Internally, when a natural disaster devastates a region of a country, disaster relief comes from other parts of that country. This is often accompanied by an international relief effort . Most often, this effort is dominated by one or two countries, based on factors such as the historical relationship between two countries and the role certain countries play in a region (sphere of influence). The effort often increases foreign influences in the devastated country. The nature of the relief effort might also lead to social change, especially when people from the outside who come to help interact with locals in the devastated area. Based on such interactions, the kind of technology that they bring as part of the rescue and recovery and rebuilding effort might also contribute to change. Lastly, change can occur based on the kind of assistance given by a foreign country, whether that assistance is in the form of economic and/or technical assistance or certain policies.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Hattie, British Honduras received significant news coverage from around the world. Many countries helped in the relief effort and organizations such as Care and the Red Cross were part of the relief effort. "Aid Pours In," is the title of one section of Friesen's book on the hurricane. Taken from local news clippings, this section of the book noted that in crucial weeks after the hurricane relief aid came in the form of personnel, medical supplies, food, and funds from over the world. He further documented the kinds of assistance and aid the country received. In addition to Britain and commonwealth countries Mexico, Guatemala and other neighboring Central American countries assisted in the relief effort. (Other countries also assisted to the relief effort.) With Guatemala pressing its territorial claim to Belize, and even threatening military action, there was concern expressed in certain sectors of British Honduran society about aid and assistance offered by that country that included relief supplies and even helicopters. In turn, there were questions about whether British Honduras should have accepted Guatemalan help.

However, other than Britain, the bulk of international aid and assistance came from the United States. This reflected that country's super power status and Latin America and the Caribbean being in its sphere of influence. With vast resources the U.S. launched a major relief effort that came by sea and air. When I interviewed Belizeans for my dissertation on Belizean in Los Angeles, several remembered this American assistance. One remembered the arrival of the Americans as part of the relief effort, and one of the things he remembered most about their arrival was helicopters flying over the city. This was the first time he had seen such a thing he recalled. Helicopters from the U.S. Navy also landed in Sittee River, and this was the first time helicopters had landed in the village. Ships from the U.S. Navy were also dispatched to British Honduras with assistance and relief supplies, and one resident of San Pedro remembered the British Army and an American supply ship providing Ambergris Caye with more supplies. The U.S. government was also generous in cash aid.

Hurricane Hattie didn't have much of an impact on internal migration, but it did have a significant impact on international migration. As part of its significant relief effort, the U.S. government granted some Belizeans from the impacted areas visitors visas. The interviewee who had seen the American helicopters over Belize City remembered that after the hurricane an announcement was made over the radio that Belizeans who had relatives in the United States could go to that country temporarily as "refugees" to recover from the hurricane. Many Belizeans took advantage and saw it as an opportunity to emigrate to the United States.

Santiago Ricalde, the PUP representative for Corozal, requested assistance from the Mexican government in the neighboring Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Regrettably, the first Mexican plane with relief supplies and medical personnel crashed in northern Belize.

Jerome Straughan

This 4th episode of the Belize Kolcha TV Series called Hurricanes, features personal accounts by some survivors of Hurricane Hattie.




Plotting the destructive path of Hurricane Hattie at weather forecasting station. Belize City 1961. In 1961 The National Hurricane Center in Miami was using radar and hurricane hunter aircraft to track hurricanes.

Police guarding Marketing Board from Looters

There was widespread looting after Hattie. The Santiago Castillo warehouse was looted, and Harley's.The Red Cross gave us food rations, and the British troops patrolled the streets of the city during curfew. If you were caught for curfew it was a $5 and and they were taken to Queen Street police station.



The looting in downtown Belize City contrasted with the orderly line for food rations on North Front Street, outside of the Marketing Board (from one of the iconic pictures of the aftermath of he hurricane). The looting led to the British governor calling a state of emergency, and it was stopped when one of the looters was shot by a British soldier around Albert and Bishop Street.



The young man with the loud speaker ( in the middle of the photo) in his hand is CH Godden the Assistant Colonial Secretary. He wrote his memoirs in the book "Trespassers Forgiven: Memoirs of Imperial Service in an Age of Independence". In the book Godden dedicated an entire chapter about Hattie. It was in his book that I heard about the experience his boss the Colonial Secretary had with a Casandra in Jamaica in 1961. As the story goes, the Cassandra told the Colonial Secretary that a terrible hurricane was going to hit Belize that year and that was what prompted the Colonial Secretary to prepare for a hurricane by repairing the hurricane shelters countrywide. In the photo the Marketing Board was filled with sacks of rice and the people were looting it, but they were trying to stop the people from taking the rice. As it turned out, Godden convinced the Administration to let the people take the rice because it had gotten wet and wet rice would only last so long. Plus they needed to remove the rice anyway. So with that the people got the rice.

Colin Gillett: My dad said he was police training school at the time of Hurricane Hattie and Belize City was under martial law then. As a police recruit he had to patrol the city as looting was rampart so couple looters were shot at by the soldier as regular police then had just a club and whistle.

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Remnants of Hurricane Hattie:
This riverfront aerial scene of hurricane-stricken Belize is reminiscent of Europe's bombed out cities of World War II, haredly a rood is intact, large rain collecting barrels are ?? and autos are scattered where left by raging flood waters

The large building is one third of Eden Cinema. There were over 50 people sheltered there and when the roof started flying off, everyone crammed into the projector room. The piece standing is concrete and housed the projector room, bathrooms and the balcony with reserved seats.

The building is situated North Northwest to South Southeast. It seems depending when that part of the building got destroyed in relation to where the hurricane was at the time the people sheltering in the reserve area would have gotten sheltered. In the early stages of Hattie, I believe the winds were coming from the North to Northeast. As the eye gradually passed us, the winds would have gradually turned to the South Southeast then South, at which point the people in the reserve area would have been sheltered as the winds were coming from the Government House direction. I am not sure how large the projector room was, but once the eye had passed what remained of the building would have sheltered anyone in the reserved area since the wind was coming from the closed up area snd not the open area. What broke up these buildings was not only the winds, but the projectiles flying at 150 to 200 miles an hour crashing into buildings.

The two large buildings to the right are Pickwick Club and my grandparents building that housed the Tropical Lemonade bottling works, Belize Trading Company and my grandparents residence near the river. I see the Royal Bank of Canada by the market. Scot's Kirk is gone! Brodies is in the back, the Supreme Court etc.

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Woman sitting amid remains of Her house in Belize City which was battered by Hurricane Hattie October 1961

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Albert Street, the first building on the right is the Chevannes building, Maya Store on left. The BATA store sign indicates the photographer was standing st the Prince St intersection, looking down Albert St to swing bridge. Old Ideal Shopping Centre on your left.





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THE REBUILDING AND BUILDING OF A COUNTRY IN CHAOS
by Hector Silva

In 1961, after Hurricane Hattie devastated Belize, two doors were opened to us. - - Rebuild to Build, or just move out of Belize City and restart some where else. - WE CHOSE To stay and rebuild, so as to Build a new Independent Nation in Central america.

May I first give you all a Birds Eye View of what was before us, just recently elected on March 2nd 1961. - ( SEVEN MONTHS OLD. )

LET me first give you a bird's eye view, of what Belize City was, and the rest of the country.

Belize City was practically FLATTENED. 80 %or thousands of houses demolished. Many others damaged. There was no Electricity, Water or telephone. FOOD VERY SCARCE, and Medical Services limited.

Many dead, many injured and many Traumatized and shocked due to their complete losses.

Our industries like Citrus, Chicle bleeding and Mahogany extraction were totally paralized and eventually destroyed. - Milpas and crops were washed away. - Other means of livelihood came to a halt.

Our roads, bridges and our sea lanes were interrupted by blockage. Immediately Shelters had to be constructed like Hattie Ville, George Town Silk Grass and in many other areas.

Government Buildings all over the country were damaged or had to be cleaned and sanitized.

THEN, the building of Belmopan became more urgent, and the providing of Electricity, Water and telephone became a necessity.

As an added necessity, we had to regenerate our International Airport to accommodate Jet Services. - And to build the Tower Hill Bridge, - which was greatly need to boost TRADE with Mexico and to serve the Sugar Industry.

SO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE DID TO RACKLE THIS GIANT OF A PROGRAMME ?

.1 - WE immediately instituted, a Small Farmers Loan programme and guided by Farm Demonstrators. - - We opened the Marketting Board to serve as the Customary Services.- then the large Industries were offered A DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAMME, or a Tax Holiday on importation of needs to build. - -These Incentives were also also offered to Local Hoteliers, who had a desire to provide

accomodations for the begining of Tourism Local and Foreign. )..-

The Mennonites were alrady established and were an asset in the building of Hurricane Shelters. and providing for the birth of the GREEN REVOLUTION.

Government established two Quasi Government Institutions, - - - THE RECONSTRUCTION and DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and THE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION.

With all the above WE MADE.

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This was after Hattie during martial law. North Front Street in front of the law offices of Musa & Balderamos (the men are gathered in front of Spoonaz. This was exactly where the Eyles Brothers, Robby and Charlie, had the Caterpillar Agency on North Front Street, across from the Palace Hotel. The weapon is the SLR uk version of the FN in the then new NATO calibre of 7.62mm x 51 that was adopted in 1952. Again we see evidence of Quartro Aguas Roof fairing off much better than the other types of roofs.



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Racecourse St. after Hurricane Hattie. Right off Vernon on the right hand by the bridge Look good you can see remains of the Brooklyn Bridge that separated Racecourse and East Collet Canal. That large wooden house on the right is old Mr Cain's house and left of it was Mr Hyde's, a bartender at Fort George. The concrete building in front is still there.

Another comment: That's on Mex Avenue, the big house on the left was corner of Mex avenue and Amara, known as Cucunal yard (sp?). There was a water pipe on the street side in front.



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FR Robert Mc Cormack SJ showing him and then Premier George Price surveying damages done by Hurricane Hattie to the Stann creek district in 1961.





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North Front Street Belize City After Hattie

Hurricane Hattie Weather Advisory: Oct 30, 1961
National Weather Bureau, Miami Hurricane Center





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The aftermath of Hattie Hurricane in Belize city in 1961. This is at Albert street and Prince st, the building to your right side the the home of the Chavannes family.

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A view from the building housing the U.S. International Cooperation Administration Mission (old name for A.I.D.), sheltering from Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The wind and the sea have been dropping-the wind for a few hours, the sea for several.



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Glen Fuller
Salvaging and washing what can be found. It was a Horrific day after.



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Hattie destruction in Belize City. I think this is at the corner of Freetown Road and Mapp St. The building at the far left reminds me of one that was in the Belize Technical College yard.



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Diane Matthews
Very traumatic for me. I was nearly 5 years old. My family rode out the storm in the Estephan Building in Belize City. When the storm hit, the plate glass on the third floor where we were located burst with glass flying everywhere. We relocated to the second floor but the water rose to a foot above that floor so we sheltered in a mess. After the storm, we all plodded through feet of mud to the Holden Hospital for vaccinations.

Lareth Gregory
I was 41/2 yrs old, my baby brother was 1 yr old. My mom and the 2 of us was on the 2nd floor of a bank on Albert street and my dad was in Mullin River, we didn't know if he was alive until a week later. I remember my mom picking up a silver tea pot that floated out of Brodie's I think . There was water about an inch on my feet and my mom was on a table with my brother.

Daisy Cacho
My mom was only 5yrs old and she still remember it very well all when the breeze start to when the house collapse and her older brother had to put her into the ceiling and tie her so she wouldn't wash from the currant and the she talks about the aftermath,about the bodies she seen on the ground of her neighbors that didn't make it.

Pamela Robateau Crone
My mom always told me that she waited for my dad to come back from Sergeant's Caye, where the SCA nuns were stranded and thought that it was just a storm and he would have had time to be back with us., after brining them in. Well he is another story. But when Hattie hit, the house fell off its posts. The kitchen migrated into the neighbor's yard as they had a bridge from the kitchen to the house in those days. My mom, and my older brother, scrambled unto the refrigerator, when they saw the rising water and then through the opening to the attic, where through one of the attic window they had to have a swimmer tie a rope from Mr. Meighan house to ours. Mr. Meighan lived up stairs and the Smiley's lived down stairs. At the time they were sheltering up stairs. I am not sure who was the swimmer, maybe someone can spread some light on this. (The reverend Mrs. Smiley). Anyway. My brother went over on the rope and then they tied me in a bundle and tried to get me over to the neighbors house. I was dipped about three times in the cold water. My mom later came over, as they were trying to revive me, as I was still and purple in colour. After a while I cried and they knew I would be Ok. Baby clothes were loaned to keep me dry, courtesy of Mrs. L. Smiling as her baby boy David was only a couple months old too.. Not sure of his birthday.. My dad was stuck out at caye... another story soon..on this one..Its written in one of Ms. Zee Edgel's books I think. .

Yvonne N. Sabido
I was going to be 11, on Nov.19 of 1961. I don't remember that birthday at all. The day of the hurricane I got my first bicycle and was going to ride it when a car pulled in front of our house on E. Canal. Daddy shouted get in the car. But daddy, I have to ride my bike. Get in now. With only our shoes and clothes, my brother, sister and I got in the car and was whisked away to a farm owned by the Nords, in Orange Walk. Aunt Alice was there at her estate and welcomed what seems like five families and 20 cousins. We watched oranges in the groves flying sideways and cows tipping over. We had no idea what was going on in Belize. It was a month before the water subsided, the bridge was passable and my dad could go to Belize to assess the damage. He was crushed, our spirits were crushed when he returned and told us our house had fallen over and where uncles house once stood at St. George's Caye was now a split. Our lives spared.
I read the names of each individual who perished. I did not know them, but after all these years I still feel the pain and shed tears because of their peril and my memory of the devastation. The very news of hurricane approaching, terrifies me and I go into panic mode.

France Sol: "When Hurricane Hattie hit Belize we had to eat corn beef almost daily. I was in my third pregnancy with high blood pressure etc. I decided to do laundry for the British soldiers in exchange for fresh cooked food. They came at first with six uniforms but then it became 12. It was done in a bath pan and a scrub board and had to get water from the pipe. It was difficult but I was treated to the best food that my children and I and my sister enjoyed. I washed for them for 3 months. Then I had my little girl and could no longer do the job. Six months after I heard a knock on my door - it was a British officer who came with check in hand to pay me. I refused the money and told him the delicious food I got after washing their clothes and all the cakes and chocolates given to my children was enough. I refused the money much to my husband's disapproval when I told him what I did that day. To say the least the officer was also surprised. It was three meals per day and although it was hard work I Was very happy Not standing in a long line for corn beef."

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MEASURES TAKEN TO TACKLE A CRISES OF MAJOR PROPORTION , in 1961.
by Hector Silva

AND AFTER TACKLING THE HURRICANE DAMAGES and THE CREATION OF SHELTERS FOR THE HOMELESS, and the building of the NEW CAPITAL BELMOPAN, which created hundreds of jobs, - . it was time to make Belize, INVESTOR FRIENDLY and the creation of jobs in the housing industry...

TWO VEHICLES WERE CREATED TO DO THE JOB OF NATION BUILDING..

One was RECONDEV, - - - -" Reconstruction and Development Corporation. " - - -To reconstruct Belize and to establish the

" DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES LAWS. "

The other was the "D.F.C. " Development Finance Corporation. " to establish a lending Institution for Development projects.

In the meanwhile, The George Price Administration also created two WATCH DOG BODIES to protect Belizeans from being taken advantage by UNSCRUPULOUS MERCHANTS.

1. - A WELL MANNED " CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY " was established to patrol the shops, inspecting expired goods and the SCALES that they are not doctored..

2. A PRICE CONTROL REGIME was established to regulate prices from ABUSE. - - Government listed 42 items with ZERO RATED PRICES. This was to control a Run Away COST OF LIVING.

These measures worked well, especially for the poor and working class.

THESE ARE JUST FEW TIPS ON HOW WE MANAGED TO CONTROL A DISASTER.

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Court House Green or Battlefield Park today after Hurricane Hattie. In 1854, the first prison was located where Heritage Bank is today and that represented the "Lawless". The "lawly" was represented by the Court House which was on the opposite side.

These photos are bit dark they were taken from a video, stills from a video, the results of Hattie Hurricane, 1961. George Villanueva



The Bliss Institute, ration line.



The Bliss Institute



A building at the old Belize city hospital



USA assisting with aid



Barracks Road off Queen Street.





Corner of Queen St. and Handyside St./Daly Street.







In front of Majestic theater, one of the buildings on the left is Sandies Restaurant

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Caption reads: A 1961 press photo Aerial view of Belize, British Honduras city devastated by Hurricane Hattie's fierce winds, high tides and heavy rains yesterday. It was reported that 30,000 residents had been evacuated from the city which was virtually destroyed by the storm. "The sea invaded the town to depths of 9 to 10 feet," a radio report said boats and planes are rushing aid to the city today.

King Street after Hattie



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Hector Silva:

Let us go back to Hurricane Hattie of 1961, ( Sixty years ago. )

Those of us who heard, that it was coming to Belize on that evening of October 29th 1961, at about 4.15 PM, from the trembling voice of BHBS Radio announcer, Mr Eustace Usher- Those of us who saw it coming, when flocks of birds flew in a Southerly direction. - and when Belize City residents formed a band with sounds of hammering nails. - - BUT more frightening when many people BID FAREWELL TO THEIR HOMES.

The description of the magnitude of this killer storm was. that it would begin battering Belize City about Mid Night with winds as high as 150 MPH and that it would bring high tides of up to 20 to 30 feet high.

For me it was time to move my family to higher lands, Cayo my Constituency as Mayor and newly elected Representative.

NOW MY IMMEDIATE ASSESMENT AFTER THE STORM PASSED WAS PHENOMENAL. Imagine the Macal River in San Ignacio running UP STREAM. - The flood almost touched the Hawkesworth Bridge and other rare events not to mention the vast inundation all around.

BUT THE LESSON LEARNED WAS don't play with a Hurricane. - Belize City lost its Heart Beat for a while and lost its Landscape. Some Islands like Sergeant Caye disappeared, other Islands wee split in by deep channels. - AND believe me or not, Belize City experience heavy TREMORS and TORNADOES. - The vegetation all around was SCORCHED with the friction of the strong winds.

IN FACT IN MY VISIT TO BARBADOES, we were briefed at the CARIBBEAN MET OFFICE on the irreparable damages which Hurricane Hattie may have caused to the Belize Landscape and which are still visible.

SO I KNOW WHAT IS A STRONG HURRICANE AND ITS AFTER EFFECTS, I heard it coming, I saw it coming and I felt it when it came.

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George Price chatting three days after Hattie.

Hector Silva: In this picture, First Minister George Price was talking to the Honorable Fred Westby, Area Representative for the Albert Division, and Mayor of Belize City. This was right after Hurricane Hattie. ( Note - On March 2nd,1961, the PUP had won all 18 Constituencies. - Boss Fred won the Albert Division. (Note - George Price served as Belize's First Mayor 1958 to 1960.) They were discussing no doubt, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of aterrible destroyed Belize City. The two gentlemen on the right were Boss Fred City Foreman and the old man with the Felt Hat was a faithful PUP supporter who used to sell the Belize Times.



Austin Bernard Garbutt
I survived Hattie on Half Moon Caye where my Father was the Light House Keeper, it was reported at the time that Hattie made a very unusual turn to the South West from heading towards Cuba and being out on the Caye was very traumatic

Rudi R. Burgos
Quite a schizophrenic storm, multiple personalities;. Hattie arrived in Belize and then decided to cross to the Pacific. When she got there she changed her name to "Simone". Apparently did not like it there crossed into the Gulf of Mexico. That crazy lady decided to change her name to "Inga". Crazy storm not making up it's mind.

Nick Pollard
Hundreds who lost their homes and were provided with barracks homes which was named Hattie Ville. It is located on the Western Hwy approx 16 mls from Belize City.

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Washing salvaged clothes after Hattie Hurricane at Lover's Point, Belize City November 1961. Lovers Point is where the fishermen used to land with their catch to sell at the Barracks just at the beginning of Eve Street in Belize City.

Brian Keating
That same area used to serve as a little fish market in the evenings when the fishermen came in with their catch.

Lesley Sullivan
Yes the top end of Eve St. Really interesting to see this photo. My families house would have been about where those 2 palm trees are on the water side. The house was wiped out.

Dora Riverol
I don't see Isaiah Morter's home...I know it survived the 31...looks like Hattie did it in...where it was ...there appears to be a lot of rubbish ..must have succumbed to Hattie...neither do I see the Baron Bliss Pavilion off the sea wall .....folks you to watch the sail boat races there on Baron Bliss day ...also the arrival of the swimmers who raced from St George's Cay to Belize City... I also have a pic of the judges station out at sea around which the sail boats competed...both pavilion and judges' station must have been swept away by Hattie.

Marion Peynado
It happened before Hattie. I was very young in those days. My Father was involved with the races and Mom helped to provide the snacks.


Alan Jackson:
Here's nearly the same spot 17 years later (Sept 1978.)

Lesley Sullivan
It is the top end of Eve St. You can just see our house, its the aqua colored one on the left side behind the orange truck. Brings back so many memories.

Yvonne Paulette Hunter Romero
That's in front of the house we lived in and exactly what we were doing after hurricane Greta, washing the mud out of clothes in the sea.

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This Belizean woman seems oblivious of the water she walks in while carrying a bag for her home.

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Jim Titheridge
I managed to purchase a copy of the British Army magazine "Soldier" a couple of years ago, which was published in 1962, and it has a 5 page report about Hurricane Hattie, and the efforts to help the population in the aftermath of the storm.











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Water being distributed after Hattie.



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TODAY OCTOBER 31ST MARKS THE 60TH SNNIVERSARY OF THAT DREADFUL DAY IN 1961, ( Sixty years ago. )

It was a day, when one of the worst and destructive Hurricanes of that Season hit Belize City, Mullins River and Dangriga and surroundings.

The name of this Monster Hurricane, which all Belizeans, 70 years and older, WILL NEVER FORGET. was " HURRICANE HATTIE. "

I will forever remember, when I took my wife, my five babies and my in Laws, leaving in rough weather, at 11.15 PM, to the higher grounds of San Ignacio, where I was serving as Mayor and Representative.

Three days later, I led a Team of three to Belize City, ; Myself, Ramon Ramirez, District Commissioner and Sergeant of Police, David Coe. We took along with us four Public Trucks i search of food at the Marketing Board.. ( The stores in San Ignacio had been flooded. )

BUT ONE OF THE WORSE SCENES IN MY LIFE WAS TO SEE, Belize City practically destroyed. and upon further viewing, Belize looked like a giant GRAVE SITE. ( No electricity, No water, No phone and the stench from rotten mud and burning bodies.

LET US MAKE A SUPPLICATION TO GOD ALMIGHTY, THAT WE NEVER SEE, SUCH A DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY and LIFE AGAIN.

Hector Silva

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Back Den (Hurricane Hattie)

by Eugene Trench

Tency, Mehitebel & Betty were sitting on the verandah chit chatting and watching the Monday morning workers and students going to work. Tency said" lawwd e only hot fu ena October a think the lee north would a come to cool we off". Fanning with a piece of cardboard Mehitibel mentioned " da true Tency gyal e really hot thank God we're in the end of October and de Hurricane Season the look like done, how the lee nurseay rhyme go again" Betty smiled and mentioned "I remember it and she began to sing it 🎼🎼 June too soon, July & August prepare, September is here, October all over.🎼🎼 Joining her Tency & Mehitibel began humming and singing the tune. Looking down the street Betty saw her husband Nathaniel peddaling his bicycle with speed, glancing at the clock in the parlour she noticed it wasn't midday yet infact it was just midmorning. Hmmm she uttered a wanda weh Natnaniel the come home so early hope e no feel sick. Looking Tency and Mehitibel saw him coming with a speed also,"a hope so to Betty gyal" mentioned his mom. Reaching the gate he race up the stairs two steps at a time trying to catch his breath, reaching the top he sat down in his favorite chair on the verandah took off his Panama Hat and began fanning himself. " Da weh the rush fa Nathaniel" Betty said. "Yes Nathaniel we see yo the speed up like yo the ride Cross Country race" mentioned Tency and end it with a chuckle.

Breathing normal Nathaniel mentioned unu no the listen to the radio Betty, Tency & Mom wah Storm the come they already raise the Red Flag da Courthouse Wharf, we have to move fast fum board up the windows, get groceries, full up water bottles and get kerosene fu the lamps da weh David & Tommy deh a wah need help fu board up the windows" grasping what Nathaniel just mentioned the three ladies shouted in union, "Storm d come lawd" Mehitibel mentioned Tency go get some clothes and lock up yo house you can stay here with us at least our house is 10 feet off the ground and Nathaniel after 1931 Hurricane fixa up real good yo notice the cement casing around the post and the angle iron weh hold the beam we wah survive ena dis house" "Betty mek out the grocery list and mek a hurry go dah Don Matus Store go get flour, bread, batteries,kerosene, corn beef, luncheon meat, soda biscuit, potted meat, eggs, and some other tin food stuff cause we no know weh wa happen and find Tommy & David and ask them to tek out the ladder and the board from the lee warehouse with the nails after the grocery buying a wah board up, Ma put on the radio and tun up the volume a wah hear weh the weather people deh seh." Tency got up hurriedly and bid farewell to secure her little shack and belongings, "wait" Tency mentioned " before David & Tommy get the stuff fu board up a wa mek dey help yo put up yo things memba put yo stove and clothes up high pan d table and secure yo windows, David ! Tommy!" shouted Mehitibel "yes" they answered from downtairs, they were playing marbles go with Ms Tency and help her then mekase come back fu help Nathaniel . "Yes Gramma" they mentioned. Just as Nathaniel was going out with the list he heard the radio announcer mentioned " we interrupt this broadcast for a very special announcement" since Tency didnt left yet she along with Nathan, Mehitibel & Betty went closer to the radio listening, The Premier, Mr Price came on in a somber voice informing the nation that a disturbance had formed in the Caribbean and was moving in a northwesterly direction and British Honduras could be in danger, he announced all living in houses that cannot take storm breeze and high water to start packing and move to Hurricane Shelters which the government had designated, take only some clothes, water and food stuff I'm sorry no pets allowed, the Belize Weather Service will update you all". Well seems we are in for a storm mentioned Nathaniel mek a hurry go da de grocery shop before crowd come which I figured is already crowded, leaving he took the grocery bag swung it across his bicycle handle and pedalled towards the shop. Reaching the grocery shop Nathaniel uttered a few curse words under his breath damn he took off his hat and scratch his head what a crowd was already there shouting, to Don Matus and his workers wanted them to serve them first it was chaos, looking up Don Matus saw Nathaniel and wave to him to come by where he was, opening up the door which seperate the customer area from the groceries section he told Nathaniel to help gather his groceries and he will charge when hes finished that didnt went well with a few patrons and the hissing of teeth and a few not so nice words to Tony Matus . After getting his groceries a couple hours later and paid Nathaniel hurry sped back home, glancing up he notice blue skies and a light breeze blowing muttering to himself he wondered if a real storm coming because the weather so good with the sun shining and cool wind blowing, only strange thing he noticed there wasn't a bird insight not even the Jankro that usually fly high in the sky . Pedalling he hurried home to start boarding up the windows hoping David and Tommy finished helping Ms Tency and took out the boards, ladder, hammer and nails.

After windows board up the windows, water gallons filled, groceries packed the crew sat on the verandah watching the last minute shoppers and people on their way to Hurricane Shelters. Tommy and David excited about the Hurricane start to say "to get rid of Hurricane beat up Harry and tek weh e cane", this brought laughter from the elders as they knew what a Hurricane was after been through that terrible 1931 Hurricane when thousands of lives were lost. It was on September 10th when the country was celebrating the Centenary although the real Centenary was in 1898 the older folks like Tency & Mehitibel still called it that. The children had just finished marching when the weather changed and many scramble to reach home and to the shelters. The Jesuit College, St John's College was at Yarborough and when the eye of the Hurricane passed all thought it was over then a big tidal wave came with the tail of the Hurricane and drowned a lot of priests and students, Mr Price manage to survive the Hurricane by waddling through the waters until he reached safely home it was indeed a sad day for the country . Still sitting on the verandah night has set in, and the passers by became less as all were either at the designated shelters or seeking refuge at family or friends homes. Betty and Mehitibel glad Nathaniel had invested in the house by putting it high on 10 feet posts and having the posts secured in cement foundation or else they too would have joined the crowd at the shelters .

The radio was at its loudest as each update provided Nathaniel was plotting it on a Hurricane Chart he had, hmmmm this Storm seems shifting a little more north he mentioned look like we might no get wah direct hit, sounds good mentioned Betty a hope so. Around a little past midnight the lights went out and the city in total darkness the radio went out , hurry put batteries in the radio Nathaniel mentioned to her son we can't miss anything. The batteries place in the radio and all was heard was a muzzled sound it seems the damn radio station went off too let me see if I could pick up Voice Of America VOA) maybe dey Americans can update but to no avail nothing mentioned Nathaniel .

With David & Tommy snoring, Nathaniel, Betty,Tency & Mehitibel still up heard a loud bang and breeze picked up it was about 2:00a.m. Tuesday October 31st. The full force of the Hurricane made landfall with winds howling outside even the wooden house shake a bit, hmmm Tency mentioned this feel like 1931 Hurricane and even stronger, dah true Tency gyal mentioned Mehitibel definitely felt so. This wind feels over 100 miles mentioned Nathaniel this ya storm serious with worried looks all watching the Hurricane Lantern on the table like it was a Crystal Ball telling the future. Outside the wind howled with frightening noise and trees , branches and zincs off rooftops could be heard, peeping through the window Nathan could see the zincs flying through the air like kites as the lightning provided some light outside. This continued and a tidal wave seems to come at the same time, come look Nathaniel mentioned the water rising, all looking through the window they saw the water rising, coming up step by step until it reach the last step before the verandah and it seems to stop, a breath of relief came from the lookers inside. About five a.m. the rain eased to a drizzle and the winds died down to a mere cool wind, opening the front door the crowd came out and was shocked to what they saw, houses toppled, trees branches across the road, utility poles and wires crisscrossing on the streets, houses without roofs it was a disaster. All saying a prayer for being spared they sat on the verandah watching silently hoping their friends and others were ok.

Somehow the Radio Station manage to come back on year and the Premier was addressing the nation about the damages and the storm has passed, but telling all to remain in the shelters and homes as its dangerous to be outside. After the announcement Tency mentined lawwd me lee house mussi gone, no worry Tency mentioned Nathaniel you could stay ya till we know weh the damage is. Still on the verandah they silently watch the devastation and wonder weh the Premier and Govenor wah do fu help the people.





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"A young girl sifts through debris for personal belongings and walks away with part of a bed as residents of Belize begin to dig their way out of the onslaught of hurricane Hattie which struck early 10/31. UPI Telephoto"



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Jeremy A. Enriquez
After the devastation of Hurricane Hattie in October 1961, there were still the light of smiles and human connections as shown in this picture taken soon after the hurricane.


Credit: Fr. Luke collection.

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Jeremy A. Enriquez
Aerial views of Dangriga following 1961 Hurricane Hattie. Far left back is Zabaneh at the bridge foot on Commerce Street….street coming down the river to front street then to t he market…this is north side Dangriga… The two biggest buildings are Canton on Commerce Street and Bowman on Front Street…



Facing East towards the back of Sacred Heart Church, school and Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Family, 1961. Includes view of pier out at sea.



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The day Hattie visited Mullins River

The Wreck of Mullins River
by Constable Arthur Skeran
No. 415 Central Police Station P. T. 0.

October 31, 1961 was one of the finest days in the month for the little village of Mullins River 27 miles south of Belize. This popular resort village, only a mile in length and 100 yards wide, lay quiet, in the evening just before dusk. Then, suddenly, the cry of "Hurricane is out, Hurricane is out" echoed from the lips of the three hundred inhabitants and the scene changed swiftly. Night had just been settling in when I had returned from a day's work on my father's ranch about one and a half miles northwest of this village. The sky was darkened with a reddish glow hanging over the distant hills lying to the northwest. It was the custom of the young men to play cards and drink at one of the saloons every night. So it was on the night of the hurricane. Me, my brother and myself, were in the upstairs room of a saloon in the southern end of the village with about 15 other young men ages 15-25. We were not in the least bit troubled as we had never experienced a hurricane before and did not know what it entailed.

It was about the tenth hour when the effect of the breeze could be felt from the ordinary wind. Then the latest report from a neighboring radio said the hurricane was heading straight for British Honduras. The wind increased. The zinc of the house began to give way and it was then that the crowd in the saloon became annoyed because the rain was pouring through the roof and it stung like the bite of an ant. We then decided to go into the saloon. No sooner had we done so when the verandah along with the step came down with a crash, startling us a little. We stayed there for what seemed like days. At intervals we heard neighbouring houses going down with muffled crashes. By this time the water was rising very fast and was about two feet in the saloon. It was about the fourth hour of the morning and it was beginning to get clear. As the house was now shaking rapidly, we decided to run for the old station, one of the strongest and largest of the one hundred and fifty houses; it was about 200 yards from the saloon. One by one we emerged from the saloon, struggling over trees, zinc and pieces of houses. Fortunately, only one boy was cut on the ankle by a zinc. A few minutes later however, it was patched up by some daring females who rendered first aid to him, and later to another boy who was hit in the left eye by a whirling piece of board. Despite the howling wind, the station stood its ground but when the enormous waves slashed against it with the water about waist high in the building, it could not restrain. Down it went in pieces, leaving about seventy people to battle for their lives. However, God Almighty is a wonderful God, for by this time it was daylight and we were able to see our way. It was a piteous sight to see all the children crying so mournfully. Some of them forced their way onto trees and the waves slashed at their feet like hungry wolves. At this time it seemed as if we were experiencing the centre of the disaster for the rain was just pouring fantastically and the wind at its worst causing zincs, boards, vats and many other things to go flying like kites. Assisting as much as we could, with the children, my brother and I decided to swim inland, away from the sea.

Joined by eleven others of which two were men, one a woman, and the rest children, we swam for what I presumed to be two hours, resting at intervals with our burden, the six children. We reached a good shelter, on some trees about two feet above water and we decided to wait for the bitter end. It was about this time that I remembered Noah's flood and I thought that this must be a second one. A few minutes later my attention was attracted by two horns emerging from the water a foot and a half below. Immediately I beckoned to my nearest companion, who happened to be my brother. He tremblingly asked what this was, to which I replied that I did not know. This extraordinary creature came out of the water entirely. It had two horns on a head like that of a cat with teeth like that of a wolf on the body of a small dog. It was only visible for a few minutes. After it disappeared we stood watching each other speechlessly. Half nude, with the rain burning through our skin like sharp needles, we waded our way through the water which was now subsiding rapidly and only about waist high to the village. Arriving on the spot where the village once stood, only two buildings were visible besides the new station and the Roman Catholic mission. It was now about 3 p.m November 1. Not having anything to eat from the night, we were now very hungry. However, the only food there were cocoanuts and we ate these for about three days before we got aid from the U.S. Navy. After checking our missing people we found out that forty-three were absent. This was the worst day I ever spent in my life in the little village known as Mullin's River.

Sixty years ago, on October 31st, Hattie a major hurricane made landfall on Belize, British Honduras. It left behind severe destructions all along its path as well as over three hundred casualties. The Belize National Library Service and Information System presents Hurricane Hattie: 60th Anniversary- Testimonials of survivors in remembrance of those we've lost. For this entire week we will be sharing testimonials from other people from all over the country.


Testimony of Mrs. Joan Castillo


Testimony of Ms. Beverly Swasey


Testimony of Mr. Rudolph Coleman


Testimony of Mr. David Villanueva


Testimony of Ms. Lupita Carmen Perera


Testimony of Mr. Anatorio Gongora


Testimony of Mr. Zakarias Cowo


Testimony of Mr. Amado Romero


Testimony of Mr. Hector Valdez


Testimony of Mrs. Lana Belisle Bevans


Testimony of Mr. Anthony Pitts


Testimony of Mr. Secundino Luis Olmedo


Testimony of Ms. Guillermina Ozaeta


Testimony of Mrs. Marcelina Cardenas de Cob


Testimony of Mr. Maurice Martinez


Testimony of Ms. Olga Gordon


Testimony of Ms. Ida Collins


Testimony of Ms. Sofia Marsden


Testimony of Mr. Saturnino Sanchez


Testimony of Mrs. Sonia Burn

60 years ago: Memories of Hurricane Hattie Shared by Survivors

This past weekend marked the sixtieth anniversary of Hurricane Hattie, a storm that killed three hundred and nineteen people in Belize on October thirty-first, 1961. Weather maps show that the hurricane had initially taken a northerly path along Honduras and was projected to strike Cuba. Belize was almost in the clear, when the storm suddenly changed trajectory and made a shocking U-turn, heading west-southwest. It made landfall between the Belize and Stann Creek districts. Belize City suffered the brunt of the damage, with maximum hurricane force winds of one hundred and sixty-five miles per hour. While there have been countless news reports since then recapping what transpired that awful night, we decided to draw from the memories of survivors to share with younger people who were not around then. The magnitude of a strong category four hurricane such as Hattie, and the long-lasting devastation storms of that strength can unleash on a low-lying, densely-populated coastal community like Belize City should never be forgotten, even as this year's hurricane season winds down. Marion Ali reports.

Nick Pollard, Hurricane Hattie survivor

 "It was heading straight for Cuba, and like a boomerang it turned back and came straight for Belize."

Marion Ali, Reporting

Its visit sixty years ago wiped away many of the wooden structures that constituted the Belize City landscape, and a lot of harrowing stories have come out of the weather phenomenon named Hattie - a name that is permanently retired from the hurricane list because of its devastating blow upon us. It left survivors like Nick Pollard and Cathrene Zelaya with memories that can be lessons for others.

Nick Pollard

"When the surge came, the building just shook. That was the first one - it was very scary."

Marion Ali

"Wasn't that a cement building?"

Nick Pollard

"That's a concrete and steel building, but remember we were dealing with a category five storm with heavy winds that brought in huge seas. And when the second one hit, the building really trembled.  And everybody was so scared and praying."

Cathrene Zelaya, Hurricane Hattie survivor

"The most frightening part came when I realized that the house was going to collapse on us. My mom was praying really hard and I literally remember the walls coming down and my mom and this woman scampering to shove us under a table. And the house literally collapsed on us."

Dave Reimer and his family had just arrived in Spanish Lookout from Mexico and because they had no radio, found out about the hurricane when they had to divert to Belize City with their produce.

Dave Reimer, Hurricane Hattie survivor

"When we got on top of that bridge at mile six over the canal, there was water all around us, so we felt like we were in the middle of the ocean. I had not seen anything as rough as that. Most houses were - a lot of them were completely gone and some of them were just partially there."

Nick Pollard says he discovered just how much damage the storm had inflicted when one could walk on debris floating on flood waters as if it was the Earth itself!

Nick Pollard

"When I looked down the water was all the way up to the level of the first floor but the thing is that it wasn't only water. The debris in the river was so thick that one could walk across the debris without sinking. It was that bad!"

Cathrene Zelaya said that Hattie left her with a lingering question she still cannot answer.

Cathrene Zalaya

"How on Earth did we survive, you know, knowing that Hattie was such a strong storm?"

Marion Ali

"And the water was rising right?"

Cathrene Zelaya

"It was rising; I remember that because whenever we felt it at our chest my mom would be shifting us continuously. She kept shifting and moving wood. It's a good thing we were small children, but I don't know how we survived, honestly."

Channel 5