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They told Jim McFadzean why they decided to make the tip to higher, safer ground:

Jim McFadzean Reporting

The first boatloads of both locals and tourists alike arrived here sometime this morning around 9:30. It took 3 San Pedro Water Taxis to ferry a total of 258 evacuees from both Caye Caulker and San Pedro.

Gustavo Heredia - Boat Captain, San Pedro Water Taxi
"For this morning, we had 4 boats coming in from Caye Caulker. 1 came in with 40 people; that's the one I drove. Another one came in with 118, another with 100, and one just arrived with like 50 people."

In addition to the San Pedro Water Taxis, evacuees were also being ferried by the Caye Caulker Water Taxi service, like this one filled almost to capacity, which pulled into the Belize City harbor at exactly 10:45 A.M.

Commuter buses hired by NEMO, lined up in front of the tourist village and the Caye Caulker Water Taxi terminal, to transport the majority of the arrivals, made up mostly of families, like the Seley family of five, to destinations mainly in the west.

Jim McFadzean
"Edward, when did you decide to leave the cayes? At what point did you decide that it was necessary for you to leave with your family?"

Edward Seley - San Pedro Evacuee
"I saw it getting a little bit rough. I saw water coming on the shores, so I moved from there."

Jim McFadzean
"What's the impression that you got, that people are taking the storm seriously?"

Edward Seley
"Yes, they are taking it seriously right now."

Jim McFadzean
"Tell us what's going on on the island right now, when you left: a lot of movement on the island, people boarding up, that sort of thing?"

Edward Seley
"Yes, a lot of the people are moving quickly right now because they think that it will come near San Pedro, so they are coming off. It's better for them."

Jim McFadzean
"Now you get the sense that it's mostly families, like yourself who have kids that are more concerned about evacuating the island. Is this true or is it not?"

Edward Seley
"It's true."

Jim McFadzean
"Tell us about your family. How many kids do you have, and where do you plan on going from here?"

Edward Seley
"I have 5 kids and my wife. And I am going to Orange Walk, I think."

Jim McFadzean
"Well you know, they say that if - at all - the storm should affect Belize, it's going to affect the north. Why go north, when you are actually leaving to get away from the storm?"

Edward Seley
"Because my family is big and maybe over there, I don't have a resting spot. I just came out from hospital last night."

Jim McFadzean
"Can you tell us what the mood is on the island when you left it?"

Rose Marie Linares - Evacuee
"It's rough."

Jim McFadzean
"Is it raining on the island right now?"

Rose Marie Linares
"No, not right now."

Jim McFadzean
"No rain. Okay, why are you leaving the island?"

Rose Marie Linares
"Because I just want to go for the overnight in Belmopan."

Jim McFadzean
"What's the mood on the island right now?"

Edison Johnson - Evacuee
"Well, when we left, there were some people who were still on the island, but last night when the people at the hotel told us that we had to go in, we caught the first boat coming in this morning."

Jim McFadzean
"Where were people from the island getting their information that they should leave the island?"

Edison Johnson
"Well, from NEMO, and from the people who run the hotels and other things. We came in on that advisory."

Jim McFadzean
"So was there actually NEMO staff that was going around telling people that maybe it's time to leave?"

Edison Johnson
"No, they were calling on the phone and telling them that they have to come out."

Jim McFadzean
"Give me an idea what's going on on the island right now? Are people boarding up? Do you get the sense that people are taking the storm seriously?"

Edison Johnson
"Some are boarding up right now. Not all, but some are taking the storm seriously."

Jim McFadzean
"Are stores still open?"

Edison Johnson
"No, there are no stores opened."

Jim McFadzean
"Now, where are you heading to?"

Edison Johnson
"Cayo, I'm going home to meet my little son, because he is home by himself with his aunt. So I have to try to reach home to get to him."

Once on board the buses, Traffic officers tallied the number of people taking advantage of the free shuttle to Belmopan where the University of Belize has been designated a shelter.

Jim McFadzean
"Can you tell us so far, since morning, how many people have been accommodated on these commuter buses, and what primary destination are these people going to?"

Ronald Crawford - Belize City Traffic Officer
"Well, since morning, this will be the second bus that we are sending out. The first bus left with 35 passengers, and this one is leaving with 41. So we have about 76 total since morning."

Jose Sanchez - Channel 5 News
"But would you say that there are a lot of people who take private rides and taxies also?"

Ronald Crawford
Well, the majority of the people who came off the boats took a taxi to catch a bus going their own districts. So, the majority of the people don't really want to go to Belmopan. That's the situation right now."

Jim McFadzean
"Do you expect that the number of people leaving the island will taper off as the day goes by?"

Ronald Crawford
"Definitely, because what we are getting to understand right now is that this is the last boat that is coming in for the morning with people who are evacuating. So from here, it's supposed to go slow. We have no more people coming off the island basically."

Jim McFadzean
"I sense that nobody is leaving Belize City to go to the islands."

Gustavo Heredia - Boat Captain, San Pedro Water Taxi
"That's right, we are not allowing it. The Port Authority and Coast Guard are not allowing anyone, especially if you are going on the weekend vacation; they are not allowing anyone to go. So, we are just bringing people in, not taking out anyone."

By 11:30 this morning, the number of people leaving the island seemed to have tapered off, and, if Hurricane Rina continues on its west-northwesterly trajectory, it's likely that those left on the island, at this point and time, will remain there.