Last night, we told you about the NEMO Advisory which warned residents of the Belize River Valley Community to be vigilant of the flood waters rolling down from the Cayo District. That flood was caused by the weekend rains which inundated the entire Country.

NEMO said that their personnel would be out on the Belize River today along with the BDF. Well, they invited 7News to accompany them, and we went along to see how the rising river was affecting the nearby villages.

Daniel Ortiz has that story:

NEMO Minister Edmond Castro and his team started their information gathering today with a trip on the Belize River.

The intention was to survey and catalogue the interaction of the flood waters rushing down from the Cayo District and to see how the swell of the river was affecting the River Valley Community.

For this mission, they worked with the BDF Boat Unit who provided safe passage throughout our chosen route.

But to make this journey, the captain only had one speed, maxed out.

That's because we were going upstream with a flooded river rushing past as fast as it could.

Whenever the vessel slowed down enough, the strong current prevented any forward momentum.

So at top speed in a vessel designed for combat driving, did have its moments of humour.

It may look like the trip was a waste of time, but the NEMO experts on board were collecting a lot of intel. on the progress of this flood.

Calbert Budd - NEMO Coordinator, Belize Rural

"Right now, we're in Grace Bank, over there we have Mexico Creek, whenever the rain water comes, the creek run out the water to the river. Whenever the river gets high, the creek starts taking back the water from the river and then it goes up and it spread over land to the savannah to the back and when all those savannah fill and the river gets full, then it comes over land and that's what cause the flooding."

"Right here on the corner you have Muscle Creek; Muscle Creek also take in water. If you notice the river is going down, last night it feel about 4 inches, 3 to 4 inches and it's because Muscle Creek, Mexico Creek and you have Black Creek a little bit higher is taking in the water."

This is all valuable information for the continued flood watch, and so, the NEMO team travelled the entire length of the waterway that belongs to the river valley community.

Once the BDF dropped us on land once again - about an hour and a half later - Castro took us with him on a survey to see just how these flood waters from the west were affecting residents of the different community.

We found some farming families struggling with their entire properties covered with water.

This lady's poultry appeared under stress, the ducks appeared right at home.

She went looking for her 8 head of cattle, and took us along to see how the animals were scrambling for dry, high ground.

She gave up, but we eventually found them a long distance away.

Another resident told us how her family depends on cattle to survive.

Daniel Ortiz

"Do the cattle starve because of this?"

Elmita Wagner - Resident, Scotland Halfmoon

"Usually after the floods some of them die because they must catch disease, something I don't know. Chicken and everything dies so it's kind of hard. To bring food stuff is a hard problem because you have to back it; if you have no pick-up you have to back it and bring it in under water."

Daniel Ortiz

"Do you and your family sell cattle or just for your consumption?"

Elmita Wagner - Resident, Scotland Halfmoon

"For our consumption."

Daniel Ortiz

"You all raise cattle to feed your family?"

Elmita Wagner - Resident, Scotland Halfmoon

"Yes."

Daniel Ortiz

"When one cattle dies because of floods how much meat, how much food is that for your family that has been wasted? How many days or weeks you would say?"

Elmita Wagner - Resident, Scotland Halfmoon

"I would say a month."

So as the Head NEMO representative in charge of relief efforts, Castro says that help is on the way for these farmers.

Hon. Edmond Castro - Minister of NEMO

"I'm a hands on type of minster. I want to see first-hand being out here with my constituency to see the condition, the level of the water, the height of the water coming over the river bank and so on. And at the same time see what measures we need to take in the next day or two in terms of the reliefs and supplies for the residence in the Belize River valley area and also the relief as it relates to the agricultural aspect, especially the livestock. If you notice the cattle in the back here, they are in water. I would say about 75% of the land is covered with water so we definitely will have to try and see how we can assist the farmers in the Belize River valley area."

Over the weekend, Castro visited the villages of Hope Creek and Sarawee. He has also visited villages in the Toledo District, and on Friday, he'll be traveling to Gales Point, Manatee to survey the damage there.