And while that is the situation in San Pedro, the latest storm tracking suggests that the southern Orange Walk District will be feeling the brunt of the storm, along with the Belize River Valley.  We spoke to the District Coordinator – who told us that people weren’t really rushing out to the shelters:

Suleima Celiz - NEMO Coordinator, Orange Walk
"We are fully activated and all our shelters are open at the moment. We have been communicating with our chairperson in the villages and everybody who needs to evacuate are being evacuated to the shelters. We have people from Trail Farm being evacuated; I do not have the exact amount of people that are in the shelters right now as our shelters are open at 3 today."

Jules Vasquez
"Have people been going eagerly towards the shelters or they are a little reluctant because you know Orange Walk is a little but more inland than a coastal community so maybe people don't feel threatened."

Suleima Celiz - NEMO Coordinator, Orange Walk
"They are not coming out in big numbers but they are families that know that their homes are not safe so they are taking no chances."

Jules Vasquez
"The images look like it will make landfall north of Belize City which means that the brunt of the storm will be north of the eye which would suggested headed towards Orange Walk. How are you all expecting from Hurricane Earl?"

Suleima Celiz - NEMO Coordinator, Orange Walk
"We are expecting a lot rain and we are awaiting for advisory from headquarters at the moment."

So, of the three major population centres to be affected, we see that only Belize City really has a rush to the shelters.  Belize City is also the biggest crime zone – and later on you’ll hear what police are doing to keep people’s possessions safe while they are in those shelters.