The City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO) has developed an emergency evacuation routes plan which is to be implemented before the start of the hurricane season this year.

Councilor Philip Willoughby, coordinator for CEMO Belize City, said that they are just waiting on the go-ahead from the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) for the plan to officially be put in place.

There will be 70 “Evacuation Route” signs established around the city indicating the emergency evacuation routes. “Emergency Assembly Points” signs will also be erected at strategic points in the City indicating areas where residents can be picked up during a national emergency evacuation.

“These signs will be made and thereafter shortly be erected and should [be] up and completed by the commencement of the hurricane season,” Willoughby said.

These locations will be the Brodies parking lot, Lopez Mateos Park, and Cinderella Plaza on the Northside. The Southside locations will be Wilton Cumberbatch Field, the football field on Fabers Road Extension, the basketball court on Jane Usher Boulevard, and the bus terminal on West Collet Canal.

“This is the first for the evacuation outlook when it comes to the transport portfolio,” Willoughby said. “There are other committees of which we meet on every three weeks here at the Council as the City Emergency Management Committee and all these aspects are looked at during our City discussions, as well as our meetings that occur at the national level with NEMO,” he went on to explain.

Roadways in the evacuation route include Marine Parade, Princess Margaret Drive, Coney Drive, and the Philip Goldson Highway for those heading north. Mahogany Street, Lacroix Boulevard, Holy Emmanuel Street, and George Price Highway are the routes for persons heading south. Fabers Road, Albert Street, Cemetery Road, Vernon Street and Western Avenue will also be used as evacuation routes leading to the George Price Highway.