Aye of the stormthe storm
● Portland’s and Wave Ruler’s sailors plus British Army
personnel help to shift trees battered by Hurricane
Dean
Pictures: LA(Phots) Luis Holden and Owen King, FRPU Whale Island
ay As well as clearing roads, the temporary. The teams’ handiwork demanding compensation.” “The thought of making a difference
of chainsaw operators were employed was even inspected by Belize’s Not all the locals offered such a to somebody’s or a family’s life was
en removing trees and pylons which Deputy Prime Minister, Vildo warm welcome. exciting.
had fallen on to homes, wrecking Marin. “One of the families had a “Seeing their faces after we had
ng roofs and, in many cases, the entire Not all the building work proved mongoose as a pet on a lead,” helped to rebuild their homes gave
en house. quite so successful... or lasting, recalled PO Morgan. us a real sense of achievement.”
ng Some had fallen in such a however. “They told me it was friendly
Portland’s Commanding Offi cer
way that they were in danger of “On the first evening, when all – but it decided to try to attack
Cdr Mike Utley said the men and
ed collapsing further, causing more the teams were back at the camp, my leg.”
women of Wave Ruler and Portland
ly damage or badly injuring children everyone tucked into their ration Although they were tired, the
could feel justly proud about their
ho playing close by. packs and bedded down on camp sailors wanted to battle on to give
accomplishments.
ed Teams travelled around the beds – some of which had the as much as possible to people who
“Once again the value of Royal
villages repairing or replacing luxury of mosquito nets,” said 3/O had so little.
Naval training and the enthusiasm
ob damaged roofs. Smith. While work continued ashore,
of the sailors ashore has shown we
m. Very often the inhabitants were everyone back on board was eager
can make a real difference.
he on hand to help, which meant
“The highlight of that night
to get involved and do what they
“Every member of the ships’
re teams could move quickly on to the
was hearing a section of
could to help.
companies left with the satisfaction
next house.
matelots screaming as the
The sterling efforts of the crew
that they had helped this remote
rs The diverse nature of the work
tarpaulin which they’d put
back on board Portland, expertly
area in a big way.”
UB on the ground called for a wide
up to keep the rain off fell in
co-ordinated by the Executive
Barely had Hurricane Dean
nd range of people to come ashore with
during a downpour.”
Warrant Offi cer, Gary Smith,
dissipated than a fresh cyclone
en specialist skills, but when it came to The locals were overwhelmingly ensured that stores and personnel
threatened Belize in the shape of
shifting stores and nailing tarpaulin grateful for the efforts of the Service kept arriving.
Hurricane Felix.
ed to roofs and securing heavy sheets personnel ashore and were keen to The physically-exhausting work
Once again Portland and Wave
on of corrugated iron, it was a case of provide any assistance necessary. coupled with the extreme heat both
Ruler were on stand-by to intervene,
he all hands to the pump, whatever They even offered soft drinks, during the day and at night meant
but luckily for the Belizians they
ai your expertise. fresh fruit and coconut milk to that rotation of the teams was vital
were spared Felix’s wrath (the
ly “I was on top of a house, helping keep the teams hydrated in the to sustain the operation.
storm did, however, cause extensive
we to build a new roof and nearly fell sweltering 100˚ heat. And they also In a very intensive four days, the
damage in Nicaragua).
re through it,” said PO(EW) Nick showed the sailors how to get milk two ship’s companies were able
And so the duo have resumed
their anti-drug patrols in the
Morgan. from a coconut without it spilling to help nine villages as well as the
Caribbean alongside US and native
AS “Luckily, one of the local men using only a machete. town of Corozal itself, providing
law enforcement agencies.
in who was helping me managed to This spurred the teams on in the medical assistance to around 30
es grab my arm and hold me there.” knowledge that their efforts meant people, clearing scores of trees, ● (Right) all smiles from young-
re One building that was home to a so much to the people affected and repairing more than 60 houses and sters after a check-up from Port-
family of nine was damaged beyond were making a big difference to providing materials for a hundred land’s Surg Lt Carolyn Gibbens
ht repair. their lives. or so more.
so Work started immediately with “The people were so happy to “As I left the island, I was content ● (Below right) A senior rating
ne members of the Royal Navy, Army see us,” said CPO Shaw. that the work I and my team had sweats in the heat as he fi xes a
re and RFA pitching in to build a new “I could not believe how they achieved would have taken the roof
nd house for the family. handled such total devastation – if people months to do without us,”
ts The plan was for a temporary it was in our country, everyone said CPO Shaw.
● (Below left) Carrying a pallet
shelter but the result was far from would be blaming someone and ET(ME) Steven Seaby added:
ashore from Portland
022-023_NN_Oct.indd 2 19/9/07 18:01:42
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