60 years ago: Memories of Hurricane Hattie Shared by Survivors

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This past weekend marked the sixtieth anniversary of Hurricane Hattie, a storm that killed three hundred and nineteen people in Belize on October thirty-first, 1961. Weather maps show that the hurricane had initially taken a northerly path along Honduras and was projected to strike Cuba. Belize was almost in the clear, when the storm suddenly changed trajectory and made a shocking U-turn, heading west-southwest. It made landfall between the Belize and Stann Creek districts. Belize City suffered the brunt of the damage, with maximum hurricane force winds of one hundred and sixty-five miles per hour. While there have been countless news reports since then recapping what transpired that awful night, we decided to draw from the memories of survivors to share with younger people who were not around then. The magnitude of a strong category four hurricane such as Hattie, and the long-lasting devastation storms of that strength can unleash on a low-lying, densely-populated coastal community like Belize City should never be forgotten, even as this year’s hurricane season winds down. Marion Ali reports.

[@lucasroches1680]

Huricain hatie was no joke i was in stann creek at that tlme 5yrs old over flooded a lot of people lost their lives our refuge was joy land theatre by the bridge, unbelievable memories sad

[@NeryElsalvador]

Wow,, I think that wow very scared

[@hubertrobinson8825]

I was about 4 or 5 but to this day I can remember seeing dead bodies for the first a sight that will never go away over the yrs I've seen many more dead bodies but non has the lasting effects like those after Hurricane Hattie

[@johaymieek155]

I can't believe that my county had a lot of damage!!!!

[@phylliswilliams1535]

I was 6 years old and I remember how to have again like it was yesterday I remember Upstairs and Albert street and Wesley school I remember see the water coming up And I thought I was gonna never make it because it was just so much water coming up

[@catherineflowers5246]

I was 6years old our house on York st stood but it was full to the top with mud I remember my uncle swam wit me on his back to another house the street was like a sea I remember the barrels of pig tail there's a lot to tell God was still in control but His grace is leaving little by little it's time to humble ourselves God bless