Why the 1931 Hurricane Remains the Deadliest in Belize’s History

December 10, 2022
by Larry Waight +

On August 29th, 1931, a typical tropical wave was detected off the west coast of Africa, moving towards the westward side. For almost a week, the tropical storm remained relatively weak and appeared to pose no imminent danger to the locals. However, on September 6th, the intensity of the tropical storm increased, with the forecasters declaring it as a tropical cyclone.

Within the first 6 hours, after it was declared a tropical cyclone, its intensity increased due to tropical cyclogenesis. By September 8th, the cyclone’s intensity had intensified, with its strength matching that of a hurricane. However, the overall strength of the hurricane remained gradual until it reached the Gulf of Honduras as a Category 4 hurricane.

The hurricane made landfall in Belize City as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained speeds of up to 215km/hr. The hurricane tore across the Yucatan Peninsula and moved towards the Bay of Campeche. It made its second landfall as a tropical storm on the northern side of Tampico in Mexico on September 13th. Fortunately, the hurricane quickly weakened and debauched after it reached the mountainous terrain of Mexico.

Poor Preparation

It is believed that the massive loss of lives and destruction of property that occurred when the hurricane landed in Belize could have been minimized had the people been warned about the impending danger. However, this did not happen, with most people attributing it to the incoming September 10th holiday, which celebrated the Battle of St. George’s Caye. It is therefore believed that the hurricane struck without warning. Nevertheless, some historians believe that the U.S. had warned Belizean authorities of the impending storm, but they chose to ignore the warning to avoid a disruption of the festivities.

The fact that the region had not been hit by a hurricane before also largely contributed to the hurricane’s aftermath. For instance, there has been an argument that most Belizeans believed that the barrier reef that is along the country’s coast could protect them from the storm and the subsequent tidal waves.

The Impact

The hurricane brought with it storm surge, strong winds, and abnormally high tides. As a result, Belize City was flooded with 5 feet of water, with heavy boats being swept as far as the inland. In addition, properties that included residential homes, businesses, and places of worship, were completely obliterated, with the damage estimated to have swept off 70% of the city properties. For instance, the U.S. Embassy was severely damaged, with floods reaching its second floor.

Radio facilities owned by the government were also destroyed, with communication between the various government agencies completely cut off. Agricultural plantations that spread across the city and covered nearly 64km of land were also wiped off. In addition, several American priests who were stationed across the city and at St. John’s College were killed by the hurricane. Offshore, particularly at St. George’s Caye, buildings were utterly destroyed, with an estimated 24 people losing their lives.

Advertisment

Overall, the 1931 hurricane left more than 2,500 people dead and destroyed property worth $7.5 million (1931 USD exchange rate), making it the deadliest storm ever to hit Belize.

Relief Efforts

The United States and the U.K. government worked together to offer relief services to the affected people who were left without food, clean water, and medicine. A USS Swan stationed in Honduras was dispatched to Belize with aid. On the other hand, the United States, through the leadership of President Herbert Hoover, ordered the American Red Cross and the U.S. Navy to cooperate with the British government in offering relief efforts. As a result, more than $2,500 worth of medical supplies were sent to the affected regions, more so those with British and American citizens. Burial and cremation plans were also expedited to reduce the spread of diseases.

With the extensive destruction being partly blamed on the overall location of the city, there were proposals to move the city to higher grounds. Additionally, there was a proposal to move the City of Belize further south, with the primary goal being to elevate the city to higher grounds. However, this did not happen up until 1961, after the city was devastated again by Hurricane Hattie. Eventually, Belmopan became the capital of Belize almost four decades after the 1931 hurricane.