{"id":515,"date":"2025-10-20T03:56:55","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T03:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=515"},"modified":"2025-10-20T03:56:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T03:56:55","slug":"the-last-hurricane-to-impact-belize-hurricane-lisa-november-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=515","title":{"rendered":"The Last Hurricane to Impact Belize \u2013 Hurricane\u202fLisa (November\u202f2022)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to tropical cyclones, the Central American nation of Belize is no stranger \u2014 but fortunately major hits are relatively rare. The <strong>most recent hurricane to make landfall in Belize<\/strong> was Hurricane\u202fLisa, which struck the country in early November\u202f2022. This article provides a detailed, overview of Hurricane\u202fLisa: its formation, landfall, damage, key statistics, response, lessons learned, and what visitors and residents should know for future preparedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What was Hurricane Lisa?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hurricane\u202fLisa developed in the Atlantic basin and strengthened before making landfall on Belize\u2019s coast. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and other sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lisa made landfall in the Belize District around midday on <strong>2\u202fNovember\u202f2022<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was classified as a <strong>Category\u202f1 hurricane<\/strong> at landfall, with winds reaching around 85\u202fmph. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It struck about 10\u202fmiles southwest of Belize City, at the mouth of the Sibun River (17.4\u00b0N, 88.3\u00b0W) according to PAHO\u2019s report \u201cSituation Report #8\u201d. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Path &amp; Meteorological Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The storm travelled west\u2011wards after landfall, crossing the Belize mainland from the Belize District into the Cayo District, causing inland damage. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While it was not a large or extremely powerful storm compared with Category\u202f4 or 5 events, its timing (late in the season) and the vulnerable coastal setting meant the impact was still significant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its landfall in November is notable: many storms hit earlier in the \u201cpeak\u201d of the Atlantic hurricane season; a November landfall underscores that the threat lingers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Impact on Belize<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Affected Areas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Belize District (including Belize City and surrounding communities) was most heavily impacted. PAHO estimated that over <strong>94,271 residents<\/strong> in the district were <em>severely affected<\/em>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Cayo District (inland) also sustained <em>significant damage<\/em>, particularly as the storm moved across the mainland. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Damage &amp; Statistics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to PAHO\u2019s Situation Report #5 and #8:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Approximately <strong>500 houses were completely destroyed<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Around <strong>5,000 houses were partially destroyed<\/strong> (damaged roofs, flooding, structural loss). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Estimated housing sector damage: <strong>US$10\u202fmillion<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overall infrastructure, agriculture, utilities damage: estimated at <strong>US$100\u202fmillion<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Immediate relief needs (food, bedding, construction materials) were estimated at about <strong>US$11\u202fmillion<\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Notably, <strong>no deaths<\/strong> were reported in Belize from Hurricane\u202fLisa. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wind damage<\/strong>: Uprooted trees, damaged roofs, downed power lines in coastal and inland zones. The utility company Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) reported major disruptions. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flooding<\/strong>: Heavy rains and coastal surges caused inundation in low\u2011lying zones, especially in the Belize District.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Infrastructure<\/strong>: Roadways, bridges, public buildings and utilities were impacted. Many areas faced power outages, especially rural and coastal communities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Housing<\/strong>: Many homes (especially those with weaker construction) suffered partial or total destruction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agriculture and fisheries<\/strong>: Though not to the extent of major Category\u202f4\/5 storms, effects included loss of crops, damage to fishing boats and coastal infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why It\u2019s Important to Understand Lisa\u2019s Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reminds us that even \u201cweak\u201d hurricanes (Category\u202f1) can inflict serious damage<\/strong>, especially on vulnerable coastlines and under\u2011prepared infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Timing matters<\/strong>: Late\u2011season landfalls can catch people off guard when the perception is that \u201churricane season is ending\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lessons for resilience<\/strong>: Belize\u2019s experience helps inform policies on local building codes, disaster preparedness (shelters, power grid resilience), and community awareness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tourism &amp; economy<\/strong>: Belize is heavily tourism\u2011dependent; storms affect hotels, marine operations, and transportation. Quick recovery is crucial.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Implications for future storms<\/strong>: With climate change and rising sea\u2011levels, even moderate storms could become more dangerous. Understanding Lisa\u2019s impact helps prepare for what might come.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lessons Learned &amp; Preparedness Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways from Belize\u2019s Response<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Early alerts and evacuations<\/strong> are vital: Belize\u2019s government and NEMO (National Emergency Management Organization) activated plans ahead of landfall, which likely helped avoid fatalities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Utility restoration matters<\/strong>: The quicker power, water and communications are restored, the faster communities recover (BEL achieved 70\u201395\u202f% power restoration quickly in affected districts) <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Housing resilience<\/strong>: Roofs, anchoring, and maintenance of older housing stock is critical. Many of the lost houses were less resilient.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Infrastructure vulnerability<\/strong>: Roads, bridges and drainage systems need ongoing upgrades to cope with flooding, surges and heavy rainfall.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Public awareness &amp; community action<\/strong>: Community\u2011level readiness, knowing evacuation routes and having supplies made a difference.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preparedness Tips for Residents and Visitors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Know the season<\/strong>: Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June\u202f1 to November\u202f30 \u2014 but threats linger into November.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monitor official sources<\/strong>: In Belize, watch alerts from NEMO, the Belize Meteorological Service and official advisories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Have a plan<\/strong>: For residents \u2014 know your shelter locations, have a supply kit (food, water, basic first\u2011aid). For visitors \u2014 factor in contingency days, insurance, evacuation routes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check your accommodation\u2019s resilience<\/strong>: Ensure hotels or guest\u2011houses on the coast have good storm\u2011preparedness infrastructure (anchored roofs, backup power, safe zones).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plan for power loss &amp; flooding<\/strong>: Even if winds are moderate, flooding can harm mobility. Keep extra time, budget and flexibility if travelling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Respect the \u2018All Clear\u2019<\/strong>: Many accidents happen when people prematurely leave shelters or return to unsafe zones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: When did Hurricane\u202fLisa hit Belize?<\/strong><br>A: On\u202f2\u202fNovember\u202f2022, it made landfall in the Belize District. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: How strong was Hurricane\u202fLisa when it hit Belize?<\/strong><br>A: It was a Category\u202f1 hurricane at landfall, with winds around 85\u202fmph. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What was the damage cost of Hurricane\u202fLisa in Belize?<\/strong><br>A: Estimated overall damage to infrastructure and shared sectors was about <strong>US$100\u202fmillion<\/strong>, plus about <strong>US$10\u202fmillion<\/strong> in housing sector damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: Were there any fatalities from Hurricane\u202fLisa in Belize?<\/strong><br>A: No deaths were officially reported from Hurricane\u202fLisa in Belize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What should tourists visiting Belize know after a hurricane?<\/strong><br>A: Even if a named storm passes, after\u2011effects such as flooding, power outages and damaged transport can linger. It\u2019s wise to travel with flexibility (especially in Nov) and check local advisories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hurricane\u202fLisa serves as a timely reminder that the hurricane threat in Belize remains real \u2014 even for storms that may appear moderate in strength. For both residents and visitors, awareness, preparation and respect for nature\u2019s power go a long way. With the right mindset and actions, the country continues to strengthen its resilience \u2014 but each event like Lisa offers lessons worth heeding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Introduction When it comes to tropical cyclones, the Central American nation of Belize is no stranger \u2014 but fortunately major hits are relatively rare. The most recent hurricane to make landfall in Belize was Hurricane\u202fLisa, <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/?p=515\" title=\"The Last Hurricane to Impact Belize \u2013 Hurricane\u202fLisa (November\u202f2022)\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[281,279,280,278],"class_list":{"0":"post-515","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-weather","8":"tag-belize-district-hurricane-impact","9":"tag-belize-hurricane-damage-november-2022","10":"tag-belize-storm-preparedness-tourism","11":"tag-hurricane-lisa-belize-2022"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=515"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":517,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515\/revisions\/517"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorebelizeplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}