San Antonio, Santa Cruz Gets Emergency Response Teams

San Antonio and Santa Cruz on Albion Island in the Orange Walk District now have Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), set to train volunteer residents to respond to flooding and other emergencies.

The initiative is led by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the Ministry of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management.

Participants will receive “comprehensive training in disaster risk reduction, participatory risk assessments, CPR, basic first aid, search and rescue, fire safety, and shelter management,” the ministry said.

The area has repeatedly faced flooding. Rising rivers have cut off access, forced evacuations, and required boat transport for residents. San Antonio has often been among the hardest hit.

The launch follows similar efforts in southern Belize, where dozens of residents have already been trained under the CERT programme.

Officials say the initiative strengthens the national push for community-level disaster response.