The Ultimate Guide to Hurricane Preparedness in Belize

With My Story of 23 Days Without Power

Learn how to survive hurricanes in Belize with real-life tips, personal experiences, and a complete preparedness checklist.

When you live in Belize, hurricanes aren’t a distant news story — they’re a reality you prepare for every year. Over the years, I’ve experienced my share of storms. Some passed quickly. Others left me without power for nearly a month.

What follows is not just another hurricane preparedness checklist — it’s my real story of riding out Hurricane Richard in 2010 and Hurricane Lisa in 2022, followed by practical lessons for anyone who may one day find themselves without power, comfort, or modern conveniences.

My Story: Hurricanes Richard and Lisa in Belize

During an extended stay in Belize, on October 25, 2010, Hurricane Richard (Category 1) struck Belize. My home escaped structural damage, but the yard was devastated — massive trees uprooted, branches everywhere. Cleaning up took nearly a month. By the end, I had a brush pile taller than my head, stretching 40 feet long.

Fast forward to November 2, 2022. Hurricane Lisa (Category 1) made landfall just south of Belize City with sustained winds of 85 mph. A State of Emergency was declared, and the power cut out almost immediately.

That night, I stepped outside with a flashlight. My yard looked like a battlefield of fallen trees. By morning, I counted three large trees down, plus heavy damage across my coconut field and along my ¾-acre river lot. Fortunately, not as much damage as from Hurricane Richard. I figured I’d be without power for about a week. I was wrong.

It would be 23 days before electricity returned.

Followers asked how I survived 23 days without power — partly out of curiosity and partly for guidance if they face a similar situation. I doubt many people will experience such an extended outage, but storms are becoming fiercer and more unpredictable. For example, Hurricane Fiona hit PEI, Canada, on September 23 this year, and my parents ended up without power for three weeks as well.

While my situation was a little unique, there are still valuable lessons anyone can take away.

Hurricane Lisa damage

Why My Power Outage Lasted 23 Days

Unless someone tells me otherwise, I will assume I was the very last person in Belize to have power restored after Hurricane Lisa. I live at the end of a two-mile dead-end dirt road, which for much of the year is nearly impossible for regular or heavy vehicles to navigate. My power line crosses the Belize River from a village called Isabella Bank, which added to the complications.

I made multiple calls and sent messages to BEL to find out why restoration was taking so long. Eventually, they confirmed that heavy trucks couldn’t reach my road. I told them that I believed there was no need to inspect the lines on my side of the river, but if they felt safer doing so, a 4×4 pickup and ladder would easily do the job. Three days later, they finally made it down and restored power.

The Hardest Part of Living Without Power

The biggest headache by far was living without a fridge. No fridge meant no cold drinks and no fresh food — a real challenge for someone as picky as me and who works outside in the tropical heat all day. Belize offers only a limited selection of imported processed foods that I can eat, so my options were extremely narrow. For most of the 23 days, unless I made a trip to the city, I survived on just four foods: Kraft Dinner macaroni, Chef Boyardee, Ramen noodle soup, and fried eggs.

I had fried eggs a few times when I was lucky enough to get eggs, and noodle soup occasionally, though soup hardly felt like a proper meal. About 90% of the time, my days consisted of Chef Boyardee for breakfast and Kraft Dinner for supper, day in and day out. And yes, that got old fast. Most people will never face a problem like that.

I managed to make these meals thanks to my bike ride stove and fuel, a setup I had from my long-distance cycling adventures. A few times, I also ran up to the village to charge my phone, which helped make the days a little more bearable.

How I survived through Lisa

What Helped Me Get Through This Time

Not everything was bad news. I had a few big advantages:

It had already been a very tough year – My mental resilient muscles were already getting a lot of exercise.
Solar-powered water system – My faucets, toilet, and shower never stopped working.
Bike touring experience – After a two-year ride across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, living without electricity wasn’t new to me.
Prepared gear – Headlamps, battery packs, and a multi-fuel camping stove made life manageable.

If you have food, water, light, and a way to cook, you have the basics to survive.

More hurricane damage from Hurricane Lisa

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Practical Lessons: How to Prepare for a Prolonged Power Outage in Belize

Assume that you will be without power for at least one week. Here are the most important things I learned — and what I recommend to anyone preparing for hurricane season in Belize:

1. Lighting

Get a headlamp, USB rechargeable, or multiple USB rechargeable batteries.
Keep multiple power banks fully charged before the storm.
Use low settings to stretch battery life.
Don’t forget old-fashioned candles.

2. Cooking

A multi-fuel camping stove is invaluable (I use an MSR Dragonfly).
Stock up on fuel (white gas or gasoline). Test your stove before the storm.
Even better – I have since converted to a butane kitchen stove, with a spare tank.

MSR Dragonfly multi-fuel stove. You can’t go wrong with one of these.

3. Power & Electronics

Consider buying a generator, but do your homework.
Fully charge anything and everything that runs on batteries.
Quality battery banks are a lifesaver for phones and small electronics.
Avoid draining your laptop completely in case you need to access some files in an emergency.

4. Water & Sanitation

Store drinking water in advance. One gallon of water per person per day.
Fill buckets for toilet flushing.

5. Food Storage

A full freezer stays colder longer. Freeze water bottles before the storm.
Make sure that you are stocked up on non-perishables. At least seven days’ worth.
A non-electric can opener.

6. Tools & Extras

Buy a chainsaw, if you own a chainsaw, then…
Test your chainsaw before hurricane season.
Keep flashlights, radios, and spare batteries ready.
A roll of duct tape.
Have a minimum of 1 gallon of mixed gas and regular gas.

The most essential tool after a hurricane

7. First Aid Kit & Prescriptions

Make sure they are fully stocked.
Put a whistle in your first aid kit.

First aid kit – make sure it is fully stocked

8. Documents

Waterproof bags for key documents, and keep key document copies on your phone.
Cash. ATM’s could be down for a period of time.

9. Your Road

If you live on a jungle road, expect much of the road to be flooded and possibly 15 to 20 trees knocked down for every two miles of road. It could take days or a week to open the road with a chainsaw.

My road after a hurricane

10. Have a Hurricane Plan

Having a hurricane plan is essential. Knowing in advance where your supplies are, how to secure your home, and how to stay connected can make a stressful situation far more manageable.

11. Have a Plan for Waiting Out a Power Outage

Staying productive is essential for mental health during an extended outage. While some tasks require electricity, in the jungle, there’s always plenty to do without electricity — washing the house, clearing brush, or chopping back overgrowth. Having a plan ahead of time can reduce frustration, impatience, and anxiety when the lights are out.

Prepare Your Property and House During a Hurricane

Store all small or unsecured items, such as lawn or deck furniture
Lock (secure) all livestock doors and gates
Secure any water vat lids
Keep towels or buckets handy for leaks
Take down shade cloth from greenhouse(s)
Take down your internet dish or antenna
Secure roofs & windows (zinc sheets and window shutters).
Clear drains and yard debris.

Don’t forget to have extra gas

Very Important

During clean-up and when using a chainsaw, be extra careful. The consequences of an accident during or right after a hurricane can greatly increase because of either the inability to reach help or the inability of help to reach you.

Don’t count on help in the jungle

Prepare for Flooding

On top of all the other challenges a hurricane brings, flooding is often the hardest to deal with in the aftermath. Floodwaters can linger for weeks, sometimes even a month, making recovery slow and difficult.

Where I live along the Belize River, when the river rises more than 20 feet and spills over its banks, we call it “top gallon.” This isn’t uncommon — it usually happens at least three times a year, even without a hurricane. For me, top gallon means a flooded road and yard, often lasting for weeks and adding another layer of complexity to life after a storm.

After a hurricane comes flooding

Visiting Belize During Hurricane Season

While visiting Belize, make sure to stay updated on local news and weather reports. Most hotels and resorts have emergency procedures, so take a moment to familiarize yourself with them when you arrive. If a hurricane warning is issued, listen carefully to local authorities and hotel staff — they will direct you to the safest options, which may include moving to a designated shelter.

If your trip happens to overlap with a hurricane, stay calm and follow official guidance. Your safety is the top priority. It’s important to be patient through the experience. Belize has strong hurricane preparedness measures, and local communities are experienced, resilient, and ready to support visitors during severe weather.

Travel Tips for Belize During Hurricane Season

Booking flexible accommodations.
Staying connected with MET Service alerts.
Knowing evacuation routes (especially from cayes).
Hotels and resorts in Belize are prepared for this sort of thing

Frequently Asked Questions About Hurricanes in Belize

When is hurricane season in Belize?
June 1 to November 30, with the peak between August and October.

Is Belize safe during hurricane season?
Generally, yes, but storms can disrupt travel, power, and communication. Flooding is generally the worst concern and problem. Preparation is key.

How long can power be out after a hurricane?
Always count on a minimum of one week to be safe, but in rural areas (like mine), it can stretch into weeks.

What’s the most important thing to have?
Water, food, a headlamp, a way to cook, and battery packs.

Is there a safer part of Belize I can stay during a hurricane?

San Ignacio is considered a safer zone.

Are hurricanes common in Belize?

No, not really, we mostly get tropical storms. To see the history of hurricanes in Belize, click HERE.

Important Hurricane Online Resources

National Hurricane Center – https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?utm The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is a U.S.-based organization that monitors and provides forecasts, warnings, and updates for hurricanes and tropical storms across the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, helping residents and travellers stay informed and prepared.

Belize MET Service – https://m.nms.gov.bz/ The Belize Meteorological Service is the official national agency responsible for weather forecasting, storm tracking, and issuing warnings in Belize, providing crucial updates to help residents and visitors prepare for hurricanes and other severe weather.

CDC Travelers Guide – https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel The CDC Travelers’ Health Guide provides up-to-date health and safety recommendations for international travellers, including guidance on vaccinations, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness for destinations like Belize.

National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) – https://site.nemo.org.bz/ NEMO is Belize’s official agency responsible for coordinating disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, including providing guidance and updates during hurricanes and other emergencies.

List of Belize Hurricane Shelters – https://site.nemo.org.bz/hurricane-shelter-locator/

Belize Electricity (BEL) – https://bel.com.bz/ Belize’s electricity provider. Download their app.

Final Thoughts: Discipline Over Comfort

I won’t deny — 23 days without power was frustrating. But it was also a reminder that resilience isn’t about comfort, it’s about discipline.

If you’re moving to Belize or planning to ride out hurricane season here, don’t just stockpile supplies — prepare yourself mentally. Because when the lights go out, what carries you through isn’t just gear. It’s a mindset. Check out my blog post about jungle discipline: The Key to Surviving the Jungle Lifestyle in Belize – Discipline