Declaration of disaster areas

(1) Where, as a result of the occurrence of any hurricane, storm, tempest, flood, fire, earthquake or any other natural disaster in Belize, any district or area has suffered special damage requiring emergency assistance, the Prime Minister may, after consultations with the National Coordinator, by Order publish in the Gazette, declare such district or area as a (2) An Order made by the Prime Minister under subsection (1) of this section, (a) shall, unless revoked earlier, remain in force for a period not exceeding three months; and (b) may be extended with the approval of the National Assembly for a further period not exceeding three months. (3) During any period when the Order made under subsection (1) of this section is in force, the following provisions shall have effect, (a) the (NEMO) shall prepare a Damage Assessment Report on the affected 26 areas and submit the same to the Prime Minister as soon as possible but not later than one month of the date of the said Order; (b) the Minister of Finance may, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, provide emergency relief to the disaster areas from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and may enter into loan or grant agreements with national or international funding agencies and organizations for the purpose of providing emergency assistance to the affected areas; (c) where the amount of the money borrowed under any loan agreement made pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection is or above the equivalent of ten million dollars, Belize Currency, the Minister of Finance shall lay a report thereof on the table of the National Assembly at its next practicable sitting; (d) the Prime Minister may make regulations as are necessary or expedient for securing public safety, the maintenance of public order, or for maintaining supplies, services and communications essential to the life of the communities in the disaster areas; (e) any regulations made by the Prime Minister under paragraph(d) above shall cease to have effect on the expiry of the disaster areas declaration order made subsection (1) of this section. Disaster Preparedness and Response [CAP. 145 27