Rescue: Belize | Empact Northwest

Resilience: Belize

Not just a tropical paradise, the nation of Belize is facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions and with little of the personnel, training, and equipment to face it well.

Named 8th out of 167 nations by the World Bank for climate risk, low-lying, flood-prone Belize can expect to see a significant increase in the rate of cyclones and other tropical weather hazards in the coming years. Belize's major infrastructure, and population, are also heavily focused on the coast of this small country, putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk.

Empact has established a comprehensive partnership with Belize to strengthen the nation's emergency response capabilities through an integrated approach to training, systems development, and capacity building. Working closely with the Belize National Fire Service and the National Emergency Management Organization, we're helping create sustainable, locally-operated emergency response systems that will serve Belizeans for generations to come.

Professional Rescue Training

Our expert instructors provide advanced rescue training to Belizean first responders, including:

Structural Collapse Rescue: Essential skills for responding to building collapses and structural failures
Rope Rescue: Technical skills for conducting rescues in Belize's diverse terrain, from urban settings to challenging natural environments
Swiftwater Rescue: Critical capabilities for responding to flooding and water emergencies in Belize's tropical climate

Emergency Management Development

We're building Belize's incident management capabilities through comprehensive ICS training:

ICS 100-400: Progressive training from basic concepts to advanced incident management
ICS 700: National Incident Management System (NIMS) integration
Focus on practical application for Belize's unique emergency management needs

Nationwide Emergency Communications

In partnership with Belize Heroes and Trek Medics, we're revolutionizing emergency communications across Belize:

Implementation of nationwide 990 emergency number
Development of professional emergency dispatch program
Deployment of Beacon, a web-based Computer Aided Dispatch system
Creation of the first centralized emergency dispatch system in Belize's history

Sustainable Impact

Our work in Belize exemplifies our commitment to building local resilience while addressing global challenges:

Creating professional employment opportunities in emergency services
Developing sustainable, locally-operated emergency response systems
Building climate change resilience through improved disaster response capabilities
Empowering Belizean emergency responders to serve their own communities effectively

Upcoming Initiatives

We continue to expand our support for Belize's emergency services:

Swiftwater Rescue Training (February 2025)
Summer 2025 Structural Collapse and Rope Rescue Training
Ongoing dispatch system development and expansion
Continued support for emergency management capacity building

Through these initiatives, Empact Northwest is helping Belize build a robust, sustainable emergency response system that will serve its communities for years to come. By investing in local capabilities and infrastructure, we're supporting Belize's journey toward emergency response self-sufficiency while creating meaningful employment opportunities in the emergency services sector.