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members accepting contributions
Organizations
accepting In-Kind Donations for Honduras
USGS Disaster
in Central America
President Carlos Flore - Honduras
Appeal to the international community
"Honduras is mortally wounded, but not about to expire. We will get
back on our feet... May the Lord illuminate us and give us all strength.
We are making an urgent and anguished appeal to the international community,
to all countries, to international financial organizations and to aid organizations
so that they heed this SOS.
Our capacity for suffering and pain was never before put to such a
hard test.''
From:
Edna Amador/General Editor LA PRENSA, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
TO ANY NEWSPAPER EDITOR AND CHARITY ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD:
In the name of the Honduran people I thank you for your interest in
helping
our country at this tragedy time.
We have been very busy editing our daily newspaper to inform and guide
our
people at this difficult time, thats why we have not had time to prepare
an
English edition about the real situation in Honduras.
However, we will work overnight if necessary to write a story to show
the
world, through Internet, our needs. We hope tomorrow we can have it
ready.
In the first hand I can tell you that Honduras lives it's most difficult
time in it's history. Hurricane Mitch stroke us with fury and have
taken
away many hundreds of lives. Honduras President, Carlos Flores, said
that
the victims can rise to thousands, because the storm left floods and
slides
all over the country.
The North Coast territories, where comes the 70 percent of the country's
agricultural production, are destroyed. Large plantations of banana,
coffee,
rice, fruits and cereals are gone. At the Central, Eastern, Western
and
South sides of the country the situation is very similar. Kettle has
drown
and people is starting to get hungry and food is scarce.
The country roads are broken, every major city is isolated because of
most
of the brigdes felt under the furios water of rivers.
At this moment, there are almost a million of hondurans that lost their
homes. In Tegucigalpa, our capital city, entire neighborhood has dissapeared
and many are still in risk of falling down.
Our most urgent need are for food, medicines and clothes. At this moment
many of our brothers and sisters, many of them are small children,
have no
roof but are surviving on top of them, specially in the rural flooded
areas.
This situation has been going on for the last six days and many of
them are
still alilve expecting for the help to arrive. Last information
we have is
that many parents have tide their children to trees, to avoid them
to fall
in the water and keep them alive.
As you see the tragedy is bigger than anyone can imagine. No honduran
ever
expected this to happen and now we are in God hands.
THANK FOR ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO HELP HONDURAS.
the country is unravelling as the situation here gets from bad to
worse. basic infrastructure is collasping, food supplies are
running
dangerously low, gasoline is being rationed at this time, the relif
centers are out of food. the american school and hotel honduras
maya
are working relief kitchens with 25,000 meals a day output. we
have the
demand for much, much, more, but we are out of food for emergency
relief. the city is cut off by land as all bridges and roads
in and out
of the city are unpassable. the relief flights and air bridge
have only
or or two days of jet fuel left. the entire country has been
devastated
by this storm and after effects. please send qualified help.
the
country should be divided into sections or regions and allow one group
or agency to set up relief, for example US Military and associated
agencies for bay islands, and north coast. European union for
San pedro
sula. OEA for tegucigalpa, etc..... pick your spot and
run with the
ball. please help
Heavy rainfalls related to Hurricane Mitch
and lasting more than one
week, have caused inundations of large parts
of Central and
North-Western Nicaragua. Rivers destroyed
several important bridges,
the Panamerican Highway between Honduras/El
Salvador and Nicaragua is
interrupted at many places. About 200 people
were reported beeing
killed in the floods, in their collapsed houses
or in minor mud
flows.
Traffic between Managua and the northern and
northwestern
departments, as Matagalpa, Esteli, Jinotega,
Leon, Chinandega is
interrupted. Many of the isolated places suffer
shortages of food. At
several places people had to seek salvation
on their roofs or on
trees as the water level increased very fast.
Tens of thousands lost
their homes.Dramatic rescue operations took
place as for instance in
Malacatoya where a group of people was saved
by a ship,coming from
Granada city. Malacatoya river had raised
its level by more than 15
m, the highways were overflooded and destroyed.
At some places the landscape changed completely
- rivers broadened
their bed, or united themselves with other
rivers, as occurred in the
area of Sebaco. New lakes were formed and
mountains were washed away,
collapsed and disappeared. Crops were largely
destroyed.
Helicopter based rescue operations of the Nicaraguan
Army were
possible since yesterday when the meteorological
conditions improved.
Only today the dimension of a mud avalanche
became clear which
ocurred
already on Friday afternoon at Casitas volcano.
The mud covered an
area of about 20 km length and 2-3 km width,
southwest of the
volcano. Numerous villages, settlements and
houses between Casitas
volcano and the town of Posoltega were destroyed.
Exact informations about population density
in this area do not exist
but it is assumed that more than 1000 people,
maybe even 2000,
could have died. Today, Nicaraguan Army and
Red Cross reported having
found 400 cadavers. Rescue is very difficult
because of the mud, and
the rain continues.
The Nicaraguan Government declared Natural
Disaster Emergency for the
most affected regions of the country. The
main tasks for the next
days are the rescue of people who are still
in danger, helicopter
transports of food to the isolated places
and the preliminary
reparation of the communication lines.
Due to this extreme disaster the the Nicaraguan
economy has certainly
suffered a sensitive drawback. Thus, the reparation
of highways is
now of extraordinary importance as the coffee
harvest should begin in
a few days.
Prensa Libre
Siglo News
#Top of this Page
U.S.A.I. D Fact Sheet #21 - Dec 4, 1998
PAHO Hurricane
Mitch
USAID
Central America - Hurricane Mitch Fact Sheet # 14
Urgence Pour L'amerique
Centrale Apres Le Passage De L'ouragan "Mitch"
Central
America - Hurricane Mitch Fact Sheet #7, 11/05/98 U.S. Agency
For International Development
Central America - Hurricane/Tropical Storm
Mitch Nicaragua, Guatemala And Honduras Ocha Situation Report No. 11
The White House Press Briefing Hurricane
Mitch
President
Clinton Orders Aid to Hurricane Mitch Victims in Central America
World Bank Press Release
On Aid To Honduras
O.A.S.
Calls Inter-American Agencies Together To Coordinate Emergency Aid
For Central America
Friend Ships responds
to hurricane
Central America - Hurricane/Tropical
Storm Mitch El Salvador, Guatemala And Nicaragua, Ocha Situation Report
No. 10, 5 November 1998
U.S. SENDS DISASTER RELIEF TO CENTRAL AMERICA
President Clinton
Central
America - Tropical Storm Mitch, Honduras, Nicaragua OCHA Situation Report
No. 10
U.S. Agency
For International Development
Bureau For Humanitarian Response
Office Of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
Central America - Hurricane Mitch
Fact Sheet #21, 12/4/98
Background:
On October 24 Atlantic Tropical Storm Mitch was upgraded to a hurricane
that developed into one of the strongest and most damaging storms to ever
hit the Caribbean and Central America. At its height on October 26 and
27, the hurricane had sustained winds of 180 mph and dumped heavy rains
over Central America. Although the winds diminished as Hurricane Mitch
traveled inland over Honduras on October 30, the storm continued to produce
torrential rains, reaching a rate of more than 4 inches per hour, which
caused catastrophic floods and landslides throughout the region. After
its slow, destructive march north and west across Honduras and Guatemala,
Mitch dissipated over southeastern Mexico but briefly regained tropical
storm strength as it moved northeasterly across Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula,
the Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida. By November 5 all tropical storm
warnings were discontinued as Mitch's remnants tracked out into the Atlantic.
Prior to Mitch making landfall, USAID/OFDA pre-positioned assets throughout
the region along the storm's forecasted course, and quickly launched its
emergency relief efforts as the hurricane passed overland. The USAID/OFDA
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was established to coordinate
the U.S. Government relief effort for Central America. Senior Regional
Advisor and DART leader Paul Bell has managed the DART personnel and its
operations in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
Nicaragua from the USAID/OFDA Regional Office at the U.S. Embassy in San
Jose, Costa Rica.
USG Assistance:
On November 5, President Clinton announced a $70 million U.S. Government
(USG) assistance package for Central America in response to Hurricane Mitch.
This package has been augmented and now totals $263 million, to be channeled
largely through USAID, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA). Of this package, $30 million in assistance will
be provided by USAID=s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), $35
million by USAID/Food for Peace (USAID/FFP), $130 million by DOD, $63 million
by USDA, and the remaining $5 million will be for development assistance
and micro-enterprise credits. The assistance by USAID will provide immediate
disaster relief, including health and water/sanitation needs, food, shelter,
and other emergency relief commodities as well as airlift support and logistics.
USAID/OFDA assistance to date, described below, is part of this overall
package, which is being closely coordinated with DOD.
Honduras:
Storm Impacts: Honduras suffered the brunt of Hurricane Mitch. After
being stalled for more than two days off the country's northern coast,
the storm traveled inland during October 30 and 31. Extensive wind damage
and devastating floods occurred nationwide, but particularly on the northern
seaboard and in the Bay Islands. As of December 1, the National Emergency
Committee of Honduras (CONEH) reported that 5,657 persons were killed,
8,052 were missing, 11,762 were injured while approximately 1.9 million
were affected. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) estimated at least 70,000 houses had been damaged and the USAID/OFDA
DART estimated that more than 92 bridges had been damaged or destroyed.
Damage to the nation's infrastructure isolated entire communities which
made access by emergency aid workers extremely difficult and it hampered
efforts to supply the larger cities with food, water and other essentials.
Immediate USG response: On October 27, the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras
James F. Creagan declared a disaster due to the effects of Hurricane Mitch.
USAID/OFDA responded immediately by providing a total of $125,000 to the
USAID Mission in Honduras for the local purchase and transport of critical
relief supplies, including food, simple cooking stoves, blankets, and medical
supplies. USAID/OFDA also provided a total of $750,000 for the deployment
of DOD aircraft to assist in aerial assessments, search and rescue operations,
and delivery of relief supplies. Initially grounded by poor visibility,
the USAID/OFDA-funded aircraft missions have been operating since November
1. As of December 3, 9 Black Hawk (UH-60 or MH-60) and 6 Chinook (CH-47)
helicopters, and 2 C-27 and 1 C-12 cargo planes were distributing relief
supplies from Soto Cano air base. By December 3, the DOD aircraft had flown
293 helicopter missions and 238 cargo plane airlifts. These flights carried
2,264,000 pounds of food, 117,900 gallons of water and 862,900 pounds of
medicine, supplies and equipment. The flights also transported 4,132 people
to medical centers. USAID/OFDA has deployed a total of 1,038 rolls of plastic
sheeting, 32 10,000-liter water bladders, 25,500 five-gallon water jugs,
and 1,004 body bags to Honduras at a total estimated cost of $523,999 including
transport. The first airlift carrying USAID/OFDA relief supplies arrived
at La Ceiba on October 31, the second arrived at Soto Cano airbase on November
1, the third airlift arrived at Soto Cano on November 2, the fourth arrived
at Soto Cano on November 9, and the fifth arrived at Tegucigalpa on November
22. Supplemental relief commodities were transported by DOD on November
9 and 10.
To date, USAID/OFDA has provided $400,000 to the USAID Mission for
the local purchase of food and emergency supplies, and for other response
activities. Additionally, USAID/OFDA provided $800,000 to the USAID Mission,
which granted funding to resident Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs)
in Honduras for the purchase and delivery of local relief supplies. USAID/OFDA
has also purchased and airlifted plastic food storage bags from Costa Rica
that will allow for the distribution of critical food stocks to 100,000
families in Honduras. USAID/OFDA provided $2 million to USAID in Tegucigalpa
to fund projects to repair the nation's water supply system. On November
20, USAID/OFDA provided $2,133,000 through USAID in Tegucigalpa to CARE.
This grant is to assist approximately 70,000 families for up to four months
with basic livelihood needs such as: sanitation and health, agriculture,
construction, food and shelter. On November 25, USAID/OFDA provided an
additional $3,164,000 to USAID in Tegucigalpa to support grants with non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) for disaster response projects that will provide assistance
in the following sectors: water/sanitation, emergency shelter, housing,
roads and bridges, medicine, food, hygiene, and agriculture.
USAID/OFDA had disaster specialists on the ground in Honduras since
October 27. A total of fifteen DART members from USAID, Miami-Dade County
Fire Rescue Department (Miami-Dade), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
operated out of Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Danli, Choluteca
and Soto Cano airbase. USAID/OFDA DART personnel in Honduras assisted CONEH's
Emergency Operations Center, conducted field assessments, coordinated aircraft
and transport logistics, and performed other disaster relief activities.
Assessment Reporting and Recovery: USAID/OFDA DART reports that people
are beginning to move out of shelters and return home. The staple crops
did not sustain as much damage as the cash crops because the former are
grown on higher ground. Because staple crops were relatively undamaged,
there is an ample supply of local food on the market. In terms of infrastructure,
the water systems and the roads networks are in need of repair. Hurricane
Mitch devastated the Honduran road network and in the early days of the
response, air transport was the only means to transport emergency relief
supplies, including food and non-food items. The USG used the air assets
of DOD for emergency rescue and to provide access to areas and people that
were isolated. Now, however, the response has entered into the next phase.
Over 90 percent of the bridges that were damaged by Mitch are now passable
with provisional repairs or by-passes. Road access has improved dramatically,
and all areas to which DOD had been flying relief supplies over the past
weeks (La Ceiba, the Bay Islands, Trujillo, Olanchito, Isletas, Yoro, Danli,
Catacamas, Choluteca, Mocoron, etc.) are now open by surface transportation.
In addition to improved road access, all Honduran ports are now functional
at some level and are also accessible by road. At last report, the port
at Mocoron was cut off by road from Tegucigalpa but was accessible from
Puerto Lempira.
USAID in Tegucigalpa and the USAID/OFDA DART continue to be in contact
with the Government of Honduras concerning areas that might still require
emergency assistance. However, as a result of the dramatically improved
capabilities of ground transport, the projected need for DOD air support
is diminishing. Limited needs may surface for air support to distribute
commodities from local hubs to inaccessible rural areas. As the region
has not fully entered its dry season, severe rains could again close some
roads temporarily. The Honduran Government and USAID are in the process
of building up stocks of critical supplies in vulnerable areas. Additionally,
USAID and the DART continue to monitor the progress of road rehabilitation
and other recnstruction and rehabilitation efforts.
Nicaragua:
Storm Impacts: Mitch inflicted its greatest damage in Nicaragua through
severe rains that caused extensive flooding and landslides. As of November
19, the Nicaraguan National Emergency Commission estimated that 2,863 people
had died, 884 were missing, and 867,752 were affected as a result of the
disaster, many after a large mudslide inundated ten communities situated
at the base of the Casitas Volcano. A Nicaraguan transportation official
reported as of November 6 that 71 bridges are either destroyed or heavily
damaged, and OCHA estimated that 70% of roads were impassable immediately
after the storm. On November 19, the Government of Nicaragua estimated
that 31,750 houses were destroyed and 113,950 were damaged. Further the
National Emergency Commission estimates that total losses were $400 million
in housing, $605 million in the transportation network, $185 million in
other infrastructure and $170 million in agriculture.
Immediate USG response: On October 29, U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua
Lino Gutierrez declared a disaster due to continued flooding. USAID/OFDA
has provided $175,000 for the local purchase and transport of critical
relief supplies, including medicines, food and shelter material. On November
2, USAID/OFDA provided $250,000 for the deployment of DOD UH-60 and CH-47
helicopters to assist with search and rescue efforts and the delivery of
relief supplies. As of December 3, 4 UH-60 and 2 CH-47 helicopters were
operating in Nicaragua. By December 3, 128 helicopter missions have transported
755,000 pounds of food and 68,200 pounds of medicine, supplies and equipment
within Nicaragua.
Airlifts of USAID/OFDA relief supplies to Nicaragua, consisted of 679
rolls of plastic sheeting, 10,000 polyester blankets, 4,000 wool blankets,
three 10,000-gallon water bladders, and 15,500 five-gallon water jugs,
at a total estimated cost of $419,267 including transport. The first airlift
arrived in Managua on November 4, a second on November 8, and a third on
November 19. On November 19, USAID/OFDA provided $4 million to USAID/Managua
to fund relief grants to reduce hunger and the threat of disease for thousands
of victims in rural areas.
USAID/OFDA has operated in Nicaragua since October 29. A total of eleven
DART personnel from USAID, Miami-Dade, and DOD have conducted assessments,
assisted national search and rescue operations, and performed other response
activities throughout the country.
Assessment Reporting and Recovery: All major roads in Nicaragua are
open, with a few exceptions. Although most roads are passable, there are
some detours and temporary measures to allow access. The delivery of emergency
supplies by DOD helicopter continues, but as roads open more and more relief
commodities are moved overland. Since November 3, DOD has carried more
than 500,000 pounds of supplies on more than 135 flights to 66 affected
communities in Nicaragua.
On November 30, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported
epidemic levels for cholera, leptospirosis and dengue. Local health teams
have conducted extraordinary prevention and outbreak control efforts.
Guatemala:
Storm Impacts: The storm moved northwestward across Guatemala on November
1, causing heavy rains and severe flooding. The national emergency office
(CONRED) took steps to evacuate 5,969 people prior to the storm's arrival.
The Red Cross estimated that 27,000 people were still housed in shelters
as of November 4. As of November 9, officials reported a total of 258 deaths
and 120 people missing in Guatemala. The most recent reporting from OCHA
indicated that 32 bridges, and 40 roads had been severely damaged or destroyed
by flood waters and CONRED reported that about 19,000 homes were either
destroyed or heavily damaged. On November 5 the U.S. Embassy estimated
that 95% of the nation's banana crop was damaged, 25-60% of the corn, bean,
coffee, and sugar crops were destroyed, and 30% of the cattle herd was
lost.
Immediate USG response: On October 31, Ambassador Donald J. Planty
declared a disaster for Guatemala. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $25,000
through the U.S. Embassy to Catholic Relief Services for the local purchase
of food. USAID/OFDA has delivered 290 rolls of plastic sheeting, 3,000
polyester blankets, 7,350 five-gallon water jugs, and four 3,000-gallon
water bladders to Guatemala, at a total estimated cost of $182,013 including
transport. The first airlift arrived in Guatemala City on November 4, and
the second on November 9. USAID/OFDA has also provided $ 50,000 for the
rental of local helicopters for aerial assessments of disaster-affected
areas. As of December 3, 6 UH-60 and 4 CH-47 helicopters were operating
in Guatemala to facilitate USAID/OFDA relief efforts. On November 18 USAID/OFDA
provided $1 million in funding to USAID/Guatemala to support grants with
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for disaster response projects that
will provide assistance in the following sectors: water/sanitation, emergency
shelter, medicine, hygiene, and agriculture.
USAID/OFDA disaster relief personnel have operated in Guatemala since
October 27. They have assisted CONRED in coordinating the national relief
effort, and have conducted damage assessments and oversight of USAID/OFDA
assistance. A total of five USAID/OFDA DART members have operated in Guatemala,
and as of November 24 there are three remaining.
Assessment Reporting and Recovery: The DART reports indicate that northeastern
Guatemala was most severely affected, including Isabal, Zacapa and Alta
Verapaz. On November 12 the DART reported that in Panzos, Alto Verapaz,
there are 10,000-12,000 displaced persons from 30 communities that suffered
from flooding, landslides, and swollen rivers. Dead animals have infected
the water supply, and most aqueducts have been destroyed. The lack of potable
water has resulted in the first cases of diarrhea, amoebas, and undernourishment.
Some communities are still totally isolated, and many houses have extensive
roof damage. Sand flows in the water have affected rice, maize, bean, and
coffee crops. It is estimated that it will be six months before replanting
can take place. Community leaders indicate an urgent need for salt, sugar,
soap, vegetable oil, chlorine tablets, water jugs, and plastic sheeting.
The DART also reported that in Izabal there are 18,350 people in shelters,
mainly from banana plantation communities, who are expect to remain displaced
for the next 60-90 days. The DART also reports that all major roads are
passable and the bridges damaged along the Atlantic Coast Highway are operable.
The DART recommends that the international donor community continue
to focus on the following relief and recovery priorities during the next
60 days: food and water distribution to displaced persons continue for
the next 60 days; environmental sanitation, including distribution of tools;
massive campaign for disease prevention and control; reconstruction of
water supply systems; provision of agricultural inputs and tools; and provision
of building materials and tools for home reconstruction.
El Salvador:
Storm Impacts: As of November 9, the National Emergency Committee (NEC)
of El Salvador reported that 239 deaths and 135 people missing as a result
of flash floods, and the Red Cross estimated that 400 people had died and
600 were missing. As of November 6, the Government of El Salvador estimated
that 55,864 people had been displaced and had established 107 emergency
shelters. The government also estimates that 10,000 houses have been destroyed
and thousands more were seriously damaged.
Immediate USG response: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson declared a disaster
in El Salvador on November 1. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $25,000
for the immediate needs of flood victims. In addition, on November 5 USAID/OFDA
airlifted 117 rolls of plastic sheeting, 5,150 polyester blankets, 6,000
five-gallon water jugs, and four 3,000-gallon water bladders, at a total
estimated cost of $98,451 including transport. On November 18 USAID/OFDA
provided $1 million to USAID/San Salvador to support grants with NGOs for
disaster response projects that will distribute recovery packages to the
areas of greatest need. As of December 3, 8 CH-47 and 4 UH-60 helicopters
were operating in El Salvador to facilitate USAID/OFDA relief efforts.
A total of four USAID/OFDA DART members have been based in San Salvador
to assist in the ongoing assessment of relief needs and priorities, and
as of November 24 one member was still in the country.
Assessment Reporting and Recovery: The USAID/OFDA DART conducted a
complete assessment of the southeastern portion of El Salvador from November
13-19. The most adversely affected communities were in Usulatan and San
Miguel departments. The DART reported that only 1,000-2,000 homes were
destroyed, which is fewer than previously reported by official sources.
Most of the displaced population has returned home and only a few hundred
people remain in emergency shelters. Many inhabitants of the Usulatan and
San Miguel departments raise livestock and fish and no significant losses
were sustained to any of the areas. Assessment reports indicate that only
three major roads in El Salvador are still in need of major repair, while
all seaports and airports are operational. The lack of potable water and
sanitation are major concerns. Many people are drinking contaminated water
because well covers were not an established practice. The Ministry of Health
and PAHO have done an outstanding job preparing for, and responding to,
the health needs of the affected population.
Belize:
Storm Impacts: The Government of Belize established an Emergency Operations
Center in Belize City to prepare for the storm's arrival and evacuated
over 75,000 people from Belize City and the coastal islands to temporary
shelters in Belmopan. Contrary to initial forecasts, the hurricane did
not directly strike Belize. Nonetheless, heavy rains caused flooding throughout
the coastal areas, particularly in Belize City. The Government of Belize
has since granted permission for residents to return to Belize City, however
according to the Red Cross thousands had opted to remain in emergency shelters
long afterward.
Immediate USG response: On October 29, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Joel
Danies declared a disaster for Belize due to the impacts of Hurricane Mitch.
In response, USAID/OFDA immediately provided $25,000 for the local purchase
of food for distribution to displaced populations inhabiting emergency
shelters. In addition, USAID/OFDA provided funding for two DOD Black Hawk
helicopters based in Honduras to conduct overflight assessments and evacuations.
Weather conditions during the storm's peak never permitted these aircraft
to fly and as Hurricane Mitch turned and tracked away from Belize the helicopters
were deployed to support emergency logistics requirements in Nicaragua.
A four-person USAID/OFDA assessment team (comprised of a USAID/OFDA/LAC
Regional Advisor and three Miami-Dade disaster specialists) was in Belize
from October 29 to October 31. The team assessed needs of the evacuated
population and reported that food stocks were adequate in Belmopan, but
in short supply at Belize City. The team also reported that sanitation
and hygiene were poor in all flood-affected areas. No additional USAID/OFDA
assistance is anticipated for Belize.
Costa Rica:
Storm Impacts: Heavy rains along the entire Pacific coast of Costa
Rica prompted the National Emergency Commission to evacuate at-risk populations.
The Government of Costa Rica (GOCR) has since granted permission for people
to return to their homes although approximately 1,700 people remained in
temporary shelters up to a week after the storm had passed. Four people
are reported dead as a result of the storm while four are still missing.
Immediate USG response: On October 23, the U.S. Charge d'Affaires to
Costa Rica Richard L. Baltimore III declared a disaster due to severe flooding
caused by Hurricane Mitch. USAID/OFDA responded by providing a total of
$45,000 to the U.S. Embassy in San Jose. Funds were used to rent local
helicopters to provide overflight assessments and the delivery of food,
water, and medicine to affected populations. No additional USAID/OFDA assistance
is anticipated for Costa Rica.
Region: USAID/OFDA has provided $5 million to DOD for reconstruction
activities in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. These funds
will support the purchase of reconstruction and engineering materials and
supplies, including gravel for road repair. USAID/OFDA has provided an
additional $4 million to DOD for continued aircraft support in Honduras,
Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador, which contributes to the positioning
of more than 40 DOD helicopters in Central America. As of November 12,
these aircraft had flown over 400 missions in support of USAID/OFDA relief
efforts. To date, USAID/OFDA has provided $2 million to the PAHO to address
emergency water and sanitation needs of Hurricane Mitch victims. USAID/OFDA
has also provided $160,000 to the U.S. Embassy in San Jose for the regional
deployment of emergency supplies and personnel. On December 2, USAID/OFDA
provided a $500,000 grant to the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
(CIAT) for agricultural rehabilitation projects in Honduras and Nicaragua.
The USAID/OFDA DART personnel stationed at the DART Headquarters in San
Jose continue to coordinate the disaster response in the region.
Ref: OCHAGVA - 98/0345
Central America - Hurricane/Tropical Storm Mitch El Salvador, Nicaragua And HondurasOcha Situation Report No. 12; 9 November 1998
General
1. The deployment of international specialised staff and some 30 helicopters
has brought Central
American governments' rescue, relief and assessment efforts into hitherto
inaccessible areas of their
affected provinces: OCHA/UNDAC teams are assisting national emergency
services in Honduras,
Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. USAID/OFDA Disaster Response
Teams (DART) are in
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
A French contingent of
over 200 engineers and disaster experts with equipment has arrived
in Nicaragua. Dutch and
British naval ships, including Britain's newest helicopter carrier,
have brought hundreds of marines
and equipment for rescue operations and distribution of supplies. Major
voluntary organisations
such as MSF-France and OXFAM have made available medical supplies and
teams to work with
national staff on appropriate responses in the health and food sectors.
2. Parallel to the ongoing intensive efforts to meet the immediate needs
of victims, the groundwork
for the enormous reconstruction and rehabilitation tasks are jointly
laid by Central American
governments, United Nations agencies and financial institutions. Both
the World Bank and the Inter
-American Development Bank (IDB) have indicated that loans will be
re-directed towards
necessities following the hurricane tragedy (see also OCHA sitrep.
No. 10). UNDP and ECLAC
have agreed to undertake a comprehensive regional evaluation of the
economic impact of Mitch as
a basis for a coordinated rehabilitation programme. UNDP is setting
up a sub-regional Trust Fund
to support reconstruction work. OCHA-ERC de Mello and UNDP Administrator
Speth will
convene an inter-agency task force to ensure linkages between emergency
response and
rehabilitation activities. OCHA - ERC beginning a tour of affected
countries.
3. At the request of the Secretary General of the United Nations, the
Emergency Relief
Coordinator undertaking mission to El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua
and Guatemala. The
purpose of the mission is to express solidarity of the UN System with
the countries concerned, to
try and attract greater international interest in the emergency and
rehabilitation needs, to evaluate
the UN response and to help determine what additional measures the
UN could take to assist the
countries concerned. The ERC due to leave today El Salvador for Honduras.
El Salvador
Statistics: 58, 800 affected, 239 dead/235 missing ( UNDAC/WFP).
4. UNDAC team working with UNICEF, UNEP and USAID staff in assessment
missions by air
and road. Total number of temporary shelter: 107.
5. Agricultural losses for staples such as beans, rice and maize between
16 and 50 percent. Cash
crop losses for cotton alone: 3,000 hectares.
6. Ministry Health reports 1,200 cases of respiratory ailments and 320
cases of gastro-intestinal
problems.
7. National response: results from damage assessment of all actors in
the field consolidated with
NEC in Capital. 4 million USD released for reconstruction of private
homes. Emergency phase
expected to last another four weeks. National food stocks considered
sufficient to cover needs of
victims for several months. First reports on rehabilitation requirements
expected toward end
November.
Nicaragua
Statistics: 800,000 affected population, 228 injured, 1848 dead/ 1287 missing (UNDAC/WFP).
8. Civil Defense (CD), as central coordinating body, and NEC continuing
region by region
assessments of damages. CD also coordinating national and international
response with the Office
of the United Nations Coordinator, supported by the UNDAC team.
The OCHA flight from Pisa Warehouse with 13.5 tons of goods donated
by Governments of Italy
and Norway landed in Managua on 7 November.
9. There is still an urgent need for: food, clothing, medicines and shelter.
Honduras
Statistics: 1,932,500 affected. 6,420 dead/11,085 missing (UNDAC/WFP).
10. Under the authority of the UN Resident Coordinator, the UNDAC team
has established
information centre at UN office in Capital. Members have travelled
by air to southern parts of
Choluteca and Valle and report town of Choluteca as well as communities
bordering river of same
name severely damaged. Currently team is focusing on San Pedro Sula
and la Ceiba where OCHA
flight from OCHA warehouse Pisa landed with 13.5 tones of relief supplies.
UNDAC member
reports situation in La Ceiba normal. Most affected provinces are Atlantida
and Yoro. Distribution
of relief only possible by helicopter.
11. UNDAC also in contact with Dutch naval vessel 'Willem van der Saan'
in S.Pedro de Sula.
Dutch helicopter survey took place over region including thermal power
plant del Lago. No
specific damage reported and further rescue operations not envisaged
in the immediate future.
Since flood water level below 1 meter, use of small boats, on board
Dutch naval vessel, not
feasible.
Needs: Bailey bridges, food, water and medicines.
12. Inspection of temporary shelters in north by UNDAC members showed
slow arrival of food
and precarious sanitary conditions. A Canadian group has started construction
of multi-family
shelters with plastic materials.
13. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for
the immediate relief needs
detailed above. Funds channelled through OCHA will be spent in coordination
with the relevant
organizations of the UN system and OCHA will provide written confirmation
of their use. Funds
should be transferred to OCHA account No. CO-590.160.1 at the UBS AG,
PO Box 2770,
CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Central America - Hurricane/Tropical
Storm Mitch.
Central
America - Hurricane Mitch Fact Sheet #7, 11/05/98
U.S. Agency For International Development Bureau For Humanitarian
Response (Bhr)
Office Of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (Ofda)
Background: Nearly two weeks ago Tropical Storm Mitch was
upgraded to a hurricane
that quickly developed into one of the strongest hurricanes
to ever hit the Caribbean and
Central America. At its height on October 26 and 27, the
hurricane had sustained winds of
180 mph and dumped heavy rains throughout Central America.
Although the winds
diminished as Mitch traveled inland over Honduras on October
30, the storm continued to
produce torrential rains which caused catastrophic floods
and landslides throughout the
region. Mitch dissipated over southeastern Mexico after
its slow march north and west
across Honduras and Guatemala, but regained tropical storm
strength today as it moved
northward across Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and the Gulf
of Mexico. Tropical Storm
Mitch has passed over southern Florida and storm warnings
remain in effect for southern
Florida, western Cuba and the northern islands of the
Bahamas. Storm remnants linger over
portions of Guatemala and Mexico, while skies have cleared
elsewhere in Central America.
Based on forecasted path of Hurricane Mitch, USAID/OFDA
pre-positioned assets
throughout the region and quickly redeployed its staff,
equipment and funds with the storm's
change in course. The USAID/OFDA Disaster Assistance Response
Team (DART) is
coordinating the U.S. Government relief effort for Central
America. Senior Regional Advisor
and DART leader Paul Bell has managed the DART personnel
and its operations in Belize,
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
from his base at the U.S.
Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Honduras: Honduras suffered the brunt of Hurricane Mitch.
After being stalled for more
than 48 hours off the country's northern coast, the storm
traveled inland over October 30
and 31. Extensive flooding and wind damage has been reported
on the northern coast and in
the Bay Islands. The National Emergency Commission (COPECO)
reports that over 5,000
people have died and 5,000 more are missing as a result
of the storm. According to
COPECO the storm has affected 1.5 million people and has
left several hundred thousand in
emergency shelters. The U.N. Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
reports that at least 70,000 houses have been damaged
and 86 bridges have been
destroyed. Damage to the nation's infrastructure has isolated
entire communities making
access by emergency aid workers extremely difficult and
it has hampered efforts to supply
the larger cities with food, water and other essential
supplies.
On October 27, the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras James F.
Creagan declared a disaster
due to the effects of Hurricane Mitch. USAID/OFDA responded
immediately by providing
a total of $125,000 to the USAID Mission in Honduras for
the local purchase and transport
of critical relief supplies, including food, simple cooking
stoves, blankets, and medical
supplies. USAID/OFDA also provided a total of $750,000
for the deployment of U.S.
Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft to assist in overflight
assessments, search and rescue
operations, and delivery of relief supplies. Initially
grounded by poor visibility, the
USAID/OFDA-funded aircraft missions have been operating
since November 1.
USAID/OFDA has deployed a total of 460 rolls of plastic
sheeting, twenty 10,000-liter
water bladders, and 10,000 five-gallon water jugs to Honduras
at a total estimated cost of
$251,650 including transport. The first airlift carrying
USAID/OFDA relief supplies arrived
at La Ceiba on October 31 and the second arrived at Soto
Cano airbase on November 1.
A third airlift delivered the remainder of USAID/OFDA
relief supplies to Soto Cano on
November 2. To date, USAID/OFDA provided $400,000 to the
USAID Mission for the
local purchase of food and emergency supplies, and for
other response activities.
USAID/OFDA has provided $800,000 to the USAID Mission,
which will grant funding to
resident PVOs in Honduras for the purchase and delivery
of local relief supplies.
USAID/OFDA has also purchased and airlifted plastic food
storage bags from Costa Rica
that will allow for the distribution of critical food
stocks to 100,000 families in Honduras.
Seven USAID/OFDA disaster specialists have been deployed
to Honduras to assist in the
response to this disaster. A USAID/OFDA/LAC Regional Advisor
and consultant arrived in
San Pedro Sula on October 27 to assist COPECO's Emergency
Operations Center with
assessment and response activities. A USAID/OFDA Information
Specialist and a
Miami-Dade disaster specialist arrived in La Ceiba on
October 31 to assist with assessment
efforts and reporting requirements. Two additional Miami-Dade
personnel arrived in
Tegucigalpa on November 1 and have traveled on to La Ceiba.
A USAID/OFDA disaster
specialist has been deployed to Soto Cano and will coordinate
the U.S. DOD aircraft
logistics.
Nicaragua: Mitch inflicted its greatest damage in Nicaragua
through severe rains that
caused extensive flooding and mudslides. Reports from
Nicaragua indicate 6,420 people
have died and 5,887 are missing, many as a result of a
large mudslide in ten communities
situated at the base of the Casitas Volcano. The U.S.
Embassy in Managua reports that
414,648 are affected and 415,000 people are displaced
nationwide. OCHA reports
damage to 40 bridges nationwide and estimated that 70%
of roads are impassable.
On October 29, U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Lino Gutierrez
declared a disaster due to
continued flooding. USAID/OFDA has responded by providing
$75,000 do date for the
local purchase of critical relief supplies, including
medicines and food. USAID/OFDA
deployed a Regional Advisor to Nicaragua on October 31
to assist with assessment and
response activities. Two USAID/OFDA-funded Miami-Dade
disaster specialists arrived in
Nicaragua on November 3 to assist with national search
and rescue operations. On
November 2, USAID/OFDA provided $250,000 for the deployment
of two U.S. DOD
UH-60 helicopters and one CH-47 to assist with search
and rescue efforts and delivery of
relief supplies. An airlift of USAID/OFDA relief supplies,
consisting of 279 rolls of plastic
sheeting, 10,000 polyester blankets, 2,000 wool blankets,
three 10,000-gallon water
bladders, and 5,000 five-gallon water jugs, at a total
estimated cost of $261,662 including
transport, arrived in Managua on November 4.
Belize: The Government of Belize established an Emergency
Operations Center in Belize
City to prepare for the storm's arrival and evacuated
over 75,000 people from Belize City
and the coastal islands to temporary shelters in Belmopan.
Despite initial concerns, the
hurricane did not directly strike Belize. Nonetheless,
heavy rains caused flooding throughout
the coastal areas, particularly in Belize City. The Government
of Belize has since granted
permission for residents to return to Belize City, however
according to the Red Cross
thousands have opted to remain in emergency shelters.
On October 29, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Joel Danies declared
a disaster for Belize due to the
impacts of Hurricane Mitch. In response, USAID/OFDA immediately
provided $25,000 for
the local purchase of food for distribution to displaced
populations inhabiting emergency
shelters. In addition, USAID/OFDA provided funding for
two U.S. DOD Blackhawk
helicopters based in Honduras to conduct overflight assessments
and evacuations. Weather
conditions during the storm's peak never permitted these
aircraft to fly and as Mitch veered
away from Belize the helicopters were deployed to support
emergency logistics
requirements in Nicaragua. A four-person USAID/OFDA assessment
team (comprised of a
USAID/OFDA/LAC Regional Advisor and three Miami-Dade disaster
specialists) was in
Belize from October 29 to October 31. The team assessed
current needs of the evacuated
population and reported that food stocks were adequate
in Belmopan, but in short supply in
Belize City. The team also reported that sanitation and
hygiene were poor in all
flood-affected areas.
Guatemala: The storm moved northwestward across Guatemala
on November 1, causing
heavy rains and severe flooding. The national emergency
office (CONRED) took steps to
evacuate 5,969 people prior to the storm's arrival while
the Red Cross estimated that
27,000 people were still housed in shelters. Officials
report a total of 186 deaths and 91
people are missing. OCHA reported yesterday that 150 homes,
8 bridges, and 21 roads
have been severely damaged by flood waters.
A USAID/OFDA/LAC consultant arrived in Guatemala on October
27 to assist CONRED
and to provide regular updates to the USAID Mission and
OFDA/LAC regional office in
San Jose. On October 31, Ambassador Donald J. Planty declared
a disaster for Guatemala.
In response, USAID/OFDA provided $25,000 through the U.S.
Embassy to Catholic Relief
Services for the local purchase of food. USAID/OFDA deployed
a Regional Advisor to
Guatemala on November 1 to join the USAID/OFDA/LAC consultant
in damage
assessments and oversight of USAID/OFDA assistance. USAID/OFDA
delivered 90 rolls
of plastic sheeting, 3,000 polyester blankets, 2,350 five-gallon
water jugs, and three
3,000-gallon water bladders to Guatemala, at a total estimated
cost of $70,172 including
transport, on November 4.
El Salvador: The National Emergency Committee (NEC) of
El Salvador reports that 239
people are dead and 135 missing as a result of flash floods.
OCHA reports heavy
infrastructural damage to bridges, roads, and electric
and telephone lines in eastern and
central El Salvador. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson declared
a disaster in El Salvador on
November 1. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $25,000 for
the immediate needs of
flood victims. In addition, USAID/OFDA will delivered
120 rolls of plastic sheeting, 5,150
polyester blankets, 6,000 five-gallon water jugs, and
four 3,000-gallon water bladders is
scheduled to arrive today at a total estimated cost of
$88,652 including transport. A
Miami-Dade disaster specialist arrived in El Salvador
on November 1 to assist a
USAID/OFDA/LAC consultant in the coordination of relief
operations. An OFDA/LAC
disaster specialist arrived in El Salvador yesterday.
The provision of additional
USAID/OFDA assistance will be based upon the recommendations
of the USAID/OFDA
team.
Costa Rica: Heavy rains along the entire Pacific coast
of Costa Rica prompted the National
Emergency Commission to evacuate at-risk populations.
The Government of Costa Rica
(GOCR) has since granted permission for people to return
to their homes although
approximately 1,700 people remain in temporary shelters.
Four people are reported dead as
a result of the storm while four are still missing.
On October 23, the U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Costa Rica
Richard L. Baltimore III declared
a disaster due to severe flooding caused by Hurricane
Mitch. USAID/OFDA responded by
providing a total of $45,000 to the U.S. Embassy in San
Jose. Funds are being used for the
rental of local helicopters to assist with overflight
assessments and the delivery of food,
water, and medicine to affected populations. No additional
USAID/OFDA assistance is
anticipated. Three USAID/OFDA personnel, including an
Information Specialist, deployed
to San Jose to help coordinate the regional response.
Mexico: The Mexican Government established plans to evacuate
vulnerable coastal areas
and the Mexican Red Cross pre-positioned a team of disaster
response specialists in the
Yucatan Peninsula in the event that the hurricane struck
Mexico. USAID/OFDA/LAC
maintains constant communication with USG and Mexican
disaster officials, who are
monitoring the effects of continued rainfall. USAID/OFDA
remains prepared to respond to
requests for assistance in Mexico, as appropriate.
Region: USAID/OFDA has provided $500,000 to support the
Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) conduct assessments and rehabilitation
projects for the region's water
and sanitation systems, and to engage in emergency health-related
programming.
USAID/OFDA has also utilized $60,000 to support the deployment
of emergency supplies
and personnel.
USAID/OFDA will continue to closely monitor the situation
throughout the Caribbean and
Central America, maintaining a high level of preparedness
and ability to quickly respond to
changing needs and situations.
USAID/OFDA Assistance
in Honduras
$2,326,650
USAID/OFDA Assistance
in Nicaragua
$586,662
USAID/OFDA Assistance
in Belize
$25,000
USAID/OFDA Assistance
in Guatemala
$95,172
USAID/OFDA Assistance
in El Salvador
$113,652
USAID/OFDA Assistance
in Costa Rica
$45,000
*USAID/OFDA Assistance
to the Region
$560,000
Total USAID/OFDA Assistance
for Hurricane Mitch (to date)
$3,752,136
* Region-wide assistance was used for the transportation
of USAID/OFDA-deployed
personnel.
PUBLIC DONATION INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE
MITCH
Disasters often generate an outpouring of interest and
concern by the American people
which lead to spontaneous collections of relief supplies,
i.e. food, clothing, medical supplies
etc. In the interest of effective coordination of such
public response we encourage
concerned citizens to provide monetary donations to appropriate
organizations.
As transportation of relief supplies is limited by capacity,
infrastructure damage and
continuing weather constraints, it is difficult to move
supplies into the affected countries.
Unsolicited commodity donations often place an unnecessary
burden on relief workers and
local governments to store, transport and distribute supplies
to those affected populations in
need. This can also detract from the provision of more
urgently needed relief assistance.
USAID/OFDA can not provide assistance for the transport
of donated goods.
#Top of this Page
Central America - Hurricane/Tropical
Storm Mitch Nicaragua, Guatemala And Honduras Ocha Situation Report No.
11
6 November 1998
General
1. Weather conditions in most countries making more detailed assessments
possible. As a result, it
becomes evident that the dimension of devastations wrought on the entire
region is far greater than
feared only a few days ago. The Central American commercial corridor
which depends to 90
percent on road transport, has broken down, bringing intra-regional
exchanges to a halt. Crop
losses in Nicaragua and Honduras for ex. also affect countries like
El Salvador, for which both
have been sources of grain supply when its own production has been
insufficient.
2. The overall problem is communication, in particular road transport.
Food shortages, lack of
drinking water and electricity add to the deteriorating health situation
of the hundred of thousands
evacuees in temporary shelters. Respiratory illnesses, diarrhoea and
conjunctivitis are reported by
public health authorities from all affected countries.
3. The impact of 'Mitch' on Central American economies is yet to be
fully analysed. Preliminary
estimates of damages to key sectors such as agriculture, road networks
and supply systems
indicate that years of economic growth might have been wiped out with
the inevitable
consequences on the living standards of the affected nations.
Nicaragua
4. Country is among those where assessments indicate much greater destruction
than assumed
earlier. 80 percent of important coffee crop lost. Outbreak of volcano
Cerro Negro exacerbating
existing difficulties to assist hurricane victims and relief operations.
According to NEC death toll
now 1.652 and 2,000 missing. Total number of affected 750,000. No information
yet on the fate of
40,000 people in Rio Coco, border area with Honduras.
5. Government services working on overall response strategies, based
on individual plans for
distribution of relief items, estimates of food reserves, credit policies
and price policies.
Guatemala
6. Latest report from UNDAC in-country team puts death toll at 194.
Total of 78,000 people
evacuated and figure of population at risk now: 900,000. Heavy increase
of damage on homes:
over 1,000 units destroyed, 890 moderately damaged.
7. 'Mitch', having regained strength over Mexican State of Yucatan,
feared to cause fresh river
flooding and land slides in Guatemalan Department of El Peten, Huehuetenango,
El Quiché and
Alta Verapaz. Rains over Pacific coast have decreased, central area
expected to clear up, whereas
northwest receiving heavy rains.
8. Communication and road transport conditions have deteriorated. 75
land slides reported.
Access to the Capital is still difficult, and government has restricted
movements and transit of
people to avoid unnecessary risks. Authorities hope to restore road
network within 8 days with the
exception of the route to the Atlantic coast. The municipalities of
Gualan, Puerto San José,
Chiquimulilla and Taxisco remain without telephone service, until weather
allows deployment of
repair crews.
9. National response: the President personally involved on daily basis
in coordination of relief
efforts by various ministries and services. UN agencies and national
emergency services have
established joint reporting system on assessments and requirements.
Honduras
10. Latest reports confirm Honduras having had to bear the brunt of
'Mitch'. Death toll: 6,420, and
6,000 missing. Some 800,000 people evacuated. Up to now only 20 percent
of telephone system
in operation.
#Top of this Page
President Orders Aid to Hurricane Mitch Victims in Central America
Washington, November
6, 1998 -- President Clinton has ordered $30
million in equipment
and services from the Department of Defense and
$36 million
in food fuel and other relief be supplied to Honduras,
Nicaragua, El
Salvador and Guatemala following the devastation of
Hurricane Mitch.
The head of the US Agency for International
Development
indicated that $20 million in emergency food aid will be
sent to the
region from New Orleans beginning Saturday. Some victims
in Honduras
have been without food for five or six days and the risk of
disease and
other major problems increases with each passing day.
The U.S. Agency
for International Development's (USAID) Office of
Foreign Disaster
Assistance is coordinating U.S. disaster relief efforts for
the Central
American countries hit by Hurricane Mitch.
World Bank Press Release
On Aid To Honduras
THE WORLD BANK
Latin America and Caribbean Region
WORLD BANK RESPONDS TO PLEA FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR HONDURAS
WASHINGTON, November 5, 1998 -- The World Bank today announced a
series of immediate actions to support emergency disaster relief
efforts in Honduras.
To assess the damage, the local World Bank office in Honduras has
mobilized a special team of experienced staff, including specialists
in disaster management, transportation, relief work, agriculture, and
water supply, to address the most urgent needs facing Honduras.
Following this assessment, the World Bank is immediately making
available funds from a recently approved U.S.$45 million loan for the
Social Investment Fund Project (known as FHIS IV) to meet communities'
needs for emergency rehabilitation of basic infrastructure services
in
rural areas affected by the floods.
In addition, plans are underway to advance a scheduled disbursement
of
about U.S.$20 million from the Public Sector Adjustment Project to
support the government's immediate need for financial support to help
cope with the disaster. The World Bank is also working with the
Government of Honduras to redirect funds under all other operations
in
their country as needed.
The World Bank is focussing its assistance on helping the government
with overall disaster recovery efforts, including repairing roads and
bridges and addressing health concerns and other urgent problems in
the rural areas.
"The World Bank team has been extraordinarily impressed by the
dedication and tireless energy of Government officials and the
outstanding efforts of so many private sector groups and
non-governmental organizations. Under very difficult circumstances,
emergency teams mobilized by different government agencies are working
around the clock to identify problem areas and provide assistance,"
says Donna Dowsett-Coirolo, Country Director for Central America.
O.A.S. Calls Inter-American Agencies Together To Coordinate Emergency Aid For Central America
The Organization of American States (OAS) today called on
inter-American agencies to join effort to establish the mechanisms
needed to coordinate emergency aid for Central American countries hit
by Hurricane Mitch last weekend.
The OAS Permanent Council also passed a set of measures to marshal
international aid for the affected nations. This, after conveying
condolence and solidarity to the governments and peoples of Honduras,
Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize where the hurricane took
a severe human and material toll. Involved in the effort are the
Inter-American Emergency Aid Fund (FONDEM), Pan American Development
Fund (PADF), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture,
Inter-American Development Bank, and the White Helmets, among others.
At the meeting the Honduran ambassador, Laura Nunez Flores, gave an
update on the extent of the tragedy in her country, calling it
"incalculable and beyond description." She said as it stood, an
estimated 7,000 had died with over 2 million left homeless. "Honduras
suffered a mortal wound, not a death blow," she declared. "We will
get
back on our feet, with the help of God and friends and friendly
organizations and governments, and through hard work by all
Hondurans."
Nicaragua's ambassador, Felipe Rodriguez, called the trail left by the
hurricane "truly catastrophic." According to the latest reports, more
than 2,000 people had died and damage was over half a million dollars.
Updates were also provided on Belize, El Salvador and Guatemala by the
respective ambassadors who also appealed for urgent international aid.
One of the resolutions passed by the Permanent Council called on the
secretary general to take the necessary steps to provide the Central
American countries with technical and financial aid, and in particular
to explore the possible resources from other international agencies,
including White Helmets assistance.
A second resolution covering coordination of OAS aid for victims of
the hurricane, asks the secretary general to convene a meeting of
FONDEM within 48 hours to devise mechanisms that will be needed to
coordinate humanitarian aid. The secretary general is also being asked
to pursue efforts with PADF to promote and collect donations and goods
from individuals and public and private as well as non-governmental
organizations for distribution in the humanitarian aid drive.
The member countries also decided to call a Permanent Council meeting
to review what mechanisms could be made available by the
inter-American system to respond to natural disasters and to see what
measures could be adopted to strengthen coordination.
All OAS member country delegations took the floor in this morning's
session to convey their condolences at the immensity of the tragedy.
They also reported on steps their respective governments were taking
to deliver humanitarian assistance as soon as possible.
Central America - Hurricane/Tropical
Storm Mitch El Salvador, Guatemala And Nicaragua, Ocha Situation Report
No. 10, 5 November 1998
Ref: OCHAGVA - 98/0340
CENTRAL AMERICA - HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM MITCH
EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA AND NICARAGUA
OCHA SITUATION REPORT NO. 10
5 NOVEMBER 1998
General
1. Rescue operations and immediate relief assistance continuing despite
heavy rains and winds.
Overall dimension, i.e., of losses of lives, devastations and damages
caused by the hurricane in the
five countries not yet fully assessed. Current estimates indicate 2.5
million people affected.
2. Following his meeting with Ambassadors from Central American Countries,
the United Nations
Secretary-General has sent a letter to the Presidents of the World
Bank, the International
Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank drawing their
attention to the
medium-term reconstruction needs of the affected countries in which
these institutions could play a
vital role. He has requested the OCHA-Emergency Relief Coordinator
and the Administrator of
UNDP to support them.
3. WFP has announced a considerable increase in the delivery of food
to victims in the affected
countries. A team from Rome is on its way to Nicaragua and Honduras
to assess logistics and
organisational aspects. Currently WFP is feeding some 250,000 vulnerable
people, women,
children and elderly, in both countries drawing from its stocks in
the region.
4. WHO has launched an appeal for 10 million dollars for repairs of
health facilities, basic
medicines, water containers and chlorine. Staff from WHO's Regional
Office together with national
officials have recommended the urgent implementation of five activities:
an early epidemic warning
/response system, vector control, sanitation measures and local purchases
of medical supplies. The
Regional Office has also assumed the responsibility for the coordination
of response and mitigation
for the health sector.
5. IFRC has appealed for 12.5 million Swiss francs, about 8 million
dollars, to assist 180,000
victims in affected countries for the coming three months. Funds will
be used for provision of food,
tents, medicines, kitchen utensils and drinking water. Staff from National
Societies have been in the
forefront of rescues operations. More than 8,000 Red Cross volunteers
are currently working in
the region.
El Salvador
6. Death toll: 239. 135 people missing and a total of 57,777 affected.
Medical assistance has been
given to 35,980 people in the 11 temporary shelters in the country.
7. Infrastructure: 17 bridges damaged, 3 collapsed. 10,000 houses destroyed
and 830 schools
damaged. Impact on the agricultural sector still being evaluated.
8. Parliament has declared entire territory a disaster zone. In a nation-wide
broadcast, the
President has announced preparations for reconstructing the country
on the basis of detailed
assessments by teams from the government services concerned.
Nicaragua
9. OCHA-UNDAC team began work with UNDP and National Emergency Committee
(NEC).
Team indicates severe difficulties for all road transport, since 2.500
km paved/unpaved roads
damaged to various degrees. Strong need for strengthening airlift capacity
for both surveys and
transport of goods. Currently 11 helicopters in operation, of which
4 from the United State. First
full report from the team expected tomorrow.
10. UNDP assisting NEC and Civil Defense in organising teams of national
and international
experts to assess the situation in most affected areas such as Ocotal
and Wiwili. UNDP and UN
agencies are developing project profiles for immediate implementation,
including debris clearing and
rehabilitation of sewage system.
11. Quantification and priorities are being prepared by NEC in collaboration
with Civil Defense.
Most urgent needs appear to be in isolated areas where assessments
have been hampered by
weather conditions and lack of means.
Guatemala
12. In-country UNDAC team reports: 157 dead, 45,920 evacuated, about
16,500 people
isolated. Total number at risk 875, 738. 354 houses either destroyed
or damaged. 30 roads
blocked and 21 bridges destroyed.
13. Rains have decreased, except over Pacific coastal areas. Fuel distribution
has been restored in
Guatemala City. All ports and international airports open. Major problem
remains road transport.
14. UNDAC team planning assessment missions with government services
on 5/6 November,
weather permitting, to seriously affected areas in the northeast and
the southwest. Assessments in
the education, health and agriculture sectors underway and results
expected shortly.
15. Food distribution to affected areas has been carried out by the
Executive Secretariat of the
Presidency, the National Investment Fund and the National Peace Fund.
Requirements
16. The Ministry of Health with assistance from PAHO, UNICEF,UNFPA and
other agencies has
identified needs for basic sanitation.
17. In this context, donors are reminded that donations in the area
of health should be cleared with
PAHO/Washington: phone +1 202 974 35 20, fax +1 202 775 45 78.
--------------------------
18. Contributions: Please see attached list:
19. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for
the immediate relief needs
detailed above. Funds channelled through OCHA will be spent in coordination
with the relevant
organizations of the UN system and OCHA will provide written confirmation
of their use. Funds
should be transferred to OCHA account No. CO-590.160.1 at the UBS AG,
PO Box 2770,
CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Central America - Hurricane/Tropical
Storm Mitch.
Central
America - Tropical Storm Mitch, Honduras, Nicaragua OCHA Situation
Report No. 6
Ref. OCHAGVA - 98/0336
CENTRAL AMERICA - HURRICANE/TROPICAL
STORM MITCH
HONDURAS, NICARAGUA
OCHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO. 6
31 OCTOBER 1998
Data on the emergency situation in Central
America related to hurricane/tropical
storm Mitch is continuously being up-dated
as assessments are carried out. Below
follows a summary of data
reported so far to OCHA regarding Honduras
and Nicaragua.
Honduras
1. Heavy rainfall continues to impact
a major part of the country. Flooding is very
severe, landslides are still occurring
and flood waters are rising. About 75 per cent
of agricultural and industrial zones
are affected by flooding.
2. In the present emergency situation,
it is impossible to give any reliable preliminary
figures for the number of people affected.
The number of deaths is uncertain and it is
reported that 250,000 have
fled their homes.
3. Most bridges between Tegucigalpa and
its twin city Comayaguela have been
destroyed leaving the capital divided
into two parts. Mudslides have cut off the
highway between the capital and San
Pedro Sula (second largest city). Many towns
have been cut off due to damage to bridges
and roads.
4. The United Nations Resident Coordinator
and the United Nations Disaster
Management Team are working very closely
with the Government and its Permanent
Commission of Contingency (COPECO).
5. Emergency requirements fall into the
categories of food, medicines, blankets,
systems for drinking water and sanitation.
Urgent requirement: rescue boats with
crews and availability of an additional 40
helicopters (source: Head of COPECO).
Nicaragua
6. The intense precipitation has affected
the entire country (overflowing of rivers,
landslides) but in particular the departments
of Chinandega, Esteli, Leon and
Matagalpa and the areas of the
Nicaragua Lake down to the border with
Costa Rica.
7. Some 180,000 people are without basic
provisions (food, blankets, plastic
sheeting clothing, medicines). 121 dead
and some thousands non-accounted for.
172 communities isolated. 5,066 houses
affected (1,010 destroyed and 4,056
damaged).
8. Serious damage caused to the road
network. Transport is a major problem owing
to the inaccessibility of the disaster-affected
areas. Bad weather conditions make
even transport by air very difficult,
at times impossible.
9. Breakdown in the systems supplying drinking water and electricity.
10. Preliminary estimates of material
losses represent more than USD 30 million. No
estimates have yet been made of losses
of harvest but damage to the network of
roads and bridges are hampering transport
of agricultural products to market places.
11. National relief efforts are a joint
effort of the Civil Defence System and the
Army. The United Nations Disaster Management
Team has set up an emergency
committee including all the specialized
UN agencies with WFP as lead agency.
Through the Resident Coordinator, this
committe is working closely with the national
authorities.
12. Emergency requirements fall into
categories of food, blankets and medicines.
The Ministry of Health has warned that
their regular stocks of medicines are running
out.
13. A joint mission of WFP and WHO/PAHO
will carry out damage assessment to
evaluate requirements for rehabilitation.
14. Contributions US Dollars
United Nations System
WFP Emergency food assistance 150,000
(from in-country stocks) for 50,000
people during two weeks
Appeals from the International Federation
of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC) and from WHO/PAHO
15. IFRC has launched an preliminary
appeal to the amount of CHF 3.2 million
(approx. USD 2.4 million) to assist
90,000 beneficiaries in Central America and
Mexico.
16. WHO/PAHO has launched an appeal for
USD 467,000 (for mainly Honduras
but also for Nicaragua and Belize) covering
emergency repairs to health
infrastructure, support to epidemiological
surveillance and control system, support to
supply management inventory, public
health supplies and equipment, purchase
and transport of insecticides, purchase and
transport of water containers and chlorine
and priority repairs to the El
Progresso/Honduras water system.
Donors wishing to contribute to this
appeal should address themselves to
PAHO/Washington: phone +1 202 974 35
20, fax +1 202 775 45 78.
17. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel
for cash contributions for the
immediate relief needs detailed above.
Funds channelled through OCHA will be
spent in coordination with the relevant
organizations of the UN system and OCHA
will provide written confirmation of
their use. Funds should be transferred to OCHA
account No. CO-590.160.1 at the UBS
AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2,
with reference: OCHA - Central America
- Hurricane/Tropical Storm Mitch.
President Clinton
.Our prayers here at the White House....
...........Our prayers here at the White House go out to the citizens
of Honduras,
Nicaragua, Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala, who have suffered so
much as a result of Hurricane Mitch, and are trying to put their
lives back together. The United States is determined to help. We
have provided over $2 million in funding for food, medicine, water
and other supplies. Two airlifts already have arrived with sheeting
for shelter and food. Another airlift will take off today.
In addition, foreign disaster assistance teams have been
deployed to all the affected countries to coordinate our aid relief
efforts, and we'll be looking at what else we can do. This is a
terrible tragedy for the people of Central America and we will do
what we can to help them to recover.
TEXT: U.S. SENDS DISASTER RELIEF TO CENTRAL AMERICA
(Hurricane Mitch continues to hamper aid efforts) (1650)
WASHINGTON -- The United States is providing $3.5 million in disaster
assistance to Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch.
The bulk of the aid -- about $2.3 million -- is slated for Honduras,
which has suffered the brunt of the storm, the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) announced November 2.
Following is the text of a USAID fact sheet outlining U.S. relief
efforts in Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and
Mexico, as well as an update on conditions in each of those countries:
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DISASTER RESPONSE UPDATE
Hurricane Mitch
November 2, 1998
U.S. Agency For International Development Provides $3.5 Million In
Response To Hurricane Mitch; Activates Disaster Assistance And
Response Team
(DART)
Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Administrator J. Brian Atwood, announced $3.5 million in disaster
assistance to provide relief in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and
the southeastern portion of Mexico to alleviate suffering caused by
Hurricane Mitch. Atwood also deployed a full-scale Disaster Assistance
and Response Team (DART) to manage and coordinate the U.S. Government
relief effort in Central America. Senior Regional Disaster Advisor
Paul Bell, the DART team leader, is based in the U.S. Embassy in San
Jose, Costa Rica.
Heavy rains and high winds continue to affect Honduras, Guatemala, El
Salvador, and the southeastern portion of Mexico. Adverse weather
conditions are hampering damage assessment capabilities and delivery
of relief supplies to affected countries. In addition to assistance
provided for specific countries, USAID has provided $510,000 in
regional assistance including a water and sanitation assessment by
the
Pan-American Health Organization.
Honduras: USAID has provided a total of $2,326,650 in assistance to
Honduras. This assistance includes: $1,325,000 to the USAID Mission
in
Honduras and private voluntary organizations for the local purchase
and transport of critical relief supplies, including food, simple
cooking stoves, blankets, and medical supplies; $750,000 for the
deployment of U.S. aircraft to assist in overflight assessments,
search and rescue operations, and delivery of relief supplies;
$251,650 for transport and supply of 460 rolls of plastic sheeting,
twenty 10,000 collapsible water tanks, and 10,000 five-gallon water
jugs. Seven USAID disaster specialists have been deployed to Honduras
to assist in the response to this disaster. The team began arriving
in
Honduras on October 27.
The first airlift carrying USAID relief supplies arrived at La Ceiba
on October 31 and the second arrived at Soto Cano on November 1. A
third airlift will deliver the remainder of USAID relief supplies to
Soto Cano on November 2. In-country missions by USAID funded aircraft
have been hampered to date by poor visibility.
Honduras continues to suffer the brunt of the storm. After being
stalled for more than 48 hours off the country's northern coast, the
storm traveled inland over Honduras on October 30 and 31. Extensive
flooding and wind damage is being reported on the northern coast and
in the Bay Islands. The National Emergency Commission (COPECO)
confirms 254 deaths as a result of the storm. According to COPECO and
the Ministry of Health, as of October 30, over 120,000 people had been
evacuated from affected areas to temporary shelters. Honduran
officials report that at least 15,000 houses have been destroyed along
the Atlantic coast and that as many as 100 bridges have been damaged
or destroyed. Assessments conducted by COPECO indicate that the Bay
Islands of Guanaja, Roatan, and Utila and the areas of La Ceiba,
Tocoa, and Trujillo are the most severely affected. La Ceiba is
flooded and essentially cut off, with both the Danto and Cangrejal
rivers overflowing their banks. San Pedro Sula, the second largest
city in Honduras, is one meter under water.
Nicaragua: USAID has provided $360,000 in disaster assistance to
Nicaragua. This assistance includes: $25,000 for the local purchase
of
critical relief supplies, including medicines and food; $250,000 for
two U.S. Blackhawk helicopters and one Chinook to assist with search
and rescue efforts and delivery of relief supplies; and $85,000 for
an
airlift of USAID relief supplies, consisting of 200 rolls of plastic
sheeting, 4,000 blankets, ten 10,000 collapsible water tanks, and
5,000 five-gallon water jugs to arrive in Managua on November 3. USAID
deployed a Regional Advisor to Nicaragua on October 31 to assist with
assessment and response activities. A USAID funded Miami-Dade disaster
specialist will arrive in Nicaragua on November 2 to assist with
national-level search and rescue operations.
Heavy rains resulting from Mitch continue to cause serious flooding
throughout Nicaragua. Rivers in the northern Atlantic coastal areas
and in Esteli, Jinotega, Matagalpa, and Chinandega have overflowed
their banks, causing serious mudslides. A single mudslide in the
northwestern province of Chinandega has increased the Nicaraguan death
toll to 1,212 and left over 2,000 people missing from ten communities
situated at the base of the Casitas Volcano. The U.S. Embassy in
Managua reports that 415,000 people are displaced nationwide. Damage
to roads and bridges and to the agricultural sector are significant.
The Pan American Health Organization reports that damage to the
transportation network equals approximately $16 million. Figures of
damage to the agricultural sector have not yet been released.
Belize: USAID has provided $25,000 in assistance to Belize for the
local purchase of food to be distributed to affected populations in
shelters. A four-person USAID assessment team arrived in Belize on
October 29 and departed on October 31. The team assessed current needs
of the evacuated population and reported that food stocks were
adequate in Belmopan, but in short supply in Belize City. The team
also reported that sanitation and hygiene were poor in all
flood-affected areas.
The Government of Belize established an Emergency Operations Center
in
Belize City to prepare for the storm's arrival and evacuated over
75,000 people from Belize City and the coastal islands to temporary
shelters in Belmopan. Despite initial concerns, the hurricane did not
directly strike Belize. Nonetheless, heavy rains caused flooding
throughout the coastal areas -- particularly in Belize City. The
Government of Belize has granted permission for residents to return
to
Belize City, however many families continue to remain in Belmopan.
Guatemala: USAID has provided $64,172 in assistance to Guatemala
including: $25,000 for the local purchase of food and $39,172 for the
airlift of USAID supplies -- 90 rolls of plastic sheeting, 3,000
blankets, 2,350 five-gallon water jugs, and three 3,000-gallon
collapsible water tanks which will arrive on November 4.
A USAID consultant arrived in Guatemala on October 27 and was joined
by a USAID Regional Advisor Regional Advisor on November 1.
The storm moved northwestward across Guatemala on November 1 causing
heavy rains and precipitating flooding. Rivers in the Atlantic and
central regions of Guatemala continue to rise. Between 12,000 to
14,000 people are currently seeking safety in shelters. An unconfirmed
number of homes, bridges, and roads have been damaged by flood waters.
Officials verify a total of 31 deaths. The national emergency office
(CONRED) took steps to evacuate 5,969 people prior to the storm's
arrival.
El Salvador: USAID has provided $82,152 in disaster assistance for El
Salvador including: $25,000 for the local purchase of relief supplies
and $57,152 for USAID supplies of 117 rolls of plastic sheeting, 5,150
blankets, 6,000 five-gallon water jugs, and four 3,000-gallon
collapsible water tanks on November 4. A Miami-Dade disaster
specialist arrived in El Salvador on November 1 to assist in the
coordination of relief operations.
Preliminary reports indicate that 144 people are dead as a result of
flash floods in El Salvador.
Costa Rica: USAID has provided $45,000 in disaster assistance for
Costa Rica. This assistance has been used for the local purchase of
relief supplies and rental of local helicopters for assessments and
delivery of food, water, and medicine to affected populations.
Heavy rains along the entire Pacific coast of Costa Rica prompted the
National Emergency Commission to evacuate at risk populations. The
Government of Costa Rica recently granted permission for people to
return to their homes. According to government officials,
approximately 4,000 people are homeless and seven people are dead as
a
result of the storm.
Mexico: The Mexican Government established plans to evacuate
vulnerable coastal areas and the Mexican Red Cross pre-positioned a
team of disaster response specialists in the Yucatan Peninsula in the
event that the hurricane struck Mexico. USAID maintains constant
communication with U.S. government and Mexican disaster officials,
who
are monitoring the effects of continued rainfall.
Background: Hurricane Mitch began as a tropical depression more than
ten days ago. It quickly developed into one of the strongest
hurricanes to hit the Caribbean, dumping heavy rains all along the
Central American coastline. The hurricane was downgraded to a tropical
storm on October 30 and to a tropical depression on October 31. At
its
height on October 26 and 27, the hurricane had sustained winds of 180
mph. As of early evening on November 1, the storm was located near
Tapachula, Guatemala on Mexico's southern Pacific coast (near the
border with Guatemala). At that time, the storm was traveling at 8
mph
in a west-northwesterly direction. Maximum sustained winds had
dissipated to 30 mph.
USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance in Washington, D.C.,
coordinates all U.S. government relief operations worldwide. USAID
will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the
Caribbean, maintaining a high level of preparedness and ability to
quickly respond to changing needs and situations.
Florida Reports
SITUATION REPORT #3 STATE OF
FLORIDA
Tropical Storm
Mitch Does a Hit and Run Over Florida
Tropical Storm Mitch Does a Hit and Run Over Florida
Washington, November 6, 1998 -- Tropical Storm Mitch hit southern
Florida and continued out into the Atlantic Ocean Thursday afternoon
leaving one dead, tornado damage in Monroe County and minor flood
damage in other parts of the state. As of 5 a.m. this morning, the
system
formerly known as Mitch was located several hundred miles off the
coast of Massachusetts heading rapidly to the northeast. After its
long
and deadly journey, the system has lost all of its tropical characteristics
and is no longer a threat to U.S. territory, according to the National
Hurricane Center.
FEMA and State officials will complete a joint Preliminary Damage
Assessment in Monroe County today. Initial figures for Monroe County
indicate 28 homes were destroyed, 37 sustained major damage and 133
others sustained minor damage. A total of 346 homes were otherwise
affected. It is also estimated that the county sustained around $1.8
million in debris removal costs and damage to public building and
schools.
About 19 homes sustained damage in Palm Beach County, preliminary
reports indicate, and minor flooding was reported in the Delray,
Lantana, Boca Raton, Boyton Beach and Lake Worth areas. In Martin
County, numerous roads are impassable and assessments of the
roadways will be done after the water recedes.
SITUATION REPORT #3 STATE
OF FLORIDA
Department of Community Affairs/Division of Emergency
Management
TROPICAL STORM MITCH
November 5, 1998 - 1700 hours
SITUATION
As of 1600 hours, EST, the National Hurricane Center reports all Tropical Storm Warnings are discontinued. Also, Mitch has lost its tropical characteristics and become extratropical. The center of the extratropical storm was located near Latitude28.2 North and Longitude 76.9 West or about 100 miles north-northeast of Little Abaco Island in the Bahamas. The Storm is moving toward the east northeast near 32 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The central pressure is measured at 992 mb. The Hurricane Center has issued its last public advisory for Mitch!
COUNTY ACTIONS
Area 3
Flagler County - Reports that beach erosion is occurring in the Marineland area near the Jt. Johns/Flagler Co. line. Waves were eroding some of the sand dunes, but there is no threat to any structures or roads. Also there is minor beach erosion occurring in the Flagler Beach area.
Area 6
Hardee County- Reports that a State of Local Emergency was declared
on
11/4/98.
Area 7
Monroe County: A preliminary survey for the Key Largo area (Lake Suprise Estates and Sexton Cove at approx. mile marker 106) was submitted by the county with the following results: 246 structures sustained minor damage; 87 major damage; 24 destroyed.
Palm Beach County: Reports that the EOC is at Level I activation. Preliminary reports from the county indicates that 19 homes sustained damage and flooding in the south county region including Delray, Lantana, Boca Raton, Boyton Beach and Lake Worth. One business also reported damage. Damage assessment is continuing.
Martin County - Reports that the EOC is at a Level I activation. Preliminary reports from the county indicates that 4 homes have received minor flooding with no significant damage. In the western part of the county, a number of roads are impassable and culverts have been washed out. There may also be some roads in the eastern part of the county with damage. Unable to do complete assessment of roadways until the water has receded.
STATE ACTIONS
The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) will move to a Level 1 activation today at 1700 hours.
A Conference Call was held at 1600 hours to update the ESFs on current county and state actions. No additional calls are scheduled.
Emergency Support Functions
ESF 1 & 3: Transportation and Public Works - No update provided, please see previous report.
ESF 5: Information and Planning - Continues to generate situation and flash reports as the situation requires.
ESF 6: Mass - No update provided, please see previous report.
ESF 12: Energy - At 1600 hours, Florida Power and Light reports that approximately 40,000 customers remain without power system wide. Currently the breakdown is: Palm Beach County: 11,000; Broward 6000; Dade 20,000. However, power is expected to be restored by 2400 hours today. Collier and Lee counties should have all customers up by 1800 hours. Treasure Coast counties (Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Martin) will have power restored by 2100 hours. Fl Keys Coop advises that all customers that could except power will be restored today.
Regional Response Teams/Personnel Deployment
Eric Gentry has been released from the National Hurricane Center as a member of the Hurricane Liaison Team.
Comfort Stations
The Salvation Army is working with local responders on identifying comfort station sites for Monroe County.
RECOVERY
An 8 member Federal/State Preliminary Disaster Assessment Team is presently in Monroe County performing an assessment. The team will proceed to Miami/Dade upon completing the Monroe assessment and then to other impacted areas as reports are received.
Organizations accepting In-Kind Donations for Honduras
American Friends Service Committee
Philadelphia, PA
888-588-2372
Catholic Relief Services
Atlanta, GA
800-235-2772
Church World Services
Elkhart, IN
800-297-1516 x222
Church World Services Drop Off Sites: (box--weight limit 50 pounds)
Honduras:
Honduras Recovery
ASOSAL
Reeves
660 S. Bonnie Brae
1306 G Street, NW
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Washington, DC 20005
213/483-1224
202/628-6350
Nicaragua:
Cordoba Electronics
Consulate General of Nicaragua
5120 Santa Monica
8370 W. Flagier Street, Suite 220
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Miami, FL 33166
213/669-1078
Direct Relief International--medical supplies only
Santa Barbara, CA 93117-3251
800-676-1638
Doctors Without Borders--medical supplies and medical staff only
New York, NY 10016
888-392-0392
International Aid, Inc.
Spring Lake, IL
800-968-7490
Luthern World Relief
New York, NY
800-597-5972
Mercy Corps International Hurricane Response Fund
Portland, OR
800-292-3355 x223
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
New York, NY
800-554-8583
World Relief
Wheaton, IL
800-535-5433
World Relief Drop Off Site (box should be address as follows):
World Relief
Attn: Steve Kabick, Bldg. 2143
6600 NW 18th Street
Miami International Airport Cargo Area
Miami, FL 33126