Storms Ravage Caribbean
By Pete Majerle
Special to The Tico Times

Intense rains for the second weekend in a row wreaked havoc on the already-soggy province of Limón, prompting the National Emergency Commission (CNE) to maintain a Red Alert - the nation's highest level of alert - for the Caribbean slope and Sarapiquí de Heredia.
The storms, which produced nearly 600 millimeters of rain in an eight-day period in the Caribbean province, left a wake of four deaths, thousands of displaced residents and roads and bridges in shambles. More than 60 homes were destroyed and hundreds of others damaged.
One person is still reported missing, according to Red Cross official Marvin Hidalgo.
More than 5,220 people were forced to relocate into 38 temporary shelters in the affected zones, but the beginning of the week brought sunshine to the devastated region, and at press time, the number of displaced people had fallen to 2,763 in 25 shelters.
The CNE worked throughout the weekend and continued this week to deliver food and drinking water to the hardest-hit areas of the southern area of the Limón province. Gandoca, Bribrí and other remote, mostly indigenous communities had supplies airlifted in because of the continuing problems with land access, according to Rebecca Madrigal of the National Emergency Commission.

"Our first priority is to get to the people and give them access to basic services: food, shelter, potable water and medical attention," Madrigal said. Washed-out bridges and destroyed highways cut off several villages from the rest of the country for several days.
Despite serious damage to local highways, including 100 meters of washed-out road near the Rio Bananito in Sixaola, the waters were receding and roads were being cleared at press time. The Braulio Carrillo highway to Limón (National Route 32) was open, and there was access by alternative routes all the way to Sixaola, easing the relief effort.
President Abel Pacheco declared a National State of Emergency Monday, pronouncing a decree mandating all government ministries and institutions to help in the recovery process.

"This is a new type of Executive Decree because it obliges (not asks) all institutions to give resources," Pacheco announced, adding that past decrees have not been as effective as intended because government institutions and ministries often claim to be too low on resources to help.
However, neither the office of the President nor most of the public institutions contacted by The Tico Times could cite the monetary amounts or percentages of public funds that would be dedicated to the rebuilding effort as a result of this decree.
Officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) announced, they would begin a ¢1-billion ($2.67-million) infrastructure reconstruction effort in the area, including a new runway for the Limón airport, several bridges and the construction of a dike on the Rio Bananito.

Water levels rose more than two-and-a-half meters in some areas during the second storm, which struck the region Nov. 30-Dec. 1. A strong cold front the weekend of Nov. 23-24 hit the Caribbean coast, producing the strongest rains seen in the region in several decades (TT Nov. 29).
Last weekend, the skies dumped another 280 mm, bringing last month's total rainfall to 1008 mm, more than two and a half times the normal amount, according to Werner Stoltz of the National Meteorolog-ical Institute (INM).
"December will be a crucial month for Limón," according to Stolz. December is typically a rainy month, but "if we make it to mid-January, the weather patterns should change and we'll be all right," he said.
The Red Cross reported that more than 25,000 Costa Ricans suffered hunger in the days after the flooding, prompting the CNE to distribute 7,000 packages of daily rations - enough nourishment for 28,000 people - to the affected areas. The CNE also sent blankets and mattresses to several affected communities.

Although the Red Cross gave accounts of residents in affected areas resorting to scavenging waste and garbage for nourishment, no major health epidemics have been reported. The principle effect of the rains on health has been a lack of pure drinking water, producing several outbreaks of diarrhea.
The cleanup operation continues to transport potable water to the southern zone of Limón, in addition to repairing the damaged aqueducts. While homes are reconstructed, the commission will send some 2,300 liters (more than 600 gallons) of clean water to affected residents.
The physical and emotional impact of the storm has been compounded by the negative economic effect the rains are expected to have on the local economy. Luis Echeverría, the director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, reported there seems to be a total loss of banana crops - the dominant agricultural product - in the affected areas.

"Even those crops that are not under water are in danger due to infrastructure damage," making immediate transport impossible, he said. The ministry won't have a full official estimate of the crop damage, however, until the water levels recede.
The National Emergency Commission has not yet made a full damage assessment for the region, but the amount is expected to be high.



How to Help

The Red Cross is accepting donations of non-perishable foods, towels, toiletries, detergents and personal effects to be distributed in the region. Cash donations can be made directly to the Red Cross's bank accounts:
100100-7 Banco Nacional (colones)
176003-3 Banco Costa Rica (colones)
204-6 Banco Costa Rica (dollars)
For more information, call the Red Cross at 233-7033, ext. 2330 (food and other supplies) or ext. 2122 (monetary donations).