  Experts predict that the Tropical Wave will leave the country today. - Municipality of Desamparados Canton photo - |
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Thursday, October 22, 2020
Alert
increases for new tropicalwave crossing the country By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The National Emergency Commission updated the alert for damages associated with the rains and the passage of another new Tropical Wave over the country. According to the commission, the new Tropical Wave, #47 of the green station came from Panama to cross the country on Wednesday night. Experts predict that the Tropical Wave will leave the country today. This natural phenomenon has caused an increase in the intensity of the thunderstorms, mainly in the Caribbean Coast (Limón Province) and the Pacific Coast (Guanacaste and Puntarenas Province). Also, the intensity of the rains will increase due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone that is located over Costa Rica. The Intertropical Convergence Zone, known by sailors as the doldrums or the calms due to the dull windless weather, is the area where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge. The zone appears as a band of clouds, usually, thunderstorms, that circles the globe near the Equator.  The specialists establish Orange Alert in the cantons of Buenos Aires and Golfito, in the southern zone of Puntarenas Province. Orange Alert status establishes when a high-risk situation can cause an emergency to the people in a specific area. A raised Yellow Alert in the GAM, the Central and South Pacific Coast, (except the cantons of Buenos Aires and Golfito). Yellow Alert status serves as an announcement for the rescue forces to prepare for an increased danger of a natural phenomenon that will affect the population in a specific region. The Greater Metropolitan Area or GAM is the area made up of cities in the outskirts of San José such as Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. The North Pacific Coast, Northern Zone and the Caribbean Coast remain in Green Alert. This alert is given when it is anticipated that a meteorological phenomenon endangers a specific area in the country. The authorities activate the community's emergency commissions to take action due to the danger related to the alert. According to the Red Cross emergency call monitoring department, the rains have caused more than 30 emergencies in various areas of the country such river overflows, landslides, damage to houses due to strong gusts, floods due to the accumulation of rain, and soils saturated with rainwater. Also, the Ministry of Transports reported the removal of massive landslides on the South Inter-American Highway, between Costa Rica and Panama. This tropical wave caused the overflowing of rivers and floods mainly in the mountainous areas of the country. Due to the high risk of continuous rains, A.M. Costa Rica stresses that in order to avoid accidents, damage to structures and emergencies during the green season, make sure to: • Keep the roof of your house clean. • Clear a path in the backyard allowing rainwater to move without problems towards the drainage, which helps to avoid damages and leaks in the house. • Pick up the garbage so that it does not fall on the pipes or drains on the sidewalks. • Avoid that solvents, oils, acids or corrosive liquids that can fall into the sewer pipes and deteriorate them. • Organize the cleaning of public areas such as river banks in your community to avoid flooding. • Report the lack of concrete caps or grids in the pipes to the Aqueduct Institute by calling 2547-6555. Authorities call on the public to take the following precautionary measures: • Stay informed about the alerts issued by the authorities. • People living in mountain areas should increase precautionary measures against a possible landslide or material falling from the high areas of the hills. • Have an emergency evacuation plan in the community, work and home. • Drivers must increase precautions for heavy rain and fog. • Take precautionary measures in case of electrical storms. • Be alert in vulnerable areas to flooding due to sewer saturation or increase of river flow. • In case of a thunderstorm, take refuge in a safe place. • In case of strong wind gusts, be alert to possible falling tree branches or electrical cables. • In the event of a landslide, do not walk on the debris, stay away from affected areas, and do not return home until authorities verify that it is a safe place. Authorities ask for the people in Costa Rica to call 911 to report any possible flooding, fallen trees or landslides. A.M. Costa Rica urges readers to share this alert with their contacts. ---------------------- What emergencies have you heard of due to the thunderstorms in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com 
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