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Wednesday, June 3, 2020 after heavy rains By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The authorities of the National Commission of emergencies announced on Tuesday the increase in the alert from green to yellow because of the heavy rains. The Yellow Alert 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. In the event of a Yellow Alert, the emergency committees of each community must prepare prevention protocols. Citizens must take precautions in their homes, places of study or work. Also, people must be attentive to the communication alerts that the Emergency Commission provides. Rescuers must be prepared for the search or rescue of people and respond to emergency calls. The Yellow Alert applies to the areas of the Pacific Coast ( Guanacaste and Puntarenas Provinces) and the Provinces of San José, Heredia and Alajuela. In the case of the Caribbean Coast, the Green Alert remains. This alert informs when it is anticipated that a meteorological phenomenon endangers a specific area in the country. The authorities activated the community's emergency commissions to take action due to forecasted weather-related dangers. Residents must be informed about official news related to the development of natural phenomenons that could be potentially dangerous. The National Meteorological Institute forecasts the continuity of intense thunderstorms in the afternoon and early evening. In addition to this, heavy rains have left a high level of water saturation in the soils within the whole country. According to the Commission, in the last 24 hours, the tide and rivers have increased in the coastal areas. The rains on Tuesday caused floods affecting mainly the cantons of San Ramón, Parrita, Quepos, Puriscal and Garabito. Those areas reported flooded roads, neighborhoods, landslides and fallen trees, reported authorities. Three shelters were set up where 30 people spent the night. Light drizzles are also forecasted in the country's mountainous areas. In the afternoon and early evening, rainy activity associated with local factors combined with the influence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone on the country is expected. 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 recent emergencies due to rains mark the beginning of the hurricane season. On Tuesday, the authorities declared the Green Alert in Costa Rica, although the country is outside the direct influence of the Second Tropical Wave of the season crossing Central America. There were no repercussions for Tropical Storm Amanda, located on the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday. The emergency specialists released a series of home care recommendations to avoid accidents, due to the beginning of the green season where there is a strong increase in rainfall throughout the country. Among the main recommendations to avoid damage to structures and emergencies: • Keep the roofs of your houses clean. • Clearing a path in the backyard allows rainwater to move without problems towards the drainage, which helps in avoiding 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 fall into the sewer pipes as they can 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 evacuation emergency 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 asked the public 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 other advice will you give due to the increasing rains and thunderstorms? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
