Photo via Costa Rica Firefighters.
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Published on
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The
heavy rains caused first by Tropical
Wave #46 of the green season and
eventually the indirect effects of
Tropical Storm Sara,
killed at least
five people
and displaced thousands. Last
Monday, that tropical wave created a
low-pressure area south of the
Caribbean Sea. Two days later, the
U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC)
indicated the depression would grow
into Tropical Storm Sara, prompting the National
Emergency Commission to declare a
Red Level Alert throughout the
Pacific Coast due to the storm's
indirect effects. Sara's
indirect impacts resulted in around
800 emergencies due to floods and
landslides, primarily in Pacific Coast
cities. Over 3,500 people and more
than 200 pets were evacuated to more
than 40 shelters. Authorities
said they had given 35,000 food
packages to thousands affected by the
heavy rains. The
process of inspecting structures,
residences, bridges, and roads damaged
by the rains and floods will begin
this week,
according to officials. The
U.S. National Hurricane Center
announced
that
Sara has dissipated over Mexico.
Consequently, Costa Rican authorities
reduced the level of weather alerts
around the country as the weather
improved.
The
Pacific Coast alert decreases from red
to orange. This third-level awareness
advises rescue organizations to be on
high alert if it is certain
that an event or natural phenomenon
will potentially affect the alerted
areas. The
Central Valley and the northern zone
of the Caribbean Coast alert lowered
from orange to yellow. This
second-level alert warns the rescue
teams to be ready for a large-scale
natural phenomenon that is forming and
is almost certain
to impact that specific area. The
southern zone of the Caribbean Coast
alert reduces from yellow to green.
This first level
of warning
directs emergency committees to keep
informed of how the natural event is
developing. It indicates that
there is
an elevated probability that an
emergency will develop nearby.
The government asks
for food donations for families
affected by the country's severe
rains and flooding.
They are requesting food such as
canned foods, soup, rice, beans,
coffee, pasta, ketchup, snacks,
condiments, cereal, cooking oil,
spices, bottled water, shelf-stable
milk, juice, plastic bags, hygiene
items, cleaning supplies, and plastic
utensils.
Last
week, a flight from El Salvador with a
donation of 15 tons of food, tons of
emergency equipment and a team of 100
people, including rescuers, first aid
personnel and emergency care experts. It
is
expected
that
two more flights with food donations will
arrive in the country in the next few
days,
authorities said.
The National Emergency Commission (CNE) works with people and emergency professionals to strengthen, sustain, and enhance the county's ability to plan for, defend against, respond to, recover from, and reduce any potential hazards.
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