A. Description of the adverse effect:
Due to heavy influence of Tropical Depression 16 at the Caribbean Sea (movement path: from Gracias a Dios Cape towards Belize-Guatemala) Costa Rica was affected by torrential rain from 14 to 17 October. Major impact was suffered by North Pacific, Central Pacific and Central Valley regions: extensive flooding and landslides generated evacuation of hundreds of people, plus destruction of physical infrastructure and croplands.
B. Measures by national authorities:
Weather conditions forced Red / Yellow
Alert Mechanisms by the Emergency National Commission (CNE), in coordination
with first response institutions. Permanent networking was
undertaken with other entities of the Risk Management National System (SNGR)
in the country.
By Executive Decree #34805 (Monday 20
October), a state of Emergency was issued for 59 Municipalities, from a
total of 81. The aim of the decree is to speed up national
efforts to finance rehabilitation and reconstruction. However, public
sector funds for those efforts cannot be guaranteed. They depend
on available budget surpluses in some Ministries / autonomous institutions.
Both the Ministry of the Presidency
and the CNE have requested the ministries to work on the setting of sector
priorities (Health, Agriculture/Livestock, Education, Public Works and
Transport). There should be a Plan for Rehabilitation and
Recovery in oncoming weeks.