Rapid Environmental Assessment
Hurricane Felix
Honduras
September 2007
Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit
Rapid Environmental Assessment
Hurricane Felix, Honduras
September 2007
International Environmental Emergency Response
The Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit (Joint Environment Unit) is the United
Nations mechanism to mobilize and coordinate the international response to
environmental emergencies, including natural disasters with major environmental
impacts. In situations such as hurricanes, the Joint Environment Unit has the primary
function of identifying any acute issues. If needed, the Joint Environment Unit can
mobilize assistance to ensure that these issues are addressed. It can help to ensure
appropriate transition and follow-up so that less urgent, longer-term issues can be
addressed concentrated on during the recovery and rehabilitation phases by national
authorities with possible assistance from UNEP, UNDP and other bodies concerned
with environmental recovery and development issues.
Background
On Monday 3 September 2007, Hurricane Felix was upgraded to a category 5. It was
forecast to make landfall near the Nicaraguan and Honduras border on Tuesday 4
September.
A United Nations Disaster and Coordination (UNDAC) team with five members was
mobilized and arrived in Honduras on 4 and 5 September. Thanks to the support of
the Swedish government, the Joint Environment Unit, in close collaboration with
OCHA’s Field Coordination Support Section (FCSS), provided an environmental
expert as an associate member to the UNDAC team. This expert was tasked to with
undertaking a Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) to identify any urgent and life
threatening secondary risks and environmental impacts.
Felix weakened once it made landfall and moved towards Nicaragua. On 5
September, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. As the damage from Felix was
limited the UNDAC mission ended on 8 September.
The major consequence of the hurricane in Honduras was heavy rains in the northern
part of the country. The main problems caused by the rains were the contamination
of water supplies and a breakdown of sanitation infrastructure. As a result, the local
UNICEF representative requested the environmental expert to assist and advise in
the work repairing the water and sanitation systems. The environmental expert left
Honduras on 11 September.
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Assessment methodology
The Rapid Environmental Assessment was carried out in three stages:
Before the mission, the Joint Environment Unit prepared an Environmental
Risk Identification (ERI) on Honduras. An ERI identifies potential
secondary/environmental risks posed by large infrastructure and industrial
facilities containing hazardous materials located in the affected area. This ERI
served as a basis for the assessment by the environmental expert.
During the mission, important information was received through meetings,
interviews and discussions with national environmental authorities, regional
authorities, other UN organisations, and NGOs.
Field assessments were performed in the affected areas. These visits also
allowed the environmental expert to receive additional information directly from
local authorities
Mission findings: Field visit to San Pedro Sula
An evaluation mission in the Sula valley was conducted on 6 September. The team
comprised one member of the United Nations Emergency Technical Team (UNETT),
two members of the UNDAC team and a member of United States Agency for
International Development Disaster Assistance Response Team. Two local UNETT
members acted as guides.
The evaluation began with a visit to the regional ‘Comisión Permanente de
Contingencia’ (COPECO) of Honduras and a meeting with the regional coordinator of
COPECO Carlos Gomez. Mr. Gomez identified the four most severely damaged
municipalities in the region and spoke about the flooding that occurred the night
before. Mr. Gomez also stated that the river had risen 3.5 meters above the normal
level and had flooded several areas along its banks.
The team visited four municipalities in total:
Potrerillos, Cortez
All seven wells that supply potable water to the municipality were contaminated
with trash and sewage. The wells were built in low-lying areas and the immediate
vacinity around the wells was flooded. The power plant that supplied power to the
wells’ water pumps was also destroyed during the flooding.
Five schools were used as temporary shelters by 400 people. These people were
expected to return to their houses once the water receded.
Families at the shelters had limited supplies of potable water and food.
No damage to any houses was reported, but assessments were not completed at
the time of the mission.
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Pimienta, Cortez
Only one of the six wells that supplied water to this municipality was working. The
other five wells were contaminated with trash and sewage. Again, the wells were
built in low-lying area and the vicinity surrounding the wells was flooded.
140 people were temporarily housed in three schools.
Villanueva, Cortez
3,000 people were displaced by the flooding and 1,500 were living temporarily in
seven schools at the time of the mission. The other 1,500 people were living with
neighbours or family.
400 houses were reported damage, but no specific needs were identified at that
time.
The municipality decided to wait for the waters to recede before conducting a
more detail assessment.
San Manuel, Cortez
158 people were displaced and taken to temporary shelters.
No health issues were reported in any of the municipalities.
It was too early to conduct agricultural assessments since the area was still
flooded.
Results of the Rapid Environmental Assessment
Contamination of water supplies by faecal matter was the most serious pollution.
Considerable amounts of garbage were floating in the water.
Some sanitation and hygiene problems were reported in the shelters.
No immediate and acute environmental impacts, such as chemical or oil spills,
were reported during the assessment.
No landslides were reported.
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