WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
CM/EA(99)/Doc. 2
(1 4/01/99)
COORDINATION MEETING ON THE
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR NMHSS IN
CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
ITEM 3.2
SAN JOSÉ, 19 - 20 JANUARY 1999
Original: English
WMO
REPORT ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANES
MITCH AND GEORGES TO NMHSs OF COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
REPORT ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE
CAUSED BY HURRICANES MITCH AND GEORGES
TO NMHSs OF COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN
San Jose, Costa Rica, January 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
INTRODUCTION
11.
SUMMARY OF AFFECTED HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
IN CENTRAL AMERICA
111.
SUMMARY OF AFFECTED HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL MRASTRUCTURE
IN THE CARIBBEAN
IV.
MEDlUM TERM REQUTREMENTS
APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1
Maps
APPENDIX 2
Regional losses
APPENDIX 3
Photographs
APPENDIX 4
Mission report to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras
APPENDIX 5
List of meteorological stations damaged by hurricane Mitch in
Nicaragua
APPENDIX 6
Mission report to Cuba, Dominican Republic and Jamaica
APPENDIX 7
Damage assessment for Jamaica
REPORT ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY
HURRICANES MITCH AND GEORGES TO NMHSs IN COUNTRIES IN
CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
I.
INTRODUCTION
1. The Central American and the Caribbean regions were still recovering from the economic impacts
of the 97-95 El Niño where floods, forest fires and drought had weakened the productive systems
of many countries, when hurricanes Georges and Mitch hit these regions.
2. Hurricane Mitch swept across Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize and Costa
Rica in late October (see Appendix 1 - Maps), resulting in torrential rains, floodins and
landslides. At its height on 26 and 27 October, the hurricane had sustained winds of over 300 km
per hour. Although the region is often affected by tropical storms, Hurricane Mitch reached
category V (the highest) and was one of only four hurricanes this century to reach this level in
Central America. Besides the significant number of human losses, the impact on production and
on the infrastructure, imply a severe setback to the development processes of the region, as n-ell as
high dependency on external aid and financing. Depending on the affected country, it is said that
the setback represents from 30 to 50 years.
3. The loss of life, devastation and ruin resulting from the effects of Hurricane Mitch in Central
America, were considerable and never before registered in the region (see Appendix 2 - Regional
Losses and Appendix 3 - Photos). The hurricane laid bare the extreme vulnerability of large parts
of the population and revealed the pressing need for sustainable, environmentally responsible
policies along with the need for accurate, timely and precise information to allow potentially
affected areas to take preventive measures.
4. The depression that generated Hurricane Mitch generated heavy rainfall in the Costa Rican Pacific
coast, which entailed severe flooding and landslides. According to official figures, approximately
3.000 persons are homeless, four died and seven are missing. Preliminary estimates indicate
losses . in agriculture and communications infrastructure amounting to approximately C'SS 47
million reported by the National Emergency Committee and authorities from the agriculture and
livestock sector. The Government has requested international aid for and reconstruction.
5. In Nicaragua, intense rainfall originated by Hurricane Mitch affected the entire country, but in
particular, the departments of Estelí, León, Matagalpa, Jinotega. Mud from a massive landslide
from the Casitas volcano, covered an area of approximately 20 km long and 2-3 k m wide and
literally buried several villages close to it killing hundreds of people Initial estimates of direct
economic losses are in the millions of dollars range. The highnay infrastructure has been
seriously damaged; rivers have affected more than 60 bridges and the Inter-.herican HigliLvay
between Honduras-El Salvador and Nicaragua has been torn down in several sections There is an
estimated 3.000 kilometers of damaged highways
1
6. Honduras is so far, the country most severely affected by Hurricane Mitch. Following heavy
rainfall in the northeastern coast, which persisted for more than two days, the storm folloLved its
course inland on October 30 and 3 1. Mitch affected approximately 90% of Honduras. Besides
from the losses indicated in Appendix 2, approximately 70% of the country's agricultural
production has been lost, mainly coffee, banana, melon, watermelon and basic grains. The
highway infrastructure has been severely affected and, as a result of which, the main cities have
been isolated and left without water or electricity. Only 20% of the telephone system is operating.
According to President Flores : "Honduras is experiencing the worst moment of its history".
7. In El Salvador, the areas most severely affected by Mitch are located on the eastern part of the
country, bordering Honduras. The most seriously affected departments were La Unión; San
Miguel, San Vicente, Usulután, Sonsonate, La Libertad and La Paz. Also affected were the
islands of the Gulf of Fonseca and most of the losses were related to floods and landslides. There
is an estimated 75% loss of production and two important bridges have collapsed. The
Government has declared a National Emergency and has requested international assistance.
8. Continuins its northeastern course, Mitch hit Guatemalan territory on November 1, causing heavy
rainfall and severe flooding. The National Government declared the state of Public Calamity for
32 days and the crisis was considered the worst in 50 years. Preliminary estimates of damages
amount to 200 million Quetzales.
9. Although Hurricane Mitch did not directly impact Belize, severe rainfall flooded the coastal areas,
particularly in Belize City. The Government of Belize established an Emergency Operations
Center in Belize City to evacuate over 75.000 persons from that city and the coastal islands to
temporary shelters in Belmopan.
10. In the Caribbean, countries were affected' by both hurricane Georges and by hurricane Xíitch.
However, the most affected ones were Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica,
Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Virgin Islands.
1 1. In Jamaica, indirect effects of the hurricane Mitch, produced heavy rainfall, mudslides and floods
that affected several economical sectors as shown in the Appendix 7 - Damage Assessment for
Jamaica. Roads/infrastructure and fisheries were the most affected.
12. Hurricane Georges formed in the far Atlantic from a tropical wave on the 1 j t h of September. By
late afternoon on the 17'h it has become a hurricane. Georges first of many landfalls occurred at
lli
Antigua on the 20th. After moving near or over other islands it then hit Puerto Rico on the 21
with estimated maximum winds of 115 mph. Georges became category 3 over the Dominican
Republic, with maximum wind velocities reaching 120 mph, during landfall on September W d It.
weakened after crossing the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola and made landfall in eastern Cuba
on the 23' with maximum estimated winds of 75 mph. Georges produced important damages in
the Greater Antilles, because of the strong winds and heavy rainfall which in turn produced
flooding and landslides.
13. Besides the significant number of human losses, the impact on production and on the
infrastructure, imply a severe setback to the development processes of the region, as well as his11
dependency on external aid and finance.
14. The situation in the Dominican Republic seems to be back to normal or at least in some remaining
aspects going back to normal rapidly, but there is still plenty of visible and livable evidence of
what happened a few months ago when hurricane Georges hit.
15. Recovery fiom the hurricane continues to be a main priority for many in the Dominican Republic.
The hard task of aiding the thousands who lost their homes and all their belongings is one of the
most difficult. Some smaller and insulated towns in the southern part of the island continue to
struggle to regain normalcy, particularly those affected by flood and mudslides and where most of
the fatalities occurred. The official count of deaths is 249 and the count of homeless has risen to
over 155.000.
SUILIRíARY OF AFFECTED HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL NFRASTRUCTURE IN
CENTRAL AMERICA
II.
16. Hurricane Mitch had a direct impact on the meteorological and hydrological infrastructures of
Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. In Costa Rica, even thoush the
hurricane had a deep impact in the different economic sectors of the country, the above mentioned
infrastructures were not affected.
17. In Nicaragua, 122 meteorological stations suffered partial damases and, in some instances, total
destruction. With respect to the hydrological network, 3 1 stations were severely affected. The list
of the stations and equipment (conventional) necessary to reestablish operations is included in
Appendix 5.
18. In El Salvador, 5 climatological stations (3 principal and 2 ordinary), 13 pluviometric stations and
15 hydrological stations were affected (see details in Appendix 4).
19. In Honduras, a total of 7 meteorological stations were affected (4 damaged and 3 destroyed) and
approximately 80% of the hydroclimatological network was damaged by the effects of hurricane
Mitch (see Appendix 4 for details).
20. In Guatemala, eight meteorological stations were affected as well as 18 hydrolosical stations
21. In Belize, reported damages were that the VSAT/STAR4 system was hit by lightning and stopped
operating. Also, two automatic weather stations were totally destroyed on the islands east of
Belize.
n1.
SUNXRIARY OF AFFECTED HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN
THE CARIBBEAN
22. Dominican Republic and Cuba, some of the countries in the Caribbean most affected by hurricnne
Georges, and Jamaica, affected by indirect effects of hurricane Zrlitch, were visited for evaluation
of damages on the meteorological and hydrological infrastructure.
23. According to NMS of Dominican Republic, 45 meteorological stations were completely a d 34
partially damaged by the hurricane. The M S needs to start operating- in the near future, at least 5
synoptic stations, strategically distributed all over the country, in order to be able to pro\.ide a
minimum basic weather information to the civil population and national authorities.
24. Dominican Republic’s NMS has conventional and automatic weather stations in storage or not
operating adequately. This equipment should be evaluated to see if it is possible to be used
operationally. There is a WEFAX station that is not being used because of software and harhvare
problems. Existing computers could be evaluated to be used as back ups.
25. Dominican Republic’s N b í S personnel need training in the maintenance o f the WEFA.. and
traditional and automatic weather stations, use of software of WEFLY and automatic \\:eather
stations. The availability of their radar information in the Internet should be studied.
26. In Cuba, 8 meteoro!ogical stations were completely and 5 partially damaged by the hurricane. Of
this total of 13 stations, it is necessary to rehabilitate at least 5 . Cuba has 7 radars, of which 2 \vere
converted to digital with great national effort. Imagery from George obtained with the two digital
radars were available on the Internet during the emergency. Due to the dimensions of the island, it
would be desirable to implement at least 2 more digital radars, one on the south east end (Santiaso
de Cuba) and other on the west end (Isla de la Juventud).
27. Cuba has national telecommunications appropriate to be able to release radar imagery through the
Internet in real time, and the technology to convert their radars into digital. The assistance required
to digitize two additional radars and make their output available nationally and internationally
through Internet is really small.
28. Cuba also needs assistance to calibrate its primary and secondary barometers in order to be able to
provide reliable synoptic information, both for national and international use.
29. In Jamaica, 10 meteorological stations were partially damaged by the hurricane Mitch. the
estimated damage in hydrological equipment is US$ 4.000. In the short term, accordin2 to the
NMS, it will be necessary to rehabilitate 3 synoptic stations: Morant Point (southern end), Pedro
Bank (south small island, near of central Jamaica coast) and Negril Point (western extreme). and
also to replace at least four rainfall intensity raingauges and the hydrological equipment damaged
by the storm. These actions will prevent the deterioration of .the national and international
information service.
30. In a middle term, it would be advisable to assist Jamaica to put their real time radar imagery into
the Internet.
lb’.
.:.
RIEDIUM TER\] REQUIREMENTS
I n general, it \vas observed that all affected countries shared, to some degree, the same problenis as
follows:
3 1. No real time information is available for disaster prevention purposes (except the information
available through the VSAT/STAR4 system). There is an urgent need to begin automation of
some basic stations in each country to provide a somewhat adequate geographical coverage and
means to provide the public with more accurate and timely information. Every country has
submitted for consideration proposals to implement automatic stations with real time transmission
via satellite.
32. A high percentage of stations of both the meteorological and hydrological networks is equipped
with very old and out of date conventional instruments. This problem is even worse if it is taken
into account that there is a wide variety of brands and types of instruments beins used
(homogeneity would be advantageous).
33. Maintenance activities are also affected by the lack of adequate means to carry them out such as
tools, spare parts, vehicles, personnel, etc. In cases such as Guatemala, the network has come
almost to a total stop due mainly to'lack of maintenance for the previously mentioned reasons.
..
34. Basic infrastmcture to carry out daily routine activities such as communications means (telephone
lines, computers, Internet connectivity, etc.) needs to be improved or in several cases completely
implemented.
3 5 . Given the need to implement new technologies and the need to provide better and specialized
information to increasingly demanding users, training becomes an outstanding issue that must be
taken into account in the near future.
36. Budgetary constraints for the operation and maintenance of both the meteorological and
hydrological networks in the affected countries, is an important issue that requires feasible options
for its solution in the medium and Ion,0 term.
5