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COSTA RICA - Monday 17
January 2005
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SPECIAL
REPORT:
Isn't It Supposed To Be Summer?
By Enrico
Cacciatore, Insidecostarica.com
On Sunday I visited the Limón
area to get a first hand look at
some of the devastation that we
have been writing about all
week.
Though my day trip didn't takes
me into the southern part of the
province in areas of Sixaola,
where most of the damage and
suffering is still going on, I
did make it so far as 35
kilometres south of the port
town.
As I rode along the main road
that connects the southern
communities, accompanied by my
faithful and lawyer friend, "cimba",
my Siberian Husky, I could see
the damage that the flooding had
caused. The rivers, though they
had now receded, left the marks
of their swollen banks.
Water was everywhere, from small
puddles to large areas that
could almost be called lakes.
The area was a total contrast to
the centre of Limón where, save
for the day's rain, all was
normal.
A cruise liner had made it's way
into port early in the morning
and tourist descended on the
gray and gloomy Sunday morning
in Limón centre.
Most of the tourists had no idea
what had been going on just a
short distance. One elderly
couple from Minnesota told us
that on the ship they had no
contact with the outside world,
no television, no news, no
interruption.
Isn't it supposed to be summer?
The couple asked. My reply was,
yes, but not in this area.
They were surprised at the news
that damage and suffering the
floods had caused to the coastal
areas that they had marveled at
during their arrival to the
port.
The rain had been with me from
the Braulio Carrillo National
Park, a short distance from San
José and continued on and off
through most of our journey.
Most impressive was the story of
Ilsia, a 23 year old Costa Rican
with two small children.
Although the interior of her
home was not affected,
everything else around her
exterior had washed away, and
temporary boards were used to
make the crossing from her porch
unto the street.
Her home is located only a few
minutes away from Limón centre,
at the 34km point on the
southern road.
Ilsia told me she has lived
through many floods in her young
years. Each year the same, some
years worse. Her family, to
prevent more suffering, had the
fortune some years back to build
the current house on posts, this
way, and as it did occur, the
water would take everything away
from them.
The surrounding area of her
house was totally devastated,
along with several of her
neighbours to the south, but the
house to the north, only about
50 meters and sitting on the
ground, was not affected at all.
With two small children in tow,
all she could do is hope and
pray. There is no television in
her modest home, a small radio
that keeps her entertained as
she goes about her chores of
cleaning house.
All she could do is wait for the
good weather to return, the mud
to dry up and start the process
of living a normal life again.
For now all she could do was sit
on the porch and watch the cars
swerve to avoid the huge
potholes that the water left in
the roadway.
I gave her ˘5.000 colones to
help her, while she waits on the
Red Cross and the National
Emergency Commission to offer
their help. Since she wasn't as
far off as many others, she will
be one of the last to get help.
Ilsia and her two young
children (2 and 3) standing
in front of their home.
Ilsia walking to my car,
with child in arm, to talk
to me about her situation.
Ilsia waving goodbye.
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The huge pothole that last
left in front of Ilsia's
house.
The rain on and off was with
me all the way from the
Braulio Carrillo National
Park.
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You Too Can Help!
At the moment they are
asking for donations of the following items:
- Fresh bottled water
- Milk (liquid and not powder)
- Rice and other canned foods
- Diapers
- Soap, toothpaste, tooth
brushes
- Rubber boots
- Bleach, detergent and
disinfectants
- Cooking utensils
- Blankets
- Clothing
You can also make a cash donation by depositing to the
following bank accounts:
- Banco de Costa Rica:
Dollars: 204-6
Colones: 241-100-8
Banco de
Costa Rica will match
every donation!
If you are not in
Costa Rica and want to help, you can also make your
donation by way of Insidecostarica.com by clicking on
the donation button below.
For every dollar
received, ICR will add 10% and make the deposit at the
Banco Costa Rica bank. You can include your name on the
donation form.
All payments will be sent to an account by IStarmedia
(publisher of Insidecostarica.com) by way of
Paypal's secured
server.
Donations received so far at
ICR:
- Christine Greenwood $100
- Paula Jones $75
- Henry Chaiklin $50
- Helene Rigsby $50
- Joanne Caravaggio $50
- Thomas Henry $50
- Gino Vargas $50
- Dominic Carassco $50
- John & Kathy Ward $50
- Jack Powell $25
- Steven Gassers $25
- John Moran $25
- Shawn Case $25
Total Donated:
$625.00
ICR Contribution:
$62.50
BCR Match:
$687.50
Grand Total:
$1.375.00
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