National Emergency
Declared Following
"Alma"
The government of Costa
Rica signed a national
emergency decree to
rally reconstruction
efforts in communities
hardest hit by last
week's tropical storm
"Alma."
Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, said the
emergency decree will
give the authorities
faster access to
economic resources and
more flexibility in
allocating the necessary
money to meet urgent
needs like repairing
bridges and roads.
The Comisión Nacional de
Emergencias (CNE)
reported that some 20
towns were battered by
the storm, which caused
widespread flooding.
Direct economic loses
are estimated to be
us$40 million dollars.
CNE Executive President
Daniel Gallardo said
teams from the
commission had reached
more than 90 percent of
the villages left
isolated by the storm.
He said more damage may
be reported as
government workers go
back to affected
communities after water
levels return to normal.
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