The After Effects of Alma
The storm passed,
although the peace has
yet to return to the
many affected
communities. A
preliminary report by
the Comisión Nacional de
Emergencias (CNE) -
national emergency
commission - on Tropical
Storm Alma says that 950
houses were affected and
104 bridges damaged, a
storm that affected
directly the lives of
5.400 people in Costa
Rica.
The report indicates
that a total of 327
communities suffered
severely the
consequences of Alma;
620 houses were flooded
by water and mud and 330
abandoned temporarily.
The majority of the
affected - 3.500 people
- were in Guanacaste and
58 routes were seriously
affected in all parts of
the country, as the
storm damaged 104
bridges and 10 rural
aqueducts.
Among the hardest hit
communities were Parrita,
Pérez Zeledón, Cóbano,
Lepanto, Paquera,
Hojancha, Nandayure,
Aguirre, León Cortés and
Aserrí.
Although the storm has
passed and the alert by
the CNE has been reduced
to yellow, 1.400 people
still are being housed
in shelters, while a
number of others are
living with friends and
family. The CNE reports
having distributed some
5.000 "diarios" (basic
meals) and 6.000 sponge
mattresses.
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