Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Floods, 10-16-2011
Heavy rainfall in mid-October associated with a tropical depression caused flooding and landslides throughout El Salvador, resulting in more than 30 deaths and affecting an estimated 150,000 people, including approximately 20,000 individuals who evacuated to more than 260 emergency shelters, according to the Government of El Salvador (GoES) Civil Protection Agency on October 17. President Mauricio Funes declared a state of national emergency on October 14; the GoES closed schools and evacuated vulnerable communities from areas threatened by landslides. GoES completed rescue operations, delivered relief commodities, and conducted damage and humanitarian needs assessments in flood-affected areas.
On October 16, 2011, U.S. Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte declared a disaster due to the effects of the floods. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/El Salvador to the GoES Civil Protection Agency for local procurement and distribution of non-food emergency relief commodities, including hygiene kits, kitchen sets, and fuel. On October 12, USAID/OFDA activated an El Salvador-based USAID/OFDA Disaster Risk Management Specialist and two local USAID/OFDA surge capacity consultants, who monitored conditions, in coordination with USAID/OFDA staff in Washington, D.C., and San José, Costa Rica, the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador, GoES officials, the USAID/El Salvador Mission Disaster Relief Officer, and USAID/OFDA staff at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Miami, Florida.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Tropical Storm, 05-30-2010
Since May 26, heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Agatha have affected all 14 departments of El Salvador, with damage centralized in the departments of San Salvador and Sonsonate. As of June 1, associated flooding and mudslides had killed at least 12 people and resulted in the evacuation of approximately 11,650 individuals, according to the Government of El Salvador Civil Protection agency. As of May 31, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that approximately 8,000 people were housed in nearly 200 emergency shelters, located in schools, churches, and community centers. The Government of El Salvador Civil Protection agency reported that flooding and mudslides damaged or destroyed transportation infrastructure, approximately 100 houses, and at least 15 community health centers.
On May 30, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Robert I. Blau declared a disaster due to the effects of Tropical Storm Agatha. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through USAID/El Salvador for the local purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including fuel for emergency response vehicles, shelter materials, and hygiene kits. In addition, a three-person USAID/OFDA assessment team, including an El Salvador-based disaster risk management specialist, conducted on-the-ground damage assessments to determine if additional U.S. Government humanitarian assistance was needed.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
Back to Top ^ |
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
