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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Floods, 10-15-2011
Sustained heavy rainfall in mid-October associated with a tropical depression caused flooding and landslides in a majority of Guatemala’s departments, resulting in nearly 30 deaths and affecting more than 170,000 people, as of October 17. The floods and landslides damaged more than 5,000 houses, numerous roads, and several bridges, and the Government of Guatemala (GoG) National Emergency Response Commission (CONRED) activated emergency operations centers in Quetzaltenango, Escuintla, San Marcos, Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu, Huehuetenango, and Totonicapán departments. In response to the floods, the Guatemalan Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations assisted with preventative evacuations, established emergency shelters that hosted more than 6,000 people, and conducted damage and humanitarian needs assessments in flood-affected areas.
On October 15, 2011, U.S. Ambassador Arnold A. Chacon declared a disaster due to the effects of the floods. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/Guatemala to CONRED for local procurement and distribution of non-food emergency relief commodities, including chlorinated water, water filters, blankets, and fuel, to benefit flood-affected populations. On October 12, USAID/OFDA activated a seven-member assessment team in Guatemala, including a Guatemala-based Disaster Risk Management Specialist and six local surge capacity consultants to monitor conditions in coordination with USAID/OFDA staff in Washington, D.C., and San José, Costa Rica, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, GoG officials, the USAID/Guatemala Mission Disaster Relief Officer, and USAID/OFDA staff at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Miami, Florida.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Floods, 09-06-2010
In late August, heavy rains resulted in floods and mudslides in Guatemala. On September 7, floods and mudslides killed 45 individuals, injured 30 others, and displaced approximately 10,300 people, with a total of 50,600 individuals affected according to the Government of Guatemala (GoG) National Emergency Response Commission (CONRED). According to a CONRED official, more than 9,300 people sought refuge in 63 temporary shelters, primarily in Suchitepéquez and Retalhuleu departments. CONRED also reported that intensified rain damaged or destroyed road and bridge infrastructure. CONRED distributed food, water, personal hygiene items, and cleaning supplies to affected individuals. In response to a GoG request, U.S. Government (USG) Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) helicopters transported GoG and USG personnel to affected areas to assess humanitarian and road conditions.
On September 6, 2010, Ambassador Stephen G. McFarland issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the floods and mudslides. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/Guatemala to CONRED for the distribution of emergency relief supplies, including hygiene kits and blankets, to affected individuals. A three-person USAID/OFDA assessment team coordinated with the Guatemala Mission Disaster Relief Officer and CONRED to define priority needs and participate on over-flights with CONRED and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention representatives.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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