Communities Mobilize for Central American Hurricane
World Vision activated Rapid Response teams in three Central American countries, and dispatched emergency staff to field locations following widespread fear caused by the regions first major storm of this years hurricane season.
One of the largest Christian relief and development organizations in the world activated Rapid Response teams in three Central American countries and dispatched emergency staff to field locations following widespread fear caused by the regions first major storm of this years hurricane season.
Although El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala escaped major damage and casualties from Hurricane Adrian, widespread fear of an impending catastrophe on the scale of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 led people in the region to brace themselves for the worst, according to World Vision.
Communities in World Vision projects were quick to mobilize ahead of the expected onslaught of Tropical Storm Adrian, getting those at risk to safety and positioning relief goods ahead of any need, World Vision reported Wednesday.
In El Salvador, where some 500,000 people were reportedly evacuated from their homes ahead of the hurricane, WV El Salvador, together with local response teams in each of its Area Development Programs (ADPs), initiated an Emergency Plan in coordination with municipal emergency committees, positioning relief goods for rapid distribution when and where needed.
WV offices in Honduras and Guatemala followed the same general strategy monitoring the storm, communicating with ADPs, and helping them to plan and implement initial response activities.
Although Adrian generated moderate to intense rains, landslides were minimal and, remarkably, no casualties or substantial damages were reported.
Nevertheless, World Vision said the detailed plans and preparations undertaken by its offices in all three countries provided them with valuable insights and lessons for dealing with future emergencies on a possibly much larger scale.