May 1982 Central America floods

Impact and aftermath

Torrential rains fell across Central America for several days, A red cross official stated that "Entire families were swept away by [flood waters] and we know nothing about them". Because all sewers in Nicaragua were damaged, the water was contaminated. Ninety percent of the banana crop and 60 percent of the corn crop was completely destroyed. About 15,000 sought to two emergency shelters. Many bridges were damaged. Since the capital city of Leon was hardest hit, a disaster area was declared for the nearby area. The floods were considered the worst disaster in the country in three years.

Across Honduras, 200 people were killed Total damage was placed at $101 million (1982 USD).

On May 27, the governments of both Honduras and Nicaragua appealed for international aid. Soldiers quickly sent food and medical to at least 50 communities in both countries. A second appeal was made shortly afterwards, which proposed for $5.1 million in medicine and other supplies. The red cross and United Nations (UN) appealed for $3 million in international relief. The UN granted Nicaragua a month's worth of food supply, but officials feared that this would not be enough. Canada donated $220,000 via the League of Red Cross Societies. To prevent an epidemic of diseases such as typhoid fever, the Health Ministry started a program to give out vaccines which costs $5.1 million. The U.S. Embassy in Managua provided $25,000 in donations. The U.S. Embassy in Honduras attempted to outline a fact-fining mission to assess the damage and provide relief.

References

References

1. (May 29, 1982). "Tropical Storm Leaves 80,000 Homeless In Honduras". [[Observer-Reporter]].
2. Dr. Wilfried Strauch. (November 2004). "Evaluación de las Amenazas Geológicas e Hidrometeorológicas para Sitios de Urbanización". Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (INETER).
3. (May 23, 1982). "Killer tropical storm continues". Tri City Herald.
4. (May 26, 1982). "Nicaragua declares flood disaster". The Telegraph-Herald.
5. "Tropical Storm Aletta". Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters.
6. (May 28, 1982). "Nicaragua Appeals For Aid As Tropical Storm Kills 17". Associated Press.
7. (May 29, 1982). "Honduras Appeals Again For Storm Aid". Associated Press.
8. (June 10, 1982). "Canada aids storm victims". [[Ottawa Citizen]].
9. (June 9, 1982). "Cubans Planning To Aid Nicaragua". Associated Press.
10. (June 10, 1982). "Canada Aids Victims". [[The Leader-Post]].
11. (May 28, 1982). "Nicaragua seeks aid as flood victims kill 108". [[The Montreal Gazette]].
12. "U.S. eyes on Nicaragua flood aid". [[The Telegraph-Herald]].