REPORT ON EMERGENCY CAUSED BY TROPICAL STORM STAN

Introduction

Tropical Storm Stan hammered El Salvador the first seven days of October 2005, leaving in its path irreparable loss of more than 70 human lives, thousands of families evacuated, and millions of dollars in damage to crops and social infrastructure. The following represents a preliminary report regarding the events that occurred in the communities of the lower Lempa (State of Usulután), an area that was severely affected by this phenomenon, and whose total losses in economic, social, and environmental aspects remain incalculable at this moment.

1st Phase: Evacuation

On the afternoon of October 3rd a tour was taken as far as the community of La Canoa, checking the level of discharges from the dam based on measurements the communities perform. We confimed that the Lempa River rose at a rate of 1 cm. every 10 minutes. The discharges reported by CEL-COEN, in charge of administration of the hydroelectric dam, were of 2500 m3/sec. Further, the communities Marillo I and II were found to be inundated by rain, exceeding in some sections a depth of 50 cms. The El Espino River was found to be out of its banks, having flooded the streets of the community of Nueva Esperanza (New Hope).

Discharges from the dam were increased to 4,500 m3/sec at 4:00 P.M. Permanent monitoring is initiated via the communications network of the Alert System, with regard to the situation in each one of the communities.

At 10:00 P.M. the community of Babilonia advises via radio the failure of the levy near the community of Los Lotes. Remaining completely isolated, a last attempt is made to evacuate. Simultaneously, a team from the Coordinadora makes a new tour through the community of La Canoa, in which it is determined that the community is being evacuated toward Jiquilisco by personnel from the Township-Coordinadora. More trucks are requested to evacuate the various communities.

At 11:00 P.M., the Lempa River begins to overflow in near Nancuchiname Forest, exactly in the area where the construction of the levy was halted. Later the community of Babilonia reports a new failure of the levy to the south. Remaining isolated, they organize an evacuation by boat across the Lempa River toward Tasajera Island.

During the afternoon and evening an average of 500 people were evacuated to the shelters in Jiquilisco and San Marcos Lempa, transporting them with vehicles provided by the town of Jiquilisco. Meanwhile a good number of people were concentrated in the shelters of Ciudad Romero (600), Amando López (200), Presidio Liberado (50), and Las Mesas (150). An undetermined number of people remained in the area, taking care of their personal belongings, cattle, and assisting with the various tasks.

Tuesday the 4th, the number of people in the shelters reached full capacity, due to the LempA River having overflowed at several points. Evacuations continued in the communities of El Zamorán, Nuevo Amanecer y Ciudad Romero. In the afternoon, in various communities the water reached almost to the roofs of the houses and crops were completely flooded.

Table 1: People assisted in the different shelters in Jiquilisco:

Wednesday the 5th, at 2:00 A.M. the evacuations are continuing with the communities of Amando López, Presidio, and those others to the north, until arriving at Zamorán, Ciudad Romero and Nuevo Amanecer, finishing at 10:00 A.M. These last communities were evacuated by boat.

During this phase the principal activities performed by the Coordinadora, in coordination with the municipal authorities of Jiquilisco, were the transfer of people to the shelters, providing support to the shelters, the transfer of prepared food to the people in the shelters and communities, and the monitoring of the communities.

2nd Phase: Protection of the families in the communities.

Beginning Wednesday afternoon the delivery of prepared food and water was initiated to the families that remained in the area. These foods were prepared in the community of La Gracia. That night the first brigade of Salvadoran doctors, graduated in Cuba, arrived and were assisted by young volunteers from the association of municipalities and Sister Cities. The objective of this effort was to take care of the medical emergency cases, such as respiratory illnesses (principally in children), gastrointestinal infections, and severe fungal infections of the skin. During the afternoon it was reported from CEL-COEN that the level of discharges had gone down to 2,500 m3/sec. This was confirmed by the drop in the level of flooding in the communities.

Thursday, the 6th. At dawn food was carried to the communities of Amando López and Marillo, as was urgent medical support for the latter. During the day the supply of prepared food was maintained and the people (the majority of whom were girls and boys) were transferred from the shelter in the community of Presidio Liberado to the commnity of Amando López.

At 2:00 P.M. the discharges increased again, up to 5,100 m3/sec after 4:00 P.M. The situation worsened with further increases in discharges up to 5,700 m3/sec, eliminating the possibility of continuing to carry food to the area.

Friday, the 7th. Discharges were reduced at 6:00 A.M., so that by 8:00 A.M. one could enter the area again with food and the medical brigade, created this time by 6 doctors and 6 volunteers from the association of municipalities, Sister Cities.

In this phase the principal activities performed by the Coordinadora, in coordination with the town of Jiquilisco, were providing support to the shelters, distribution of prepared food and water to people in the area, evacuation or transfer of people, and providing medical attention.

Report by Aristides Valencia. Translated by David Kendrick.