Costa Rica News – President Luis Guillermo Solis yesterday declared a state of emergency in eight cantons of the Caribbean coast and Northenr Zone to due the extensive damages caused by the heavy rains in recent days.
The cantons to benefit from the declaration are Limón, Talamanca, Matina, Pococí, Siquirres, Guácimo, Sarapiquí and Turrialba.
The emergency declaration allows funds to be sent to the communities to help reconstruct damage to homes and infrastructure, agriculture and all utilities.
The firs phase of the aid is ¢183 million colones that will be used to send supplies to the affected areas, that includes 2.193 meals, 1,180 foam mattresses and 1,085 blankets.
President Solis, on his Facebook page added that ¢110 billion colones will be used to repair roads and aqueducts, ¢440 million for humanitarian assistance for the affected families, and keep school canteens open for students. (In this area the school canteens are a primary source for daily meals for students).
The declaration also allows the government to take out a special emergency loan for US$30 million dollars with the World Bank and places the responsibility on the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) – national emergency commission – to prepare and execute a plan within two months, and requires all institutions to coordinate their efforts with the CNE.
This morning, for the first time in more than a week, there was no rain in the port city of Limon. Although the skies over the city were overcast, the weather forecast is favourable (no rain) for at least today. However, that can change quickly.
From QCostaRica
