Hurricane Ida floods El Salvador

On November 7th, Hurricane Ida and a tropical depression from the Pacific coast both hit El Salvador with heavy rain. 35 cm of water fell in just 24 hours, which is about the same amount of precipitation caused by Hurricane Stan (a particularly bad hurricane which hit El Salvador in 2005) in five days. The rain caused floods and mudslides, impacting thousands of families.

As of 12th November 58 people are currently missing and at least 150 deaths have been reported.

There is no communication or access to several parts of the country, making it difficult to assess the extent of the damage. El Salvador’s President has declared a state of National Emergency and requested the assistance of foreign governments and international organisations. El Salvador’s Congress is considering declaring a State of Public Calamity, due to the impact this disaster will have on the country’s economy due to damage to major crops such as sugarcane and coffee.

Education provided by Plan in how to respond to disasters and reduce future risks it has meant that Youth Committees for Civil Protection in the communities where Plan works reacted promptly and efficiently; helped evacuate and organise families, minimising the loss of human lives. Sadly there have still been at least 21 fatalities in Plan areas, including a sponsored child.

This video shows first hand accounts of the floods and landslides in El Salvador, including how disaster risk reduction training helped young people to assist their communities.

Plan response

First response materials are being delivered to these communities by Plan, in coordination with local governments, community associations and other NGOs. Plan is coordinating psychological aid to the affected families, especially children. So far, Plan has delivered almost 200 mattresses, blankets, drinking water, and hygiene kits.

Plan is also preparing for the aftermath. It will be necessary to monitor and control diseases that can thrive in this type of situation, such as dengue, influenza and gastrointestinal illnesses. A cold front has been announced for the next few days, and the provisional shelters are not adequately equipped to protect people from it.

Since the school year is almost over, the education of Salvadoran children will not be seriously affected. However, it will be necessary to create spaces and opportunities of distraction for children, to help them overcome the situation and regain some sense of normality in their lives.