Aftermath of Hurricane Eta
Thursday:
Today was all about assessing all the damages caused by the rains yesterday, Thankfully, all day we’ve had very little rain, although I’m unsure if we should be expecting more in the coming days. In general, the country suffered great damage. Especially in the northern parts, entire cities were flooded, leaving people stranded on their roofs waiting for rescue. Rivers are reaching heights they haven’t reached since the devastating Hurricane Mitch more than 20 years ago, resulting in mandatory evacuations for low laying areas all over the country. In Tegucigalpa, the damage was less severe but still wide spread. We received many reports from our families in Los Pinos, and were able to help some with plastic as a temporary fix to help cover vulnerable ground until the authorities can assist. There have been large parts of the hill slide down into homes causing great damage. (Pictures below)
Today was also a day defined by solidarity. People on the north coast going on their personal boats to rescue stranded families. Large and small Honduran companies are collecting items and donating food, clothes, and other resources to people who have lost everything. Neighbors are checking in on neighbors and working together to get through this difficult time.
We praise God for a break in the rain, and pray that it will continue. We pray that this continues and no more damage occurs!
Friday:
The storm has officially left Honduran territory, but it’s left behind a huge impact. Many places are still under water, where people are still stranded on roofs and the water is close to reaching them. What breaks my heart more than anything else, more than the destroyed homes and property, are the endless posts filling my Facebook of people looking for missing loved ones. Parents have been separated from their children and whole families haven’t been heard from in days, leaving people desperate to connect. As the waters recede in some areas, even more victims are being found, and the country is bracing for a victim count that will most likely increase in the coming days.
In the community where we serve, there wasn’t as much widespread damage, but there was an area of the hillside that gave way, making 5-10 homes unlivable. Homes in various other places also experienced damage due to the water or the hillside sliding down into their unstable walls, and at least one home has been reported as completely collapsed.
Today we received word that an emergency shelter has been set up in the local school, and reportedly about 13 families are currently staying there because they no longer have a safe home to go back to. We also have received phone calls from people staying in the shelter asking if we can help with certain items, such as mats to sleep on, that aren’t being provided in the shelter. Early tomorrow Edmy is going to the shelter to get details and figure out what items are most needed, so we can go out later in the day and make a donation.
Like I mentioned yesterday, there has been such a response of solidarity, most notably from local Honduras organizing drives to support one another and those who have lost everything. We are ready to join the efforts and help out those with such an immediate need.
Depending on the needs, I’ll let you know tomorrow what we were able to donate. If you’d like to donate towards the ministry as we provide this emergency aid, you can make a tax deductible donation through PayPal below. Thank you!