12:01 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
A levy in Chamelecon broke. There are two thousand families waiting to be evacuated now. People in charge are trying to get trucks and any transportation in order to get these families out.
12:20 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
La Lima is completely flooded there are over 2,000 people on the highway awaiting rescue teams.
12:25 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
More Hurricane Mitch photos from San Pedro Sula.
12:49 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
The River Piedras near Bella Vista is threatening to overflow.
2:15 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update by a Professor of the Instituto Guardiola in Roatan:
Coxen Hole: Currently winds are calm and have been this way most of the day. Rain is light and also has been this way most of the day.
Telephones in the Coxen Hole/Roatan area are working for the most part. Reports are that the Roatan Hospital is assisting in coordination of shelters and information. Hurricane Mitch is currently stationary and downgraded to a Category 2. Winds are at 100MPH. It is predicted to go North after 1 to 2 days.
2:45 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update from Utila:
Experienceing periodic strong winds which go away and turn to calm but always come back. Shelters are holding up well and consist of hotels schools and private homes. Majority of the damage is around the center of town but
mostly consist of damaged roofs. The winds are from the north east and this has been a blessing since winds from
the south would cause MAJOR damage. Only one confirmed house has been destroyed on the "Keys" which were
evacuated to the main island of Utila. Cooperation levels amongst residents is very high and spirits are good.
Major worry is shortage of milk and sugar for the kids. There is approximately a 2 day supply.
There are an estimated 3,800 to 4,000 residents in Utila.
2:55 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
United States initial relief funds in the amount of US $125,000 have been presented for immediate help to the country of Honduras by the US ambassador. Other funds will be delivered later.
3:00 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on Puerto Cortes, as reported by the Mayor:
The lagoon is beginning to overflow. The Ulua and Chamelecon rivers pose great threats right now and has everyone worried. Conditions are difficult. The bridge between Barrio Laguna and Barrio Porvenir is closed as a precaution. The Navy Red Cross and many residents are cooperating and working together.
3:15 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on La Ceiba via e-mail from Heather (Cameron) Kingrey:
At 1:30 this morning my brother-in-law called from their home (behind the bus station in La Ceiba). He said in the area where they lived there wasn't much flooding as yet. My elderly folks, brothers and their families, and my sister and her family were still up on the hill at the motel. My brother-in-law had driven down to my folks
home near Burger King and he said that the water was only up to the
bottom of the door!!! However, there are several families that we know who live near the Cangrejal River and their homes were washed out into the river. He said that we should pray that the rains would subside because if not, the rivers would swell so bad that much more damage will occur. If there is much more swelling of the river my folks home will be destroyed. But praise God as it stands now, they are all safe!! Roger Reeck (my brother-in-law) said that there are people staying in the Bethel Church which is located near the stadium. Roger said that many people will need financial help!!! Of course there is no electricty but the telephone was working even though it would cut off for him at times when he was dialing up to Arizona and Fla. to his daughters and also here to Boise!!
3:20 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Hurricane Mitch downgraded to a Category 1 but is expected to be stationary for a couple days.
3:50 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
The city of Choloma reports "normal" rainy conditions.
4:05 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
La Ceiba reports 5 "city" bridges have been destroyed.
5:00 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update from the Mayor of Utila:
No overnite changes. All is currently calm. No changes from last report.
5:30 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update from the Mayor of Choluteca:
Requested assistance and relayed the need for "heavy equipment" to help with the damages caused by the heavy rain. Reports 2 deaths, 15 homes destroyed and 2,000 evacuated.
8:30 a.m - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on Coxen Hole from Barbara and Larson James:
My husband contacted the hospital in Coxen Hole. He was told that there had been no major problems around Coxen Hole and that all seemed calm at that time. Also, it appeared that there had been no serious injuries or deaths reported in that immediate area. He did not get any information about other parts of the Bay Islands.
9:40 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on Roatan from Tom DeMille:
I'm an owner as Sundancer Villas, Sandy Bay (Roatan). We own the unit closest to the water. (About 50 yards). I just spoke to Joe Roy who is a coowner. He spoke to Don who owns the unit 50 feet across from us. Don spent the night in his unit last night, and spoke to Joe at 9:00 to 9:15 AM EST today, Thursday the 29th. Don reported NO damage whatesoever to any of the units at Sundancer,
with the exception being that the 300 foot pier is gone. The water only made it about 1/2 way to the cabanas. I do not have any info from him regarding the rest of that area of the island.
10:00 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on Roatan from Pamela and Tom Young:
Satellite call received from Roatan. All CocoView Resort guests are safe and doing well. They've asked us to relay this message to the folks back home as telephone communications are difficult. CocoView has suffered only minor damage to walkways and over water platforms. This message was sent to me from Roatan Charter, by Terry this morning at 7:06 a.m. Florida time.
10:30 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on La Ceiba via e-mail from Matthew Hines:
I have just received word from my Dad, Tom Hines, via radio in La Ceiba. This is the second time he has made contact via radio. He and the rest of the missionary personnel he works with are safe and on higher ground. They are stationed approximately a half mile from the La Ceiba airport, near the mountains. They have food, but are rationing it, as the hurricane still remains almost stationary, and no one knows how much longer things will be in a state of emergency. He described La Ceiba as an island, with all forms of communication cut off from surrounding areas. He also said that 20 houses have been destroyed. I do not know where or how. My Dad is also working to locate another radio and other communication equipment, so that rescue and relief efforts can begin as soon as possible. Please pray that God will keep His hand on His people and this devastated country.
11:00 a.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update from Emergency Medical Services
This is Olimpia, General Manager of Emergency Medical Services in San Pedro
Sula. We are working with the fire department transporting those in shelters
that need to go to hospitals. There is a situation developing and we hope it
does not happen. The city may be forced to turn off the water supply. The
filtration systems are being damaged and to avoid more damage they may shut
down. We suggest you keep a supply of water in your homes. Fill up water
bottles and if you have a bathtub, fill that up also. You may need this
water for bathing, cooking and flushing. If you must drink this water, use
clorine tabs and follow the directions on the pkg, or you can use 5 drops of
liquid clorine (Clorox) for every gallon of water. If you dont have these
available you can boil vigorously for at least 10 minutes.
Our advice is to follow the instructions of the authorities if told to
evacuate. Don´t minimize the damage this storm can do to you and get out if
told or if you see your neighbors. No one can help you later if you are stuck.
Good luck to all, and may God Bless Honduras
Olimpia Martinez de Ramirez
Emergency Medical Service S.A. de C.V.
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
ph& fax ( 504-Honduras)552-1711, 557-2255
email: ems@honduras.com
web page: http://www.honduras.com/EMS/
12:35 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on La Lima area vie e-mail from RTurc:
I spoke to my grandomother and aunt around 12:30 p.m., toda, Thursday the 29, and they told me that flooding has begun in colonia La Carmen and is creeping towards colonia Las Vegas. The phones were still working. La Lima is completely underwater. The news over there said that it is likely that Lima gets completely lost. My grandmother told me that you counldn't even see the houses anyomore. People have also taken refuge in the hospital in Lima. My uncle that lives there had to quickly evacute because of the flooding. Most of the rivers have overflown and everyone is watching the news carefully.
12:45 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on Roatan vie e-mail from Rick and Liz Potter:
I just got off the phone with my sister, Carolyn Walters in Roatan.
She, her house, and all of her animals are fine, reporting no damage for them. Their house is in Sandy Bay, just behind Sandy Bay car rental. She called from Hondutel in Coxen Hole. She said minimal damage to Coxen Hole and has been as far as West End but could not get all the way to the end of West End road. She reports that all areas from Coxen Hole to (as far as she could get) West End had little damage. She did say however that Anthony's Key resort suffer substantial damage. She has not been able to get any information on the east end of the island, Punta Gorda. She of course called to let us know that she was ok but also inquired about the weather forcast
for them as the were not able to get accurate information over the radio.
Posted by O Ma R Orbison on October 29, 1998 at 13:43:
The Regional Emergency Committee CODER II of San Pedro Sula released the following communique (Alarm Notice #1):
1- All of the inhabitants of the northern zone of San Pedro Sula, from Rio Piedras along the ridge toward Puerto Cortes
should evacuate by their own means the areas that they inhabit in light that within the next hours the situation will be
critical and they will become isolated. By not following this indication, the consequences will be disasterous because
the emergency organizations lack the capacity to assist.
2- This alarm is extended to all of the inhabitants of La Lima, El Progreso, Tela and all of the departments that make up
the northern coastal zone of the country.
3- People should move to safe areas far from those threatened by flooding and they should realize that due to the
magnitude of the hurricane threat it is impossible to provide transportation to all of the population that needs it.
4- Those that do not have their own means of transportation should seek the nearest shelter that are being announced in
the whole region.
5- This alert is effective immediately and by your quick response we can avoid future misfortunes that we we later
lament.
WEBMASTER'S NOTE: Due to our inability to connect to the Internet, we regret that the above notice was not published earlier.
We will continue to provide information as often as we can; however, please remember that we are in the midst of an
unprecedented disaster and our assistance in relief efforts takes priority.
We are proud to be able to provide the San Pedro Sula Municipal Emergency Committee (CODEM) valuable information that we have been downloading from the Internet and which is being actively used in critical decision making!!!
2:00 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
MITCH is now downgraded to a Tropical Storm it is no longer a hurricane.
Posted by O Ma R Orbison on October 29, 1998 at 14:23
Hurricane Mitch continues to unleash its fury upon Honduras. Although technically it has been reduced to tropical
storm status due to the reduction in wind speeds, we continue to refer to it as a hurricane since it's impact upon the
country is unprecedented.
Rivers levels all over the area are rising, and many locals have been flocking to the levees to check them out. This
dangerous sport has already resulted in three deaths, one eighteen year old girl and two adolescent boys. They were
gawking at the river when the earth beneath them caved in and fell into the river. Apparently the river had been eating
away at the levee and eventually took a chunk of it, right where these three were standing. Their bodies were last seen
floating down the river.
Rain continues to come down in sheets here in San Pedro Sula and should it continue this way, then it is only a matter
of time before widespread flooding occurs. This webmaster´s house is located near one of the rivers (in fact, very close
to where the previous incident occurred) and we fear that it is a goner!!!
Debris (tree branches, rocks, etc) has been accumulating in Rio Piedras by the Kiddy Kat School, and the river is
beginning to deviate all over the place there. The army is presently mobilizing a team to clear the stoppage. Should the
rain continue, it is forecasted that the exclusive Bella Vista neighborhood will begin to slide into the Rio Piedras river
within the next 24 hours.
A family with a bunch of children refuses to leave their shack even though the river's damage has left them only one
small way out. The army is planning to force them out rather than let them die.
SPS is expecting the arrival of a team of some 25 US catastrophe experts known as ALERT tomorrow. We are looking
forward to their arrival - WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET, ASAP!!!
Other reports received yesterday indicate that 65 - 70 % of the houses on the island of Guanaja have been destroyed
completely.
It should be noted that a superhuman effort is being performed by all of the emergency units, but the needs of the
population far outweigh the units´ capabilities. However, we have witnessed various acts of kindness performed by
local citizens. At one traffic stop, we saw the occupants of a car give clothing and juice to street children. An owner of a
local pharmacy has been giving out free sample medication to needy persons. The local relief effort is filling up with
donations from all walks of life. It is quite apparent through these acts of love and kindness that Hondurans do care for
their fellow citizens!!!
We will continue to inform the world of the various incidents related to Mitch through this medium whenever possible.
As mentioned in my previous post, however, our primary concern is to assist the emergency command center in its
relief efforts.
3:00 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Roads from SPS to Lake Yohoa currently are passable, but the rivers on the way are getting dangerous. Reports indicate that this is as far as one can travel.
3:30 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Photos of San Pedro Sula today. Update to follow.
3:40 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Photos of San Pedro Sula today II.
Photos of San Pedro Sula today III.
4:17 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
San Pedro Sula: Currently has 29 refugee shelters in operation, housing 26,310 people. There is no food or clothes to give these people. The SPS airport is closed, only the US Base, Palmerola is open. Fuel ships cannot dock, and the city has fuel for only one more day. No rationing is going on, as there would be no time for enforcement as all efforts are on providing assistance to the refugees. The streets have become rivers in many areas, and there are problems with land near the streets caving in when people walk near.
There is radio communication and telephone problems. SPS has only 70% of phones operative, and only telephone communication with Tegucigalpa. HONDUTEL is providing the emergency center with internet connections to assist in their efforts.
The people living near the Chamelecon river who declined to evacuate yesterday are walking to San Pedro to take refuge. The Chamelecon river is rising 10 cms every hour, and emergency vehicles cannot get near.
La Ceiba: The water level now is low, and they don´t have rain and wind. The only problem there now is power.
Posted by O Ma R Orbison on October 29, 1998 at 17:34
The latest news concerning the present situation in San Pedro Sula is that the Rivera Hernandez neighborhood is in
serious danger of being flooded. The river level next to the neighborhood is extremely near its overflow point.
The authorities have formally requested that citizens avoid moving around on the streets. Apparently too many people
are circulating, thereby impeding relief efforts.
The Rio Piedras bridge on the road to Puerto Cortes has been closed. Most evacuation traffic from the neighborhoods
in that area (El Roble, La Tara, Los Zorzales, Jardines del Valle, Universidad, ALAMOS (my neighborhood - we have
evacuated our house!!!), Nova, Las Mercedes, Fesitranh, Rio Blanco, etc) have been using the new circle to move to
higher ground. This has caused slow traffic flow.
President Flores is reportedly in San Pedro Sula in the army headquarters known as the 105 Brigade. He traveled by
land from Tegucigalpa and had to drive all over the place to reach San Pedro Sula. Drive all over the place means that
when he reached Lake Yojoa, he had to detour through Santa Barbara to reach the western highway that connects with
Guatemala, then veer back until reaching Chamelecon. Rumour has it that he may pop into this command headquarters,
and we look forward to briefing him concerning the present situation!!!
Speaking of the western highway, it is reported that water is seeping up from underground onto the highway in certain
areas. Also the pineapple plantations in that area have almost no water absorption capability whatsoever, which means
that the rainfall flows and takes topsoil with it.
Our analysis indicates that since the breakup of the hurricane near Trujillo, storm clouds from Mitch have been
traveling in our direction. We just had some major rainfall a couple of hours ago, and the satellite photos that we have
been monitoring indicate more is on its way!!! It is presently in the La Ceiba area. We expect to receive the brunt of
this rainfall within three or four hours :(
The weather forecasts indicate that rain is expected to fall on the San Pedro Sula area for another 72 hours. The water
absorption capacity of the Merendon ridge - the mountain range around San Pedro Sula which provides its protection
and water supply - is now reportedly at 70%. This means that should it continue to rain, we are in serious danger of
mudslides and...so considering the present state of affairs with most of the rivers almost overflowing, the worst is yet to
come!!!
GOD HELP US!!!
9:15 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Report from Emergency Command in San Pedro Sula:
The rescue people of La Ceiba will go tomorrow to the Bay Islands. They will take food and water to the island people if the weather conditions are ok. Also, the National Command will do a damage inventory and census of the people.
Weather is calm in San Pedro at this time. There is no more rain or wind, but the rivers have all overflowed, including the Merendon. Worries now are of land slides, and the evacuation order is still in effect. There is 90% electricity in San Pedro, and 50% in La Ceiba.
New problems are with the water system, as it has been off and on sporadically. The rivers take land and put it in the system, causing blockage in the dams.
10:10 p.m. - Thursday, October 29, 1998.
Update on Guanaja/Sandy Bay vie e-mail from Maureen Johnston:
I had a report from Posada Del Sol that Bill Miller is OK. I am Also seeking info on Keith Kibler who lives on Clark Cay, Guanaja. No one seems to know where he was during the hurricane.
Sandy Bazley's husband Greg is in their house near Mangrove Bight. He reported to her today Oct, 19 1998 by Satelite phone that their house is the only one left standing and that 150 hungry people are in his large house.
Bayman Bay reports by satelite phone most of their dock is gone, along with 6 cabins. 50 people there are OK.
Posada Del Sol reports also by satelite phone that their marina and staff quarters are gone, but all people there are OK.
10:23 p.m. - Thursday, October 29th, 1998.
San Pedro Sula:
Main airstrip is now underwater, helicopters are not even able to bring in supplies at this time. There are approximately 3,000 refugees, with more arriving every minute. Citizens everywhere are helping distribute food and provide hope. The Mayor of San Pedro Sula is also busy helping with efforts throughout the City.
11:15 p.m. - Thursday, October 29th, 1998.
The river ULUA has just broken its barriers, and the town of Progreso is flooded. Water is reaching up to the park Ramon Roja. The fire department does not have enough boats, and they are in serious need of volunteers with boats, helicopters, etc. Thousands are in danger on top of homes. The situation is desperate.
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