12:20 a.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
Update on Roatan via e-mail from Gail Worley, General Manager of the Inn of Last Resort:
Hi there,
I'm sending email from a friend's house and picking up messages, who knows how many. Just wanted to let you know that everything down here is fine. The hotel is on a penisula. The back side where our lagoon is got the worst of it, we lost the dock there. Some big trees have split and/or fallen, but to the ground, no buildings were damaged.
Donna and Andy's house is the bottom of the main lodge, upstairs is the dining room and bar. We emptied all the upstairs of furniture, put it in the guests rooms, we only had 2 guests this week. Then all of the staff and the guests moved into Donna's house, as well as 4 dogs, 3 cats,
2 parrots, and a squirrel. We had the monkeys in one bathroom for 24
hours, bad move.
The next day we set them loose outside, as they could hang out in the
upstairs, that was very sheltered. The bathroom will never be the same.
So, during this Class 5 hurricane, we are living in a beautiful house with
satellite TV, which surprisingly worked almost all the time, any kind of food you'd want as we moved tons of food down here, free beer
and liquor, ice, a/c, water. Not your normal hurricane party.
The hurricane is now down to 75mph and on the mainland. So all we have is
wind and rain, and not that bad a wind now. I will go out later and take pictures, mostly for Andy and Donna. Andy was in NY, Donna
had gone to the Denver dive show last week, and when it was over could not
get back here so she went on to NY. Donna will be back as soon as the flights are coming in, but flights are cancelled for Fri. and Sat.
We have kept in constant contact by satellite phone, there for a while we
called every hour, Andy would tell us what the Internet weather said, but we had a working TV and so had constant weather updates.
Boredom has now set in. Tomorrow, if the help shows up, the cleanup will start. The grounds are covered with leaves, branches, and an occasional tree. We were very, very, lucky.
One tree fell where we had a truck parked earlier, and when I saw the
truck there, I suggested that it should be moved, and someone listened, and moved it, and the next morning a dead
tree was in that spot.
The body of water in front of us, Gibson's Bight where our dive operation
is located, has about 20 boats in it. It is one of the best hurricane holes in the Caribbean. Monday, everyone, including Anthony's Key, moved dive boats and sailboats and small boats into Gibson's Bight. The boats are all driven up to the shore where the mangroves grow,
as that is their best shelter. It looks like all the boats stayed where
they were anchored and tied, thank goodness, as
a dive resort cannot survive very long without their boats.
We had a little bit of tide in the front, one of our concerns was that the
water would rise and we would have to evacuate
the house and move to higher ground, where the rooms are, the buildings
are 2 storied. So we would have moved to the
lower rooms first, and upstairs if necessary. The winds all came from the
back of the resort, and the water in the back
did rise, but here in the front it was only a couple of feet, so the house
& my apartment were fine.
It'll probably be a couple more days before I pick up email.
Our phones were out before the hurricane, no reason to expect them to work
afterwards.
We have been on the generator since the beginning, as we lost power before
the hurricane got here.
We're all thankful that it wasn't as dangerous for us as it has been for
others, and that everything we have been working for these past few years was not destroyed. Our thanks to all of you that have been trying to reach us to see if we were okay.
7:28 a.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
Update from "Gerardo":
I have been in close contact with Tegucigalpa, Honduras and also Listening to Radio America... The situation all over the country is really a Disaster of enormous proportions. Rural areas have
been completely destroy by the Flooding of Rivers and Valleys,
all major cities in the North have been incredibly hit and now even the Capital which is in the Highlands of Central Honduras.
There are at least seven bridges destroyed in the Capital Area Tegucigalpa-Comayaguela, there are others still standing but closed due to the inclement river floods. Thousands of Homes have been flooded and only the hill areas and higher elevations are safe at
this time even though there are reports of mud slides in many populated areas one in particular el Reparto and around the Mountain of EL Picacho.
...Tegucigalpa's Airport is closed since Yesterday and the forecast is that it wont be open until Monday at the earliest. Also sources say the El Salvador's Airport is closed until further notice.
GOD HELP THE POOR HONDURAS... Please if you can contribute to the Hurricane Mitch RELIEF Funds posted in this and other Honduras related Sites please DO HELP as soon as you can even $10.00 will help to feed and dress hungry children and women affected by the
immense Natural Catastrophe.
9:56 a.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
La Ceiba:
PHONES ARE NOW 80% OPERATIVE
POWER ARE NOW 75 % OPERATIVE
THEY HAVE CALM NOW AND ARE INITIATING THE RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS.
WATER AND FOOD ARE BEING SENT BY BOAT BECAUSE ROAD TRAVEL IS IMPOSSIBLE.
11:48 a.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
E-MAIL NOTICES RECEIVED:
The Salvation Army is currently running a Health and Welfare net over the airwaves at 14.265 on 20 meters. This is a world wide Amateur Radio band. The communications are being handled by SATERN volunteers from all over the United States, Canada and elsewhere. SATERN stands for " Salvation Army Team Emergency radio Network". Our purpose is to communicate worldwide to assist in times of disaster. We are a group of approximately 1,500 volunteers who meet daily by radio to establish communication links that will assist the Salvation Army in their disaster responses. It would help if the frequency of this emergency net was posted to your web page. If I can be of assistance please contact me.
Sincerely, Sam Porter KF6GUW SATERN MEMBER
-------------------
From: "DIANE L KORBEY"
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998
We made contaact last night with Patrice Heller in Port Royal over satellite phone. She reports that all is well and that they were able to travel to French Harbor where grocery store was open (but not very well stocked). Boats on moorings in harbor rode out the storm well. Winds still high; waves very high also got a fax into Oak Ridge but no response to date.
Heard that email is being sent from Coxen Hole. TACA says that airport is still closed and no flight in tomorrow. They will try later in the week
We are still desperate for info on sailboat Segue docked at home of Carmen Bryd in Oak Ridge. Pleae email us if you know anything at all at dmkorbey@prodigy.net
Diane and Mitch Korbey
-------------------
From: RKay
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998
Subject: AIR DROP NEED FOR DESPERATE GUANAJA PEOPLE. THEY NEED IT NOW.
The Carribean Star out of Tampa will be traveling with one of Albert
Jackson's boats back to the bay islands. She is full of supplies and four nurses. the problem is that the weather is still very unstable and in the 72 hours it takes to get to Guanaja a lot could happen. As the captain said 10:00pm last night he is the relief at this point and if something happened to the ship what would the people do. Winds are still strong and there is little shelter left. my friend called on the radio yesterday and pleaded for someone to do something sooner. A helicopter from Rotan did respond and on the second try did land with some medical suppllies. There are a lot of people on Guanaja, one helicopter can help but not much.
As of 8:00 last night the Lt. Commander of the Emergency Crisis Air Lift Center in Miami had gotten no word from The State Department to release any type of air drop. Even is they land a plane on Guanaja it is 12 miles thru the bay to the Northeast side where a mass of people are at. There are no roads on Guanaja, it is all by water, These people need an air drop of basic needs, tarps, food, and water. How long can exposure erod the soul before the after storm human life toll begins.
If anyone is listening, make calls, we need an air drop now. think of it, it will be at least 4-5 days in these seas before the Carribean Star leaving Tampa can get to Guanaja. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THAT TIME. GUANAJA NEEDS SUPPLIES NOW. THERE ARE MANY US CITIZENS ON GUANAJA IF THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET RELIEF. WE CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE MACHINES OF POWER TO WAIT FOR MONDAY MORNING AND MAKE A DECISION AFTER BREAKFAST. THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL IN GALE FORCE WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN, HOUR, AFTER HOUR, AFTER HOUR, AFTER HOUR. . .
12:48 p.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
Report from Department of Firemen in San Pedro Sula:
Posted by Cuerpo de Bomberos on October 31, 1998:
El Departamento de Bomberos de Honduras en San Pedro Sula necesita con urgencia hacer llegar este mensaje a Reina Grubair o Mario Lopez de la HONDURAS WORD FUNDATION.... Si alguno los conoce, por favor inform eleque el mensaje esta en nuestro FORUM... honduras.com - SPS
CUERPO DE BOMBEROS DE HONDURAS - SAN PEDRO SULA
Señores:
HONDURAS WORD FUNDATION
Apreciables señores.
Las circunstancias de calamidad que está pasando Nuestro Pais HONDURAS, causado por el HURACAN MITCH nos
obliga a acudir a ésa noble organización en solicitud de ayuda humanitaria para poder mitigar las múltiples necesidades
de nuestros compatriotas en sufrimiento. Al momento de redactar ésta nota nodavía no estamos concientes del impacto
de destrucción que está sufriendo nuestra patria dado de que está siendo duramente castigado por ´este fenómeno
climatológico ya que han sido destruidas todas las lineas vitales, agrícolas, carreteras, puentes, servicios básicos (Agua),
Energía Eléctrica, Telefonía, Suministro de alimentos internos, destrucción de viviendas, daños psicológicos, etc. Por lo
antes expuesto en el que el Cuerpo de Bomberos está participando y que a este momento hemos terminado con nuestra
existencia, por tanto, requerimos de la ayuda siguiente:
ROPA (niños, adultos y mujeres).
MEDICAMENTOS
CATRES DE CAMPAÑA,
TIENDAS DE CAMPAÑA ( l0, l5 y 20) personas)
HERRAMIENTAS ( palos, picos, rastrillos, carretillas, otros)
EQUIPOS DE RESCATES ( Lanchas l4, l6 y 20 pies).
MOTORES FUERA DE BORDA, ( 30 y 40 pies).
SALVAVIDAS (chalecos para adultos )
VEHICULOS (Construccion par todo tipo de camino, tipo de rescate, ambulancias y otras ayudas que se estimen
conveniente y que puedan ser de gran beneficio para ésta gran población que ha sido maltratada.
Agradezco gentilmente su atención a la presente, y en espera de la misma.
Atentamente.
DISCIPLINA HONOR ABNEGACION
TENIENTE CORONEL DE BOMBEROS
JOSE ALFONSO MEDINA
COMANDANTE DE LA ZONA NOR-OCCIDENTAL
DE EL CUERPO DE BOMBEROS.
-----
ROUGH COMPUTER GENERATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
The Department of Firemen of Honduras in San Pedro Sula needs with urgency to make arrive this message at Queen Grubair or Mario Lopez of the HONDURAS WORLD FOUNDATION... If some knows them, please inform that the message this in our FORUM... honduras.com - SPS
The calamity circumstances that are passing our country HONDURAS, caused by the HURRICANE MITCH force to us to go to that one noble organization in request of humanitarian aid to be able to mitigate the multiple necessities of our compatriots in suffering. At the time of writing up this one note nodavía we are not conscientious of the destruction impact that is undergoing our given mother country of which it is hard being punished by ´este climatologic phenomenon since all the vital lines have been destroyed, agricultural, wagon, bridges, basic services (Water), Electrical Energy, Electrical energy, internal food Telephony, Provision, psychological destruction of houses, damages, etc. By before exposed in that the Body of Firemen is participating and who at this moment we have finished with our existence, therefore, we required of the following aid: CLOTHES (young, adult and women). MEDICINES, CAMP BEDS, TENTS (l0, l5 and 20) people), TOOLS (woods, tips, rakes, wheelbarrows, others), RESCUE TEAMS (Boats l4, l6 and 20 feet). OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS, (30 and 40 feet). LIFE-GUARD (vests for adults) VEHICULOS(even Construction all type of way, type of rescue, ambulances and other aids that are considered advisable and that can be of great benefit for this one great population that has been mistreated. I appreciate its attention to the present, and awaiting the same.
12:59 p.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
The Cajon (dam) is full, and needs to be opened. It causes more inundations. It is expected to be opened at 4:00 p.m. today.
1:05 p.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
Hello again ! Non-HAM individuals can listen to a short wave radio on the afforementioned frequency (14.265 on 20 meters) if normal propogation allows. The purpose of asking for the posting to your web page is to alert other Amateur radio operators about the Health and Welfare net being run by SATERN at this time. Thanks again and God bless.
Sam Porter
1:15 p.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
HONDURAS needs swamp boats (50) and has the funds obtained to purchase them. ANYONE with connections in this area e-mail: bomberos@honduras.com ASAP. Thank you!
5:48 p.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
REPORT FROM HONDURAS.COM Correspondents at Emergency Command Center:
The water absorption trouble in the Bella Vista region in San Pedro Sula has lessened, as they have not had rain for 6 hours straight; but throughout the rest of the country, the rain is very hard. The San Pedro Sula (SPS) chopper center is open for the local emergency rescues, and one of our Honduras.com correspondents is aboard. The Emergency Command Center is now concentrating their efforts on the counting and identification of the people in the shelters in order to plan food for the next week.
The Cajon (dam which gives much of Honduras power) was opened at 4:00 p.m. It is expected that this water will increase the level of the rivers of Valle del Sula in 5 hours. All rivers in Valle are full and many have overflowed.
The power of La Ceiba is now at 90%. The Golozon Airport of La Ceiba is also operative for rescue flights. Today two big planes from the US-ARMY arrived in La Ceiba with special equipment to be delivered for the actual airport of Roatan.
Many private ships also have been able to make trips to the islands with water, clothes and food.
The Cahmelecon river continues overflow, and has brought over 10,000 people to the shelters. SANTA ROSA de COPAN has been experiencing heavy rain also.
The Rescue Corps have been controlling the situation, with private and public efforts. The biggest need is for boats and jet skis for quick rescue operations. Unfotunately, the only airports operative to international and big planes is PALMEROLA (US Base)and El Golozon of La Ceiba. The immediate need for boats and personal floatation devices will continue for 2 days more or less. The people in the shelters are going to need supplies for 3 or 4 months. This is not even considering the needs for reconstruction of the country. Right now food and transportation is the real emergency.
6:00 p.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
The fuel ship outside of Cortes was able to dock, but there is no way to deliver the fuel to the rest of the country. Rationing of food is expected to begin soon as all supermarkets in the cities are out. There are more than 100 shelters operating in San Pedro Sula, and the people keep arriving.
9:06 p.m. - Saturday, October 31, 1998.
Update by Steven Harsey:
My daughter and son-in-law live the the American Zone across the river from La Lima. He works for Chiquita. We have been out of phone and email contact with them since Wednesday morning. Tonight (Saturday) we had a phone call from one of his friends from San Pedro informing
us that they are safe and dry, still in their home in the American
Zone.
They have been without running water, electricity, and phone
service for 5 days but the water never rose into their ground level
house. The person who gave us the report indicated that San Pedro Sula
had been relatively free of flooding and damage other than some road
erosion caused by all of the rain. However, he reported that La Lima
and Progresso were devastated. The Uala(sic) and Chamelecon Rivers
had merged together to create one huge lake that flooded everything
for miles.
The reports of water being released from the dam at El
Cajon were not able to be confirmed and he reported that the Chamelecon river had dropped about 2 feet by this afternoon. It had been raining in a light shower most of the day but no hard rain was reported today. Carlos further reported that the banana plantations were severely hit with flood waters and that up to 100,000 people were facing perilous conditions and up to 1000 had been rescued by boat today. Some were on the tops of roofs.
There is an immediate need to try and get food and medical supplies to these people but he did not know how this could be done until the water receded. I do not know how he got to the American Zone from San Pedro Sula but he was able to do so and return. After all of the info on the honduras.com chat line and other internet and email we received in the past 3 days, this was the only first hand report and can be considered 100% accurate. Hope it helps some of you concerned about family in SPS and the Zona Americana.
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