U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR) OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) HURRICANE KEITH Fact Sheet #4, Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 October 6, 2000
Overview - On October 5, Hurricane Keith made landfall at 1400 hours (EDT), 30 miles north-northwest of Tampico, Mexico. Maximum winds were 90 mph and rainfall was between 8 and 12 inches. - Keith continues to weaken rapidly and is now a tropical depression. At 0500 hours (EDT) on October 6, Keith's center was located about 90 miles west of Ciudad Victoria, Mexico. The depression is moving toward the west at about 12 mph, and this motion is expected to continue until dissipation. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. - Keith is forecast to dissipate today over the mountains of northeastern Mexico. Rainfall of between 3 and 5 inches is still possible along the track of Keith. Belize - Belize's National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) completed its initial assessment of hurricane damage on October 5. It reported that 40 percent of the population, or approximately 100,000 people, was affected by the hurricane. As of October 5, 3,296 people remained displaced from their homes and 1,200 residents remained in emergency shelters (some of the displaced are being housed by family or friends). - Communication links, power supply, and water systems are not functioning on Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Local authorities anticipate that the water distribution system on the cayes will be restored by October 8. - The Pan American Health Organization's (PAHO initial assessment of emergency health needs resulting from hurricane damage found that the most significant problem is the threat of water-borne diseases associated with standing floodwaters. Vector control, epidemiological surveillance, water quality testing, and the restocking of medical supplies are the major emergency health needs. - The health infrastructure has suffered minor to moderate damage, including some loss of medical supplies. According to PAHO, the Belize City Hospital was flooded, including damage to its generator. - There are two confirmed casualties, both of whom were American citizens. Two Canadian citizens remain missing. Nicaragua - As of October 5, 200 people remained in emergency shelters and only in the Chinandega area on the Pacific Coast. There were no flash floods in affected areas, and houses suffered little structural damage from low- rising floodwaters. U.S. Government Response Belize: - On October 5, NEMO used barges to deliver most of the USAID/BHR/OFDA relief commodities consisting of 325 blankets, 50 rolls of plastic sheeting, and 700 water jugs were delivered to San Pedro and 625 blankets, 20 rolls of plastic sheeting, and 300 water jugs to Caye Caulker. Members of the USAID/BHR/OFDA Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)/Ground Operations (GO) Team assisted with the distribution and use of the plastic sheeting for emergency shelter. The 300 water jugs in Caye Caulker are being used to transport water from the British ship, the "Black Rover," to residents. - On October 5, the DOD-provided Chinook helicopter transported the DART/GO Team on assessment missions to the cayes and to deliver 768 hygiene kits to San Pedro. The team plans to travel to San Pedro on October 6 to monitor the distribution of relief supplies. - The DART/GO Team also was transported by DOD-provided Blackhawk helicopters on October 5 to assess damage near the rising Belize River. The team found minor flood damage and some unpassable roads. - On October 6, the DART/GO Team plans to donate medical supplies to Belize's Ministry of Health to meet emergency health needs. - In addition, on October 6, the DART/GO Team plans to use the DOD-provided helicopters to assist the Belize Red Cross Society and the Peace Corps in distributing emergency food (locally purchased with a $50,000 grant from the Inter-American Development Bank) to isolated villages. Nicaragua: - On October 5, the USAID/BHR/OFDA two-person assessment team in country traveled to affected areas along the Pacific Coast, including Chinandega, Leon, and Nagarote, to verify priority emergency needs and the numbers and locations of affected people. The team found that the situation along the Pacific Coast has improved dramatically since the onset of the storm. The team will develop recommendations, in conjunction with USAID/Managua and Nicaraguan disaster management officials, for any additional emergency assistance from USAID/BHR/OFDA. Background - Hurricane Keith first formed on September 29 off the coast of Mexico. After a long holding pattern offshore, Hurricane Keith made landfall over southeastern Mexico and northeastern Belize on the morning of October 1. At its peak, Hurricane Keith was a category four hurricane with winds up to 135 mph, which led to heavy rains over Belize, Nicaragua, Mexico and other areas of Central America. - The U.S. Ambassador to Belize declared a disaster in response to the hurricane on October 2. USAID/BHR/OFDA responded with $25,000 to meet immediate relief needs and the deployment of the DART/GO Team. - The U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua declared a disaster on October 3, requesting $25,000 to assist victims of Hurricane Keith. USAID/BHR/OFDA responded on October 4 by providing the requested $25,000. The Government of Nicaragua has requested relief commodities, including blankets, mattresses, food, plastic sheeting, and water jugs. ASSISTANCE TOWARDS HURRICANE KEITH USAID DOD BELIZE Ambassadors Disaster Fund $ 25,000 Relief Commodities and Transport $138,200 2 Blackhawks, 1 Chinook, 16 Crew ($197,000 per DOD) $197,000 Subtotal $163,200 $197,000 NICARAGUA Ambassadors Disaster Fund $ 25,000 Subtotal $25,000 Total USAID Contribution for Hurricane Keith $188,200 Total USG Contribution for Hurricane Keith $385,200 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -