Flood warning issued for remainder of rainy season

Costa Rica’s National Emergency Commission (CNE) moved 90 people from across the country to temporary shelters on Tuesday night after heavy rains and strong winds damaged homes.

 

The commission has issued a green alert, the lowest of the country’s three alert levels, for the entire country for the remainder of the rainy season (through October).

 

On Tuesday night, rains flooded 10 houses in the Central Valley and tore the roofs off eight homes, including three in Escazú, west of San José.

 

Storms also flooded homes on the Nicoya Peninsula in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, Ciudad Quesada in north-central Costa Rica, and San Rafael de Corredores in the country’s Southern Zone.

 

The National Meteorological Institute is forecasting strong rains and electric storms through Thursday morning for the Central Valley, the Northern Zone, the Pacific coastal region and the Caribbean slope.

 

Under a green alert, the CNE advises citizens to be watchful of river levels and blocked sewer drains that could cause flooding. The commission also recommends that residents who live in disaster-prone areas prepare emergency kits with flashlights, clothes, battery-powered radios, medicine and food, in case a mandatory evacuation is ordered.