An increase in the frequency and severity of hurricanes and tropical storms in South America is making life increasingly unstable for communities.
In Nicaragua hurricanes, and the floods that result, are threatening the lives of families as they live unsure of when the next disaster will strike.
MDM is a Christian Aid partner helping people to prepare for hurricanes and flooding before they strike, ensuring they will know how to respond and be able to survive in the case of an emergency.
Picture: Matitza Sevilla sifting through corn outside the newly built community centre.
Maritza Sevilla is one of the leaders of a co-operative in the Nuevo Amanecer region. She has worked with MCM to produce emergency maps which detail the risks of flooding, landslides, hurricanes and drought in the community. These maps show the houses and families that are most at risk. Those on red alert will be the first to be helped in the case of an emergency. The maps also mark evacuation routes. A community centre is at the centre of the operations, housing emergency food supplies. Maritza and her family live in a red alert house but she can now be safe in the knowledge that there is a plan of action if a natural disaster strikes. The contingency planning is vital in enabling the community to feel prepared and ultimately save lives.
“These are our emergency plans. We made them so that we can better define an emergency. For every community we have one map for landslides, one for drought, one for flood and one for a hurricane. We can mitigate the danger for someone living in a dangerous place, so that we can make sure they leave and get to safety”
Photo Credit: Christian Aid/Annabel Davis
Other case studies:
On the Frontline - Asia
On the Frontline - Africa
