Government of Nicaragua Declares Red Alert
Managua-Nicaragua
Government of Nicaragua declares red alert. This Sunday, October 9, the Government of Nicaragua declared a red alert before the passage of tropical storm Julia in the national territory.
At the time of the red alert declaration, tropical storm Julia was 35 km north/northeast of Managua, heading west, with an increased speed to 26 km/h, generating maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h.
The storm has caused a rainfall in excess of 100 millimeters in twelve hours in some parts of the country, causing the overflow of several rivers.
Among these are: the Artiwas river in the municipality of Santo Domingo, Chontales; Waminona and Okonwas rivers in the municipality of Rosita; Malacayota and Fonseca rivers in the municipality of Teustepe; Wawa Boom in Puerto Cabezas; San Juan river; Santa Cruz, El Guineal and Sábalos in the municipality of El Castillo. Also the Néstor, Fajardo and Las Palomas rivers in the municipality of San Miguelito and Coco River in Waspam.
Red Alert Declaration
The declaration by President Daniel Ortega included directions to be followed under the national system for the prevention, mitigation and attention of disasters conferred in the Law 337; the Nicaraguan law that created the National System for the Prevention, Mitigation and Disaster Assistance (SINAPRED).
Classes Suspended
The Ministry of Education ordered the suspension of classes throughout the territory of Nicaragua. Damage is anticipated to infrastructures, housing, roads and communication systems in the Autonomous Region of the South Caribbean, Central Zelaya, Chontales and Boaco.
The government called for extraordinary measures to guarantee the peace of mind of Nicaraguan families, and ordered the activation response plans and security measures to protect the lives of Nicaraguans.
Extraordinary Measures
The declaration of emergency establishes the following extraordinary measures:
- Activation of Disaster Operations Centers in the indicated municipalities
- Activation and execution of institutional, sectoral, departmental, regional and municipal contingency plans
- Implementation of search and rescue measures for the affected population
- Transfer to safe places (Churches or Schools)
- Provision of medical assistance, damage assessment and determination of needs
- Deliverance of assistance plans regardless of the magnitude of the the emergency, as well as the other measures that are necessary for the preservation of life and the protection of the assets of the population and the State.
- Implementation of measures in accordance to COMUPRED; carried out in strict compliance with the provisions of Chapter 6, Articles 23 to 29 and 31 of Law 337 “Creative Law of the National System for the Prevention, Mitigation and Attention of Disasters” (SINAPRED ) and its reform Law 863, as well as its Regulation Decree 53-2000, in its articles from 16 to 19 and from 21 to 23.
- Maintenance of communications at all levels, making proper use of the different means installed in the Territorial Disaster Operations Centers and any other form of communication, maintaining the flow of information and coordinated actions at all times through the Territorial Disaster Operations Center according to Law 337.
Finally, the declaration recommends that the population remain calm and be attentive to the information and recommendations issued by the entities that make up the National System for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Attention (SINAPRED) and its territorial structures.
Evolution of Tropical Storm Julia in Its Advance Over Nicaragua
Sunday, October 9
At 12 noon last Sunday, October 9, the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER), presented the latest report on the progress of Hurricane Julia, as it approached the coast of Nicaragua.
INETER reported Tropical Storm Julia at maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h (decreasing by 15 km/h), with a translation speed of 26 km/h (increasing by 2 km/h) heading West.
INETER Special Report
(09 October 2022)
Time: 12:00 noon, Sunday
As of October 9, noon, Julia advanced over Nicaragua with its center reported at approximately 35 km northeast of Managua (above San Francisco Libre).
At the time, Julia maintained a projected trajectory towards La Paz Centro, León, and exiting to the Pacific Ocean through Corinto.
As residents approached these places, they were warned that an increase in the winds and the intensity of the rains could be expected. Authorities recommended appropriate precautions.
As it left the waters of the Pacific Ocean and continued to move away from Nicaragua, the winds and the effect of Julia’s circulation were predicted to transport moisture from the Pacific Ocean to the interior of the country, generating more rains in the Pacific Region.
INETER continued to closely monitor the evolution of this phenomenon and reported changes as they unfolded.
Tropical storm Julia advances through Nicaragua with maximum sustained winds of 110 km / h
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Time: 10 am, Sunday
The Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER), presented the latest report on the progress of Hurricane Julia as it approached the coast of Nicaragua.
INETER reported that Julia had been downgraded to the Tropical Storm Category, with maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h, with a translation speed of 24 km/h heading west.
At the time, it advanced over Nicaragua and was located (its center) approximately 81 km to the East / North-East of Managua (between Boaco and Santa Lucía).
Government of Nicaragua declares yellow alert throughout the national territory
Saturday, October 8, 2022
On Saturday, October 8, the Government of Nicaragua officially declared a yellow alert throughout the national territory due to the potential risk represented by the entry into the country of tropical storm Julia, which was rapidly strengthening and was located until the time of the declaration of yellow alert about 55º kilometers east of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.
Predicted Impact as Category 1 Hurricane
According to information presented by the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (INETER), on October 8, Julia presented maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h and its movement towards the west at 3 km/h.
INETER anticipated that if the speed was maintained, the center of the system would make landfall on Saturday night and early morning of Sunday, October 9.
Saturday’s report showed a slight movement a little further south towards Laguna de Perlas, predicting its impact as a hurricane at intensity 1.
Naval Force Suspends Sailing
The Naval Force suspended sailing in Puerto Corinto, Potosí, Puerto Sandino and San Juan del Sur. The owners of smaller vessels, owners of stockpiles and fishermen’s cooperatives were informed that the captaincies of Puerto Corinto, Potosí, Puerto Sandino and San Juan del Sur, would only issue departures to vessels destined for the open sea, until further notice.
The population was advised to take the necessary measures and avoid crossing swollen rivers on foot, in horses or vehicles. Vessels were warned to heed the recommendations given by the port captaincies and vessel control posts and avoid carrying out any type of navigation, to take security measures and if necessary to move to a safe port, in order to avoid regrettable events.
Nicaraguan Army Carries out Evacuations on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua
October 8, 2022
The Nicaraguan Army, through the Caribbean Naval District and the Civil Defense General Staff, in coordination with the Regional and Municipal Committees for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Attention (COMUPRED), carried out preventive measures in the face of the imminent impact of tropical storm Julia on the autonomous regions of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.
121 people were evacuated from the communities:
Cayos Miskitos 95 people, including 10 minors, Cayos Perlas 26 people, including 3 minors, all evacuated to different shelters in Puerto Cabezas and Laguna de Perlas.
Families from the communities of Puerto Cabezas and Prinzapolka were evacuated before the arrival of tropical storm Julia.
North Caribbean Coast
The Government of Nicaragua, through the Autonomous Regional Government of the North Caribbean Coast and the local and territorial governments, began to evacuate the community members of the southern coast of Puerto Cabezas and Prinzapolka as a precaution upon the arrival of the climatic phenomenon, Julia.
The government sent food and gasoline to begin the evacuation to safe communities. The families of the Haulover and Waunhta Bar communities were moved to the Layasiksa community.
Other communities listed at the time for evacuation included, Samil, Barra de Prinzapolka, Ariswatla and Tawantara in the Kuamwatla community.
Shelters
A commission headed by Miguel Abella Watson, municipal political secretary of Puerto Cabezas visited the different shelters set up in the city of Bilwi with the aim of supervising that shelters were adequately prepared.
On Friday, the transfer of the Nuevo Amanecer de Bilwi Hospital to the facilities of the technological heroes and martyrs of Puerto Cabezas began, a place secured by the Sandinista Government to be used as an alternative hospital.
Los Cayos Miskitus, the main center for collecting shellfish in the Caribbean Northern Nicaragua was evacuated in its entirety, remaining under the protection of the naval base located in the Keys.
Nicaraguan Army Moves Medical Teams to care for families in Puerto Cabezas
The Nicaraguan Army carried out the loading, transfer and unloading of medical equipment to the facilities of the National Technological Institute “Heroes and Martyrs of Puerto Cabezas” as a preventive measure against the threat of tropical storm Julia.
The director of the “New Dawn” Regional Hospital, Dr. Ruth Elizabeth Scott, stated:
“…we are moving the hospital to INATEC, which is the alternate hospital for this phenomenon that is looming for this weekend, to give security to the patients, as you can see, we are with the help of our colleagues from the Army, coordinated with our authorities, infinitely grateful because they are the group who is always here with the hospital, they are always supporting us in these emergency situations.”
Likewise, on October 8, 2022, the North Military Detachment, in coordination with the World Food Program (WFP), carried out the dismantling of mobile warehouses and preparation of safeguarding material means of the World Food Program, as a preventive measure against the threat of the tropical storm Julia in the city of Bilwi.
During the loading, transfer, unloading and dismantling of mobile warehouses, forces and means were used, which complied with the protection measures directed by the Ministry of Health (MINSA), to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Soledad Quartucci | Latina Republic
Dr. Soledad Quartucci is the founder and CEO of Latina Republic, a 501(C)3 California-based nonprofit organization. Latina Republic is committed to improving the diversity and professional development of storytellers in the media industry as representation matters and affects the stories we tell. Latina Republic makes space for and empowers unheard voices and trains the next generation of leaders in the U.S.
