September 5, 2007

Hurricane Felix slammed ashore in Central America as a Category 5 storm Tuesday, focusing 165-mph winds and driving rain on Nicaragua and Honduras. Authorities evacuated more than 14,000 people in both countries in advance of the storm. In addition to damaging winds, flooding is expected to cause significant destruction as more than two feet of rain could fall in spots. Mudslides, especially in central Honduras, are expected.

Governments are still assessing damage but relief agencies anticipate losses of housing to be steep; in Nicaragua alone, half the nation's housing may be damaged.

Vulnerable Communities Watch

Poverty is endemic in Central America. Nearly 80 percent of Nicaraguans live below the poverty level. Around 14,000 Miskito Indians did not evacuate in time and remain isolated along the Honduras-Nicaragua border.

CWS Response

CWS International Response and Recovery Liaison Don Tatlock has been in continuous communication with partners in the region, primarily those associated with Action by Churches Together's Central American network. "The alert has gone out and every one has been busy in preparing shelters and getting the word out in rural areas to seek shelter," Tatlock said.

In Nicaragua, ACT member and CWS partner Accion Medica Cristiana (AMC) pre-positioned relief resources in advance of the storm. As well, CWS partner Council of Protestant Churches in Nicaragua (CEPAD) has been in contact with many of their member churches in some of the affected areas and will be making an assessment of needs.

CWS will likely support any relief and recovery efforts made by ACT partners, which may also include fielding requests for material resources.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org