Costa Rica’s Pacific Coastal Areas On ‘Red Alert’; Schools to remain closed

QCOSTARIA — The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) raised the entire Pacific slope to ‘Red Alert’, given that the rains are expected to continue throughout the week, according to the national weather service, the  Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN).

In addition, the high saturation of the soils due to the rains of the last 12 days.

The Central Valley, Northern Zone and Northern Caribbean continue on ‘Orange Alert’, while the Southern Caribbean remains on ‘Yellow Alert’.

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The alerts explained:

• Green Alert: The threat and expected situation are monitored and reported.
• Yellow Alert: The situation is assessed, protocols and procedures are activated, and resources are mobilized in each canton.
• Orange Alert: Actions are taken to minimize the impact, such as evacuations and preventive road closures, the affected population is assisted, needs are assessed, and operations are planned.
• Red Alert: Damage and needs assessments are carried out at the affected sites, the necessary resources are mobilized to deal with the emergency, and services are rehabilitated.

The CNE asks the population to take extreme preventive measures in these places due to the rise of rivers or movements of unstable slopes. In addition, it is important to follow the instructions of the first response institutions if they are asked to evacuate.

Schools to remain closed

The Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP) – Ministry of Public Education, announced Tuesday that public schools will remain closed for the remainder of the week.

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In addition, private schools are required to consider these preventive measures, especially in red and orange alert zones.

According to data from the MEP’s Internal Control and Risk Management Department, there are some 114 schools affected by the rains of the last few days and a reminder of the responsibility of each teacher to share educational material that allows the teaching process to continue at home.

Let’s not let our guard down, the emergency is not over.

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