Hurricanes Eta and Iota

At least 57 deaths have been reported across Central America and thousands of people have been displaced because of flooding and mudslides related to the aftermath of Hurricane Eta. Eta hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 on Novmber 3rd and will pass slowly over Honduras as a tropical storm. In Honduras thousands of homes have been destroyed and over 38 communities are completely underwater.

Flooded cars along a highway next to La Lima, the hardest hit community.

A massive mudslide fell into the flooded Chemelecon River in San Pedro Sula, Honduras after days of rain in the wake of Hurricane Eta. Flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Eta has displaced hundreds of thousands in Honduras. There are many missing people and the death toll is expected to rise.

Elida Ramirez, 28; Jose Cruz Regalado Madrid, 51; Rosa Ramirez, 69; Stephanie Benitez, 8; Jessica Benitez, 12

The Rameriz family’s home was destroyed in Colonia Morales, Chamelecon after Hurricane Eta, and then Iota flooded the region. “The water got up to the roof, so we are here now,” said Elida. They now live in a makeshift refugee camp underneath an overpass in Chamelecon that receives no official aid, although charity organizations and independent Hondurans come irregularly to hand out food. “On the one hand, we are ok here because at least food is given to us. But the resources to start over again?” Jose pondered. The Rameriz family says they intend to wait until they receive assistance from the government— a hope that’s likelihood is low. Honduras lacks the infrastructure and logistical means to help the recently displaced find new homes.

A father and son clean the mud from thier home after the Chemelecon river flooded and destroyed many homes in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

A destroyed home on the banks of the Chemelecon river. In the aftermath of Hurricane Eta flooding and mudslides have left hundres of thousands homeless.

A destroyed community on the banks of the Chemelecon river in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. In the aftermath of Hurricane Eta flooding and mudslides have left hundres of thousands homeless.

Concepcion Suazo, 33; Jared Alexander Benitez, 18 months; Kimberely, 4

Concepcion and her family recently began expanding the size of their provisional home in an unofficial refugee camp that has popped up underneath an overpass in Chamelecon, San Pedro Sula. There are 8 people living in a small dwelling they had created. After the family was uprooted from their home in San Jose during the flooding of hurricane Eta they had to relocate to an impromptu structure outside a church. Less than two weeks later flooding from hurricane Iota swept away that structure and forced them underneath the overpass for shelter. The family now has nothing but the clothes on their back. “We need clothes, milk, and beds. We received a mattress yesterday, but we are a big family. We need diapers for our young baby too,” Concepcion said. When asked what their future plans were, Concepcion said, “We have no other choice but to return and try to fix our home. We have nothing else.”

Karla Suazo, 25; Josue, 5 months

Karla is a mother of three who was displaced after Hurricane Eta flooded her home in the community of Canaan along the Chamelecon River in San Pedro Sula. She now lives underneath an overpass, inside a three-walled dwelling made of tarpaulin. Her family has no beds and sleeps on the muddy ground. “It’s hard,” Karla said. Recently, Josue who is 5 months old was sick with a fever from being outside in the rain. With no money and little assistance from government aid and relief programs, Karla was unable to obtain medicine. When asked what they need the most, Gilman, Karla’s husband, said, “First we need to find a place to live because we can’t return [to our home]. It’s not possible.”

Ingrid Rodriguez, 27; Daniel Rodriguez, 10 months; Kendra, 3; Kenneth, 6

Ingrid Rodriguez and her three children have been displaced after hurricanes Eta and Iota and now sleep together in a small one-person tent in a camp of newly homeless Hondurans. “I need a bed. I only have sheets. I need diapers for the babies and milk, clothes, and blankets,” Ingrid admitted. Initially, Ingrid was brought to the largest public shelter in the national soccer stadium, Estadio Francisco Morazon, but said the experience was terrible. “The food was poor and the people in service treated us unfairly. I would rather live here [underneath the overpass],” Ingrid said. Many of the displaced families admit they would rather live in itinerant camps because they receive more food and aid from charity groups.

Digna Castro, 50, Avi Jared 3

Digna Castro has been separated from her family in the aftermath of two hurricanes and is now taking care of her grandson, Avi, who is sick with a fever. Digna is unable to get medicine because she has no money. Her husband and two sons are still living in Playita, a place hit hard by the flooding from hurricane Eta and Iota. “It’s too dangerous to go back there,” Digna said. Digna is also suffering from a swollen leg due to infection, which makes it impossible to walk any distance. Digna pleaded, “I need a house. Doesn’t matter what kind of house. Just somewhere to go.

Delmi Ortega, 22

Delmi Ortega is 22 years old, pregnant, and staying in an unofficial shelter in Chamelecon, San Pedro Sula. “We are hopeless. We lost everything. There was nothing left our little home,” she said. During the flooding in the aftermath of hurricane Eta, Delmi and her husband had to abandon their home at 1 A.M. and wander in the pouring rain and floodwaters looking for a safe place. “We found the shelter at 4 A.M. We endured all the water. The fear and panic were horrible. Seeing the panic of running away and grabbing your kids to save their lives was terrible, Delmi said. The shelter she now has been in for over three weeks is the temporary home for 50 families, a total of over 200 people. Because the shelter is unofficial, it simply acts as a roof over the people’s heads, providing no basic amenities beyond a small bathroom, which is consistently clogged. Delmi admits many people must go outside to relieve themselves. For food and water, the people staying in the shelter must fend for themselves, often going to the nearby refugee camp in the hopes that independent passersby are handing out meals. “Well, look, to be honest, we have no plans. Nobody comes to help us. We feel no hope. But, we are grateful for this place, because we now don’t have to endure the cold and rain,” Delmi said.

At least 57 deaths have been reported across Central America and thousands of people have been displaced because of flooding and mudslides related to the aftermath of Hurricane Eta. Eta hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 on Novmber 3rd and will pass slowly over Honduras as a tropical storm. In Honduras thousands of homes have been destroyed and over 38 communities are completely underwater.

A father and son salvage their personal belongings after a flood destroyed their home in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Eta has displaced hundreds of thousands in Honduras. There are many missing people and the death toll is expected to rise.

A makeshift refugee camp has taken over the median and one lane of the major highway in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, where the worst of the flooding from Huricane Eta has affected nearly 2 million people. The Honduran governemnt lacks the resources and logistics the shelter the affected people.

A makeshift refugee camp along the median of a highway in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. In the aftermath of Hurricane Eta, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced due to flooding.

A man cooks plantains in a refugee camp after Hurricane Eta left hundreds of thousands displaced in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Citizens from Planeta, Honduras recieve drinking water from a truck after Hurricane Eta flooded low lying areas, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced.

A man walks through the mud in San Pedro Sula, Honduras after his home was destroyed when the Chemelecon River flooded in the wake of Hurricane Eta. Flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Eta has displaced hundreds of thousands in Honduras. There are many missing people and the death toll is expected to rise.

Two men with homes in danger of being swept away by an overflowing river keep cover under a tree while watching the river rise. The aftermath of Hurricane Eta brings enormous amounts of rainfall which will cause deadly flooding and mudslides throughout Central America.

Recently displaced people in the wake of Hurricane Eta surround a truck giving out food in San Pedro Sula Honduras. In the aftermath of Hurricane Eta, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced due to flooding.

A woman outside her home while downpours from Hurricane Eta threaten to overflow the adjacent tiver and sweep her home away in San Pedro Sula. The aftermath of Hurricane Eta brings enormous amounts of rainfall which will cause deadly flooding and mudslides throughout Central America.

A man with an umbrella navigates through the slim alleys of a shanty village in San Pedro Sula, which is in danger of being swept away by the adjacent overflowing river--the after effects of Hurricane Eta. The aftermath of Hurricane Eta brings enormous amounts of rainfall which will cause deadly flooding and mudslides throughout Central America.

Residents of a shanty village on a riverbank in San Pedro Sula watch the overflowing river, which threatens to sweep their homes away. The aftermath of Hurricane Eta brings enormous amounts of rainfall which will cause deadly flooding and mudslides throughout Central America.

A man in front of his home that was destroyed when the Chemelecon River flooded in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. In the aftermath of Hurricane Eta, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced due to flooding.

At least 57 deaths have been reported across Central America and thousands of people have been displaced because of flooding and mudslides related to the aftermath of Hurricane Eta. Eta hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 on Novmber 3rd and will pass slowly over Honduras as a tropical storm. In Honduras thousands of homes have been destroyed and over 38 communities are completely underwater.