After days of heavy rain and with more storms forecast, Americares Emergency Response team in El Salvador delivered essential supplies to families who had fled to shelters for safety.  The team also donated debris removal tools to Salvadoran authorities in Usulután Norte, where torrential rain and wind toppled more than 650 trees in just seven days, blocking roads and access to and from the region.

Red Alert/State of Emergency: Merging weather systems from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, where Tropical Storm Alberto formed in mid-June, brought more risk of deadly flooding and landslides to the region. In El Salvador, civil protection authorities issued a red alert and congress declared a state of emergency for 15 days. As of Friday, June 20, the death toll stood at 12, including deaths due to landslides, falling trees and collapsing buildings. By June 21, Americares team had delivered 600 hygiene kits to shelters; the government had opened more than 100 shelters countrywide. Americares operates a health clinic in Usulután and maintains close relationships with El Salvador’s Ministry of the Interior, Civil Protection Directorate and National Directorate for Shelters.