A new report from the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) points out at least four weaknesses of the Municipal Emergency Committees of six cantons and risks prevention units for emergencies such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods.
According to the comptroller, the field of disaster prevention by natural disasters or by human action has been neglected and the planning instruments used are insufficient for the attention of emergencies. The report also points out that there is a lack of controls on the use and safekeeping of stored goods and that the Committees are not properly constituted withfour municipal members and other members legitimized by the Municipal Council.
Turrialba, Matina, Parrita, Upala, Sarapiquí, and Nicoya Committees were studied to create this report. The CGR issued guidelines to all of them and indicated, via press release, that they will follow up.
The tropical storm Nate, which affected the country in October last year, generated an economic impact of more than ¢10 billion in Turrialba, ¢8 billion in Parrita and ¢4 thousand in Nicoya. And Hurricane Otto left losses of ¢ 38 billion in Upala, and ¢ 1,282 in Sarapiquí.