On November 16, Hurricane Iota made landfall as a category 5 storm with sustained winds of nearly 155 mph. This comes just two weeks after Hurricane Eta brought heavy rains, severe flooding, and landslides to many of the same areas. An estimated 4.9 million people were affected by Hurricane Eta [ … ]
Rapid Response
United States Provides Humanitarian Aid in Colombia after Hurricane Iota
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing $100,000 to support the response of the government of Colombia to assist people affected by Hurricane Iota. On November 16, 2020, the powerful Category 5 storm passed over Colombia’s Providencia, San Andrés, and Santa Catalina islands, where [ … ]
US Air Force Transports Colombian Troops Supporting Hurricane Relief
A U.S. Air Force C-130 transported 68 Colombian Army soldiers to the Colombian island of San Andrés on November 23, to support post-Hurricane Iota lifesaving and disaster-relief operations in the nearby Colombian island of Providencia. The plane transported the troops from Cartagena, Colombia, along with 40,000 pounds of food and [ … ]
United States Assistance to Guatemala during Tropical Storm Eta
The United States provided humanitarian assistance to Guatemala in the aftermath of tropical storm Eta, serving approximately 310,000 Guatemalans in 25 communities affected by Tropical Storm Eta in nine departments (Quiché, Petén, Izabal, Zacapa, Chiquimula, Alta Verapaz, Jutiapa, El Progreso, and Santa Rosa). The assistance included 23 rescues, 39 evacuations, more [ … ]
JTF-Bravo Resumes Support Operations in Honduras and Guatemala
Only days after supporting Central American countries, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Eta, teams of U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) are back in Honduras and Guatemala to provide assistance to areas affected by Hurricane Iota. Both hurricanes hit Central America within two weeks, causing landslides [ … ]
Central America: USAID Sends Aid to Countries Devastated by Hurricanes Eta and Iota
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to respond to the destruction caused by two consecutive hurricanes in Central America. Hurricane Iota made landfall in Nicaragua on November 17 with winds of 250 km/h, less than two weeks after Tropical Storm Eta [ … ]
Colombia Extends Hand to Honduras Following Hurricane Eta
In response to a request from Honduras, as a member of the System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces, the Colombian government deployed a Colombian Air Force (FAC, in Spanish) C-130 Hercules aircraft to deliver humanitarian aid to Honduras, to help the people affected by Hurricane Eta, which struck [ … ]
Central America Receives US Support following Hurricane Emergencies
Hurricanes Iota and Eta struck Central America hard in less than two weeks, leaving a trail of destruction and death in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. Currently, Iota is leaving Nicaragua toward Honduras, with tropical storm force. U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) is in the area to [ … ]
JTF-Bravo Aviation Assistance Concludes
After almost two weeks of disaster relief missions, personnel assigned to Joint Task Force Bravo culminate rescue and aviation assistance operations in areas affected by Hurricane Eta in Panama, Guatemala, and Honduras. “Joint Task Force Bravo is proud to have worked alongside our partners during this challenging time in support [ … ]
USS William P. Lawrence Joins Hurricane Eta Relief Efforts in Honduras
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) and the “Easyriders” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37 are supporting humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR) efforts in Honduras in response to the devastation left by Hurricane Eta, November 13. William P. Lawrence arrived off the coast of [ … ]
JTF-Bravo Commits to Additional Assistance
As life-saving efforts continue in Honduras, Panama, and Guatemala, Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) begins to transition from rescue operations to delivery of necessary aid to communities that have been stranded for days since Hurricane Eta passed through Central America. U.S. Navy Admiral Craig S. Faller, commander of U.S Southern [ … ]
JTF-Bravo Brings 10,900 kg of Food and Carries Out 15 Rescues in Panama
Members of U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) continue rescue efforts, humanitarian support, and transportation of health care personnel in areas of Panama affected by flood and mudslides due to Hurricane Eta. As of November 11, the JTF-Bravo team has carried out some 15 rescues of people who [ … ]