Hurricane Eta & Iota Disaster Relief

Hurricane Iota made landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 storm, with the Central American region bracing for potentially catastrophic rainfall, flooding, mudslides, a storm surge, and damaging winds. It’s the second major hurricane to hit the region in two weeks.

It’s a race against time for emergency workers to prepare vulnerable communities against the threat of Hurricane Iota, which made landfall Monday evening with sustained winds near 155 mph. Hurricane Iota’s landfall was located about 15 miles south of where Hurricane Eta made landfall earlier this month.

Hurricane Iota intensified over the Caribbean, strengthening to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday as it neared Nicaragua and Honduras. The storm had sustained winds of 160 mph, as it was centered about 80 miles southeast of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, and moved westward at 9 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

The region is recovering from Hurricane Eta, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm on November 3. Eta’s torrential rains caused massive flooding and mudslides. Scores have died and many more are missing in Central America. Search and rescue efforts are underway in communities devastated by the storm.

Help provide urgent relief and long-term recovery to families in the worst-hit areas.

World Vision’s local emergency response teams have pre-positioned supplies around the world to ensure emergency teams can begin responding immediately. In addition to pre-positioned items in multiple Latin American countries, there are regional supplies housed in Panama, a country rarely hit by hurricanes but centrally located in Latin America.

Examples of the materials include blankets, tarps, mosquito nets, water purification tablets, and Hygiene Kits. “World Vision is supporting temporary shelters and vulnerable communities in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica,” says Jose Nelson Chavez, regional advisor on emergencies for World Vision.

World Vision’s already supporting communities affected by Hurricane Eta and is prepared to scale up response efforts following the impact of Hurricane Iota, which will affect many of the same communities.

How can I help people affected by disasters like Eta & Iota?

Pray for children and families impacted by disasters like Hurricane Eta and Iota. Merciful Counselor, we grieve with communities suffering from disasters and struggling to recover. Speed the restoration of community life so children can feel secure again. World Vision Honduras Director, Jorge Galeano says, “We are readjusting our humanitarian aid and asking God for a miracle. Our population will not endure, physically, nor emotionally, more destruction.”

Give families strength and perseverance while they rebuild their homes and livelihoods. We pray for disaster survivors to find refuge in Jesus. Your church can help families affected by Hurricane Eta and Hurricane Iota. World Vision is working to reach tens of thousands of people affected across Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.

Your gift will provide immediate support, including:

• ​Food
• Emergency relief items
• Hygiene supplies
• Shelter kits

If your church would like to do a love offering for donations, checks can be mailed to the address below. Please indicate source "D58700027 - Hurricane Eta/Iota Disaster Relief" for World Vision staff.

• World Vision
  PO Box 78481
  Tacoma, WA 98481-8481

Support the Relief Effort