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Days after all major highways into Bocas del Toro were inundated or damaged by flood waters the government of Panama has reopened the Transistmica highway. First vehicles to pass are carrying food, water, and medical supplies. Prompt action by the government of Panama in organizing relief efforts and help from its allies is in the process of alleviating a historic natural disaster.

The November 28, 2008 La Prensa, Panama reports that the carretera Transistmica or Transistmica Highway has been reopened in flood stricken Panama province of Bocas del Toro. Older residents of Panama (80 years and more) cannot recall such flooding in Bocas del Toro in their lifetimes. A cold front stalled off the Caribbean Coast of Panama and Costa Rica has made thousand homeless and damaged roads had cut off relief supplies. Tourists in the beautiful Bocas del Toro Archipelago have been unable to leave and new tourists have been unable to arrive.

Homes on Bocas del Toro islands and beach front homes are safe as sea levels did not rise. However, inland rivers overflowed their banks flooding miles of small towns, farms, and the Bocas del Toro airport.

Relief help came from Germany, Colombia, and the United States and continues as the Panamanian government deals effectively with its worst natural disaster ever. In a country that does not get hurricanes and where earthquakes are limited to tremors on its border with Costa Rica the 2008 Bocas del Toro flood is a totally unexpected challenge to which the government of Panama has responded admirably.

Bocas del Toro flood relief will be easier than a decade or two ago because of the investment that Panama’s government has made in its road system. Previously hard to reach areas are now connected to the government’s road network.

Bocas del Toro flood relief is easier that it could have been because Panama’s government has allies. Panama is about business and Panama does not go out of its way to pick fights. Now that Panama needs flood relief help is arriving from the United States by way of helicopters and ships from the Southern Command. A Hercules propeller driven cargo plane full of supplies has arrived from Colombia. The German freight company DHL has put a jet at the disposal of the government of Panama.

After the Bocas del Toro, Panama Flood

Summer is coming in Panama. In this part of the world the dry season is summer. This lasts from December to May. The dry weather will make repairs easier and delivery of supplies for reconstruction easier. There has been no reported damage to tourist facilities in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago so tourism and its attendant income and jobs for Panama will resume.

As flood waters begin to recede in Bocas del Toro it is apparent that the government of Panama has been on the ball. It addition to prompt action to open road the public policy of the government of Panama has given it friends, friends who help in time of need.