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Although flood waters are receding up river in the highlands of Bocas del Toro many are still homeless after historic heavy rains and flooding along the Caribbean Coasts of Panama and Costa Rica. According to news reports the US Southern Command has sent more helicopters to Bocas del Toro and to Limon, Costa Rica in addition to the four sent at the start of the week. The USS Samuel B. Roberts has been diverted from anti-drug duty in the Caribbean to help out in Bocas del Toro.

Tourists have been delayed in the tropical paradise of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and on Panama’s Caribbean Coast due to heavy rains and flooding that have closed the airport. Because of the heavy rains several roads have been washed out so anyone waiting to go home needs a boat or needs to wait for the next flight after the airport dries out.

History of Floods and Natural Disasters in Panama

The flooding in Bocas del Toro is unique for Panama. Although Panama gets heavy tropical rains the stalled front that has flooded the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama is something that middle aged Panamanians do not recall happening in their lifetimes. The usual issues in Bocas del Toro are what the best real estate deals are and what is the best restaurant with dancing in Bocas Town on the Island of Colon.

In fact, severe coastal weather is a once in a lifetime event in Panama in general. Panama does not get hurricanes as they come across the equator and turn North before Panama. The closest hurricanes come to Panama is the once in a generation hurricane in Costa Rica.

Other natural disasters are also rare or non existent. Panama City has never had an earth quake. The highlands of Panama on the border with Costa Rica get tremors but do not have a history of substantial damage. The Panama Canal is where it is because the Isthmus of Panama is only fifty miles across and because of the negligible chance of structural damage to the Panama Canal Locks from an earthquake.

International Assistance for Flooding in Panama

Besides assistance rendered by the US Southern Command, other nations are sending help to the flood stricken areas of Panama. Colombia is sending supplies on a Hercules aircraft. The Lockheed Hercules is capable of landing and taking off on unprepared runways and will bring supplies to Rambala for distribution throughout Bocas del Toro. Germany has donated 500 water purification units in Limon, Costa Rica and DHL, the German cargo transport company, has placed one of its jets at the disposal of the Panamanian government. As mentioned above the US Southern Command is rendering direct assistance with transport and supplies.

Panama Floods and Hydroelectric Power

According to reports in La Prensa, Panama the much higher than usual flow of rivers in Bocas del Toro has allowed hydroelectric plants to generate 80 percent of the power used in Panama versus the usual 50 to 60 percent.