| Disasters, Floods, Landslides, Hurricanes, Earthquakes | | | | Honduras also has Volcanoes and although they are |
| The Country of Honduras often gets huge storms | | | | not a huge issue, they are common in that region of |
| during the Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season as this | | | | Central America. Of course this also provides |
| extreme weather that develop in the Caribbean | | | | opportunity for Geo-Thermal Energy, which is a big |
| comes ashore and the energy is trapped by the | | | | plus for the Nation, as it grows in economic status |
| mountainous terrain causing torrential downpours. In | | | | and population. Honduras will need more energy in the |
| last week of October in 1998 Hurricane Mitch | | | | future as the population grows about 2.4% per year. |
| devastated Honduras and killed more than 5,657 | | | | Disease and HIV Crisis |
| people (some estimates were 7,000) and created 2 | | | | HIV is causing severe concern in the country and |
| million homeless (nearly 12,000 missing); most were | | | | many are now calling it an epidemic, as about 1.5% of |
| children. The Banana Crop was destroyed too and | | | | the population of Honduras has HIV and are living |
| the economic loss was huge for the Nations. | | | | with the virus. That number is growing at an alarming |
| It was the worst recorded Hurricane in over 200 | | | | rate according to the World Health Organization and |
| years and each year folks worry that another | | | | United Nations. This is the highest percentage in |
| catastrophic storm could hit. The 2005 Hurricane | | | | Central America. Although Honduras is roughly only |
| season also had major storms that affected the | | | | 18% of the total population in Central America, it has |
| Banana crop and flooded out many as well as | | | | nearly 60% of the known HIV/AIDS cases. Out of |
| resulting in massive deaths. Honduras is known for | | | | this huge HIV/AIDS virus infected folks only about |
| Hurricane weather especially along the Caribbean | | | | 5,000 are receiving any treatment presently. |
| coastline and the flood damage is all too common. | | | | According to Walking With Children, a non-profit |
| Inland landslides in the mountains also result from | | | | group in Wisconsin, USA they estimate almost 4,000 |
| Hurricane storm remnants. More people are killed by | | | | children are living with HIV now. Their group has set |
| the landslides and severe flooding or storm surges | | | | up a legal entity (Foundation) to build a center in |
| than the actual winds. Landslides and flash flooding | | | | hopes of that model being used throughout the |
| have been known to bury entire villages within | | | | nation to combat the AIDS crisis. They will assist with |
| minutes in the mountainous regions of Central | | | | "the best quality care and education to persons |
| America. | | | | infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS." Currently |
| Honduras is also very prone to Earthquakes, which | | | | they are also working to foster psychological |
| makes sense if you look at its tall mountains, which | | | | programs in Spanish for children and adolescents. |
| did not get there by accident. Honduras has many | | | | They are indeed doing incredible work there along |
| Earthquakes every year, only a few are really | | | | with other fine organizations. [ |
| serious. Occasionally a biggie comes along and wrecks | | | | Still 1.5% seems low since there are now places in |
| havoc on the people there. There have been notable | | | | the Congo in Africa where the HIV/AIDS rate is over |
| Earthquakes of six or greater magnitudes and two 7 | | | | 50%. Even still HIV/AIDS is something you must |
| magnitudes since the new millennium. Some of the | | | | keep track of and work on because if it gets out of |
| Earthquakes come from off-shore in the Pacific | | | | control over 6.5 million Hondurans will be at risk, |
| Ocean while some epicenters occur on land. | | | | according the World Health Organization. |