Las Cruces (pop. 17,000) is one of the largest towns in the department of Peten, in Guatemala. The town suffered major flooding in October 2008, as a result of Tropical Depresion #16. The water invaded the health clinic, destroying medicine and medical equipment. All well water in the town and throughout the region was contaminated. Seven thousand people in Las Cruces became homeless, living at the side of muddy roads.
Flooded clinic during the Oct 2008 storm
Las Cruces is located in a jungle region of Guatemala and receives a significant amount of rainfall each year. Flooding has become an increasing problem, but the cause is unknown. It is feared that without any structural changes in the town in the near future, increased flood damage will take place every rainy season.
At the height of the flooding in 2008, the people of Las Cruces elected a Drainage Commission to study the problem and propose solutions. Though the Commission is made up of a dedicated group of community members, it does not have the training or skills necessary to adequately analyze the cause of the flooding and design responses to prevent future floods.
Concern America, a nonprofit international development and refugee aid organization, has operated a health training project in Las Cruces since 1994. Through Concern America’s project, hundreds of community-based health workers and leaders have been trained in Petén. Concern America and the community of Las Cruces have requested a hydrology assessment and recommendations.
Engineers Without Borders Chicagoland Professional Chapter traveled to Las Cruces in September 2009 to study the area. EWB team members evaluated the watershed, obtained construction and topographic survey documents, and performed well water testing and health assessments.
The goal of this assessment is to develop strategies to alleviate future flooding. The team is currently working on a flooding study and drinking water report, with proposed flood control options for the community. The cost of any flood control measures is expected to be significant. If you’d like to contribute to the Las Cruces, Peten, Guatemala project, donations can be made through the EWB-USA website here.
