Costa Rica : a country profile

Following an extensive background review of such general areas as geography, government, language, culture, economy, and infrastructure, two sections focus specifically on disaster vulnerability and disaster preparedness. The various calamities to which Costa Rica is subject (earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, floods, and fires, and the resulting deforestation and environmental degradation) are listed and their specific circumstances and likely geographic areas are reviewed. An exacerbating condition is the presence of at least 250,000 refugees and illegal aliens whose health, in general, is lower than that of native Costa Ricans, and who often occupy more vulnerable lands. A final section itemizes the local resources and systems which warn of and mitigate disasters and lists local, U.S., and international organizations engaged in disaster relief. Included are maps and a bibliography of materials on disaster relief; recent cases of disasters are recounted in the appendices.