Costa Rica is a community-oriented country where most residents live simply with strong connections to the land. When warnings came in about Hurricane Otto making landfall in the towns near the border with Nicaragua, many people were forced to leave their homes, worried they would lose everything. Communities around Costa Rica came together to support these families, helping them recover after this natural disaster.
Hurricane Otto hit the coast of northern Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua as a Category 2 storm on November 24th, 2016. It was the latest in-season hurricane landfall and the strongest Atlantic hurricane recorded this late in the season. Otto was also the farthest south a hurricane has made landfall in Central America. Thousands of residents left to seek shelter.
Maricel, our Sustainability Director, organized a drive to collect food and supplies for the families impacted by this storm. Florblanca was the central collection point where neighbors, family, guests, and staff all came together to donate these items. Florblanca donated 100 t-shirts and about 50 towels as well as food for the cause. As we drove through town to drop off at the nearest Red Cross, we stopped along the way at supermarkets and the pharmacy to gather more. We arrived with our vehicle packed to the ceiling.
Thank you to everyone who contributed. Seeing our people come together in the face of hardship reminds us of the power of community and the unique bond we have here in Costa Rica.
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