221. Memorandum From the President’s Special Coordinator for International Disaster Assistance (Parker) to President Ford1
SUBJECT
- Guatemala Earthquake
As your Special Coordinator for International Disaster Assistance, I wish to bring you up-to-date on the February 4 earthquake in Guatemala.
[Page 608]Disaster Situation
The earthquake which struck at 3 a.m. local time (7 a.m. EST) measured 7.5 on the open-ended Richter Scale. While reports from the field are incomplete, we believe that total deaths could exceed the presently quoted figure of 2,000. It is conceivable that the damage will stretch from the Caribbean to the Pacific boundaries of Guatemala. Power and water distribution systems in Guatemala City have been interrupted. While Guatemala City’s four hospitals are operating, there is need for first aid stations, medical supplies and a field hospital. The lack of water in the city, itself, could become a major problem.
In the rugged mountainous areas to the northwest of Guatemala City, the quake appears to have done great damage. One report indicates that at least one half of the homes in the rural village of Chimaltenango were destroyed. Mud and landslides, however, which caused so much loss of life in previous Peruvian earthquakes, have fortunately not been reported in this case.
Political Environment
Politically this quake has occurred at a time when the Government of Guatemala is in transition from a fairly dependent to a more independent relationship with the United States. Therefore, while the United States is meeting most of the emergency relief requirements, we must be careful not to give the appearance of “taking over” the disaster relief effort. The Ambassador, Francis Meloy, Jr., is a senior career minister who is highly skilled in dealing with politically sensitive situations.
U.S. Assistance Activities
Thus far we have authorized the expenditure of $525,000. We estimate the cost of U.S.-provided emergency relief to run as high as $1.5 million. Working closely with the Department of Defense we are in the process of transporting tents, medicines, a generator, water tanks and a large field hospital. There is a considerable amount of AID-financed food, in-country, which is being distributed by CARE and Catholic Relief Services. We expect that these and other voluntary agencies will continue to play a significant role in the relief activity.
A DOD Disaster Assistance Survey Team, geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey and epidemiologists from HEW are joining in this interagency effort under the directive coordination of AID. In-country, the Ambassador is utilizing the services of approximately 125 Peace Corps volunteers as well as AID field staff in carrying out the immediate relief activities.
Post-Emergency Actions
It is clear at this time that there will be need for significant reconstruction activity. In this connection, we have approached the World [Page 609] Bank and other multilateral lending institutions to determine their interest and capacity to assist in the post-emergency relief stage.
We hope to be in a position very shortly to assess more clearly the total impact of this disaster and thus, the specific assistance requirements. I will continue to keep you informed on a timely basis as developments dictate.
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Summary: Parker reported on a major earthquake in Guatemala.
Source: Ford Library, White House Central Files, Subject File, DI 2/CO 58, 8/9/74–3/31/76. No classification marking. An attached routing sheet initialed by Low on February 7 reads, “Handled in Parker oral briefing of the President 2/6/76.” The Embassy in Guatemala City reported the earthquake in telegram 704, February 4. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760042–0272) In a February 6 report to the President, Parker estimated 6,000 deaths and 40,000 injuries due to the earthquake. (Ford Library, White House Central Files, Subject File, DI 2/CO 58, 8/9/74–3/31/76)
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