Winn reported that more than 70,000 people were living in temporary shelters, mostly in Evangelical churches and schools. "Many of the shelters are inaccessible and the aid must be sent via sliding the food across rivers by rope," she said.

The impact in neighboring Guatemala was much higher. "The western and southern coasts were especially badly damaged with flooding, mudslides and damage to homes and crops," reported Phillip Sandahl, Country Director for the Christian aid agency Food For the Hungry International.

"Many roads and bridges have been washed out and people are isolated from relief workers. Many have gone without food or water for five or six days. Helicopters are being used the find and bring aid to affected communities. Mudslides have buried entire towns.

"Immediate needs are focused on finding those who are trapped and getting them water, food, clothing and shelter," Sandahl said. "Later we will also have to deal with the devastation to the crops which will affect food supply through the next harvest cycle."

The storms caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to Guatemalan agriculture, especially in coffee and sugar.

The story was much the same in southern Mexico where LAM missionary Liz Isais reported that over two and a half million people were affected by floods and landslides.

Isais said that over 250 people were reported dead throughout Mexico and Central America in addition to the estimate of 2,000 or more deaths in Guatemala.