Their local mayor reportedly called for evacuation just before the tragedy but the central government did not respond. Disaster reduction is possible by changing the conditions that make people and places vulnerable. Local people and places must make changes and outsiders like governments, businesses and even relief agencies must change their practices as well. Poverty is perhaps the principal cause of vulnerability to disasters, and about half the people in Central America are poor. The highest rate of deforestation in the world also makes Central America vulnerable to disaster, increasingly so.
Deforested terrain allows rainwater to run off rapidly.
Treeless slopes are prone to erosion and landslides. A related threat is soil depletion, caused by tree cutting and land clearing, excessive use of agricultural chemicals, and farming on land not suited for agriculture. In a vicious cycle, deforested and depleted soils become more vulnerable to drought and floods. Populations located along rivers were among those hardest hit by Hurricane Mitch. Political climate is relevant in disasters too.