Our simulated scenario begins at noon on October 31, 1998. At this point Hurricane Mitch has moved in off the coast of Honduras and has been travelling across the land for two days. Although Mitch has been officially downgraded to a tropical storm, it continues to bring heavy rain and high winds as it moves through the region. In its wake it has left many of the roads and bridges washed out, utility lines down, and buildings destroyed. Because communication has been hampered it is difficult to get exact details of the damages, but it is clear that the people in the region need immediate help.

The Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), deployed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has moved into the region to prepare for a large-scale response. Department of Defense helicopters are in the area for search and rescue operations, aerial assessments, and delivery of relief supplies. U.S Zodiac boats and Blackhawk helicopters are rescuing stranded storm victims, and ground vehicles are in place to assist with evacuations, searches, and other assistance.

During the next 24 hours the relief efforts will focus on search and rescue operations, deliveries of relief supplies (including food, medicine, plastic sheeting for shelter, and blankets), locating clean water, and taking measures to control infectious diseases. Additionally, early damage assessments of roads and bridges will be required to better plan how to move supplies throughout the region. Mitch is still battering the central and western parts of the country, making air travel dangerous and even limiting ground travel in some areas.