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Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declaration:
Floods, Hurricane
OFDA Response:
Relief Commodities, Emergency Shelter Repair Supplies
OFDA Preparedness:
Disaster preparedness, capacity building
Latest OFDA Report:
Mexico Floods Fact Sheet #1 (48kb PDF)
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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Floods, 11-05-2007
Since late October, heavy rains have resulted in flooding and the overflow of rivers and dams in Chiapas and Tabasco states in southern Mexico. According to initial reports from the Government of Mexico (GOM), floods have affected more than 1.2 million people, including approximately 60,000 who evacuated or relocated into 403 temporary shelters. On October 29, the Governor of Tabasco State declared a state of emergency due to flooding caused by the heavy rains. Chiapas State has similarly requested federal assistance from the GOM.
On November 5, U.S. Ambassador Antonio O. Garza determined that the disaster warranted U.S. Government assistance and requested USAID/OFDA disaster support. A five-person USAID/OFDA assessment team deployed to Mexico, and worked with USAID/Mexico and GOM counterparts to identify the most immediate needs and appropriate USAID/OFDA assistance. The team included three disaster specialists performing assessment in Tabasco and Chiapas states and a Regional Advisor and Information Officer in Mexico City.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Hurricane, 08-27-2007
On August 21 at approximately 0300 hours local time, Hurricane
Dean struck the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán
as a category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
After passing over the Bay of Campeche, Hurricane Dean re-entered
Mexican territory as a category two hurricane on August 22
through Tecolutla, Veracruz State. Dean continued through
Central Mexico as a tropical storm, affecting Hidalgo, Jalisco,
Colima, Michoacán, and Puebla states. The storm killed
at least seven people, caused severe damage to the agricultural
sector in some areas, and damaged thousands of houses, including
more than 3,000 in Hidalgo State alone. The hurricane affected
an estimated 161,000 people in the two states of Veracruz
and Hildalgo, according to the International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
On August 27, U.S. Ambassador Antonio O. Garza, Jr., requested USAID/OFDA
assistance in response to the effects of Hurricane Dean. USAID/OFDA is providing
$250,000 through the American Red Cross to the Mexican Red Cross for the local
purchase and transport of roof repair materials, hygiene kits, and other essential
relief supplies to affected areas. On August 20, a three-person USAID/OFDA
assessment team arrived in Mexico in advance of Hurricane Dean's approach.
Following the passage of the hurricane, USAID/OFDA staff conducted field assessments
in coordination with the GOM and continued to monitor the situation in conjunction
with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
For information on USAID's hurricane recovery and reconstruction programs, please see here.
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