A disaster response team from Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States is being deployed to Mexico to assess damage from Hurricane Dean and offer assistance.
The still-raging hurricane killed 13 people in the Caribbean before plowing into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Aug. 21 as a Category 5 storm, with winds reaching more than 160 miles per hour. It crossed the southern Gulf of Mexico and made landfall again today near the port of Tecolutla as a Category 2 storm.
HSI and The HSUS are coordinating disaster response efforts with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the World Society for the Protection of Animals.
Yucatan Peninsula Bears Brunt of the Storm
Although no human fatalities had yet been reported in the Yucatan, flooded streets, downed trees and power lines, and damaged buildings were widespread along much of the coast. Cancun's resorts may have been spared, but the indigenous Mayan people living further to the south have fewer resources with which to recover from the hurricane. Many did not evacuate before the storm and it has been difficult to reach them due to road conditions.
An impoverished area, the southern Peninsula has virtually no infrastructure for animals—no shelters, very few veterinarians (none in Majahual and Xcalak), and very limited access to veterinary supplies.
"HSI was already working with the communities of Majahual, Xcalak and Chetumal to help improve conditions for animals. When we saw that the hurricane made landfall just north of Majahual, we knew we had an obligation to help out," said Jessica Higgins, HSI Program Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was directly in the path of Hurricane Dean. The reserve, established in 1986, is an important conservation area. It remains unclear how the reserve fared the devastating storm.
Other Areas in Caribbean Also Affected
Belize was also hit hard by the hurricane. The team plans to work with partners in Belize City to assess the situation for local animals.
Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Martinique, Dominica, and St. Lucia also experienced a great deal of damage. Reports are still coming in from partner animal protection organizations on the ground.
Dr. Barry Kellogg, acting director of disaster services for The HSUS, explained, "With the continued development and capabilities of the Domestic Disaster Response Team, we wanted to offer our help and assistance in the path of this latest storm. We were spared in the United States, but would like to offer our assistance to the people and animals of Mexico and Belize."
