Mexico: Tropical Storm Arlene Hits, ADRA Responds
SILVER SPRING, Md. – Tropical storm Arlene made landfall on Veracruz, Mexico in the early morning hours of June 30, pouring heavy rains over much of eastern Mexico. Thousands of homes are now submerged under floodwaters and a number of rural communities that endured extensive damage are now isolated. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to respond to the needs of hundreds of families, providing them with a two-week supply of food.
ADRA Mexico will be distributing food baskets in the northern region of Veracruz to a minimum of 570 families, approximately 2,850 people. The food baskets will be supplied with corn flour, rice, pasta, oats, tomato sauce, beans, lentils, milk, sugar, cooking oil, and salt.
ADRA Mexico procured the emergency food items from local suppliers and, with the assistance of volunteers, assembled the emergency food baskets. Working closely with state and local authorizes, the agency is distributing the rations to families whose homes have been flooded or who are financially unable to support their families in the midst of the current disaster. This emergency food distribution is expected to last for one month.
ADRA International, the ADRA Inter-American office, the ADRA Inter-Oceanic office, and the ADRA Hidalgo-Veracruz office have funded this intervention.
Arlene, the first Atlantic tropical storm of the season accelerated in strength over the warm waters of Campeche Bay, an area in the southern region of the Gulf of Mexico well known as a breeding spot for Atlantic hurricanes. Upon landfall, Arlene’s heavy rains drenched the states of Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi, Veracruz bearing the brunt of Arlene’s force. Reports coming out of the Higo municipality of Veracruz stated 90% of homes are flooded. In total, the floods have affected more than 12,500 people.
Since 1985, ADRA Mexico has been actively responding to disasters, supporting families and advocating for the marginalized and disenfranchised communities in Mexico.
