Mexico Hurricane Relief
March 2024 – October 2024
Last updated: October 2024
All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) stands committed to supporting communities impacted by the devastating Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm that struck in October 2023. Our Program Development Team (PDT) conducted on-site assessments at ten impacted schools in Guerrero, where we mobilized our staff and local contractors to restore access to education at six schools in Coyuca de Benitez.
Our Work
We are committed to supporting those impacted by Hurricane Otis and addressing the ongoing necessity of restoring access to education in the state of Guerrero.
Following remote assessments of the situation, our Program Development Team (PDT) conducted on-site assessments at ten schools in Guerrero, to identify and support those whose operations were halted by the hurricane.
In order to ensure students’ and teachers’ return to the classroom, AHAH is leveraging our sustained presence in Mexico and engaging contractors and local workers to recover six school environments in Coyuca de Benitez. As of October 2024, we have nearly completed our work and will soon be handing over new, safe and updated school facilities to the community.
Current Activities
Local workers and AHAH contractors finalized work at Telesecondary Leyes de Reforma and Margarita Maza de Juarez Primary School, where students have returned to newly renovated classrooms and completed Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) trainings for 60 individuals.
Work continues at Tecnica #179 Manuel Radilla Levya Secondary School and Guadalupe Victoria Primary School, where tasks include roof installation for classrooms and maintenance structures, perimetral mesh repair, and installation of windows, aluminum doors and protective fixtures. Additionally, we are welding and performing electrical work, while computers and projectors are replaced. These efforts ensure students and teachers will enjoy safe, disaster-resilient educational environments one year after Hurricane Otis hit Coyuca de Benitez.
Disaster Profile
Striking in the early hours of October 25, 2023, Hurricane Otis was the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall along Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Winds up to 165 mph, combined with major flooding, inflicted severe damage to buildings and infrastructure in the state of Guerrero, disrupting communication systems and cutting off electricity to 300,000 households.
The Secretary of Education reports that to this day, 369 schools remain damaged by Hurricane Otis in the state’s major city of Acapulco. 158 schools need priority assistance in cleaning and services, with the majority of students still unable to return to classes due to the damages.
All Hands and Hearts ©2024
