Families take refuge in stable to escape Dean's floods
POSTED: Aug. 30, 2007
By Sarah Pate
TULANCINGO, Mexico - The stables at Tulancingo fairgrounds have some unexpected residents.
Stalls usually lined with straw and home to farm animals have now been converted into temporary housing for more than 120 families who were displaced by flash flooding caused by Hurricane Dean.
After making landfall on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 5 storm last week, Dean swept across central Mexico, dumping eight months of rain in six hours on the city of Tulancingo in Hidalgo State.
"We were very afraid. The winds were very strong and suddenly water started gushing into our house," said Basilisa, who lives with her family in one of the stable stalls at the Tulancingo fairgrounds.
After rescuing the family's herd of cows, Basilisa, along with her husband and three children, fled their flooded home and arrived to the fairgrounds to seek refuge until the floodwaters recede.
"Hundreds of homes still lie underwater," said OBI's David Darg, who has been on the ground helping to coordinate relief efforts. "Flooding has displaced around 10,000 people and affected more than 100,000 throughout Hidalgo," he added.
Last week, teams began distributions of relief kits containing items such as oil, sugar, beans, rice, noodles and hygiene items to impacted families. So far, OBI has transported more than 6 tons of food and 5,000 liters of water to affected communities and will continue to provide logistical support as more federal aid arrives.
In addition to relief kits, OBI also set up a feeding tent, where volunteers are serving an average of 500 hot meals a day to flood victims.
In Chetumal, a city on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula hit hardest by Hurricane Dean, Operation Blessing teams have already helped more than 20,000 hurricane victims by transporting and distributing emergency food packs as well as roofing panels to help victims to quickly repair and protect their exposed homes from further rain damage.
How You Can Help
Be a part of OBI's ongoing disaster relief efforts by making an online donation to help the victims of Hurricane Dean. With your support, OBI can continue to bring emergency food, water and medical care to these hurricane victims who are caught in the midst of disaster.
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