WCK’s Relief Team was on the ground in Mexico just hours after Hurricane Otis made landfall over Acapulco. Arriving in Mexico City, the team quickly procured sandwiches and water, and loaded them onto multiple helicopters to distribute as they scouted impacted areas by air. More WCK staff and resources headed to the region to quickly scale up to meet the need.
Families in the state of Guerrero, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, were reeling after Hurricane Otis passed through. The storm was the strongest Pacific hurricane to ever hit the region, making landfall as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 165 miles per hour. Otis dumped ten inches of rain in Guerrero, causing flooding and landslides that cut off roadways.
The city of Acapulco, a popular tourist destination that has a population of almost 900,000, was directly in its path. Nearly the entire city was left without access to electricity, clean water, or fuel. Roads, bridges, buildings, and homes were torn apart, and the total damage to the city’s infrastructure was immense.
WCK teams worked quickly to identify where people were most in need of support, and we served those communities as they began the long recovery process. Local chefs and volunteers worked alongside WCK, guiding our response with their invaluable understanding of local flavors, dishes, customs, and community connections.
By the numbers:
* 308,000+ gallons potable water provided
* 5.3 million+ meals provided
* 750+ tons dry goods provided
* 127 local suppliers partnered with WCK
* 300 local staff hired to help with response
