October 1999 Mexico Floods - Aftermath

Aftermath

Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo ordered the Department of National Defense to utilize all resources to assist the people affected by the floods, including federal workers being deployed to disaster areas. Zedillo noted that despite efforts to mitigate against natural disasters, "we cannot expect to control river water levels produced by rains that have surpassed all historical precedents." He personally visited flooded areas of Veracruz, Puebla, Tabasco, and Oaxaca, having canceled a trip to Europe to focus on the disaster. The president ordered nearly all agencies of government to work together to quickly return conditions back to normal, utilizing 12,000 soldiers. Ahead of a presidential election in 2000, Zedillo also requested for politicians to avoid seeking gain in politicizing the tragedy.

By October 22, over 72,000 people were housed in 560 shelters nationwide. Additional evacuations occurred after further floods impacted Tabasco weeks after the initial deluge, and by October 25, 94,203 people were staying in 896 shelters. The Mexican Department of Health declared a sanitary alert in six states, and 354 medical teams operated in 894 communities to assist 50,000 homes. The Secretaría de Gobernación declared Tabasco, Veracruz, Hidalgo and Puebla as disaster areas, which allocated federal funding for relief. The National Fund for Natural Disasters allocated $234 million (2.34 billion pesos) in emergency relief, including $41.5 million (400 million pesos) in Oaxaca where the earthquake previously struck; this was smaller than the flood's damage total. The repair cost in Puebla alone was estimated at $200 million (1.83 billion pesos), which was largely completed within two years and dealt with repairing roads and protecting cities from landslide and flood mitigation.

Search and rescue teams operated across eastern Mexico, and initially they worked amid rainfall. The continuing rains and cut off communications disrupted relief efforts, as did the topography of the affected areas. In Puebla, the federal government donated 219 mules and 81 horses to assist in traveling to isolated areas. People used shovels and bare hands to remove mud and concrete in areas where they could not utilize machines. In Tulancingo, Hidalgo, people used rowboats to rescue stranded residents trapped by the flooding. Search and rescue missions ended on October 15, after 7,112 people were rescued from what the government described as "high-risk situations." To control the flooding, workers released water from dams and reservoirs. In Hidalgo, released water from a dam flooded two rivers and forced thousands of additional evacuations. In Tenango in Puebla, a dam developed a foot-long crack, which sparked evacuations and prompted workers to fill it with dirt and rocks. Stagnant waters raised fears for an outbreak of dengue fever; however, no flood-related epidemics occurred, and the waters were disinfected to prevent disease spread. By October 22, there were only 21 cases of dengue and 4 cases of malaria, both fewer than normal. On October 23, the Peñitas Dam was opened to maintain its integrity, causing downstream flooding. It was closed after water flow rates decreased. After the floods, some areas in Mexico faced water shortages. As a result, the National Water Commission initially distributed about 300,000 litres of drinking water each day, and later increased it to 487,000 litres per day, reaching 4 million litres of distributed water by October 19. Water service was gradually repaired, and by October 19, 70 of the 90 damaged water systems in Veracruz were restored. Equipment used for flood efforts were removed from duty after the floods receded.

Workers distributed about 4,100 tons of food and 200,000 litres of milk to the affected victims, by both land and air. In Veracruz, only 9 helicopters were utilized to distribute food and water to isolated areas. About 948 tons of medicine was also distributed. Helicopters assisted in transporting people to shelters. In Veracruz alone, 34 people were rescued by boat and 1,131 by aircraft. In Puebla and Veracruz, 9,551 troops were stationed to assist in relief work, utilizing 48 helicopters, 4 Hercules planes, and 10 boats. Between Veracruz and Hidalgo, the Department of Social Development distributed about 18,500 mattresses and other relief items. Workers quickly made repairs to highways, and by October 19, all of the 28 damaged federal highways were provisionally reopened; some of the reopened highways had to undergo additional construction work. The military worked to reopen other roads. In Veracruz, the Director of the Federal Electricity Commission noted that repairs to electrical systems were difficult in the immediate aftermath of the floods. Planes flew generators into Gutiérrez Zamora, Veracruz, mainly for hospitals, and by October 20, 90% of the affected areas had their power restored. President Zedillo announced on October 11 that the government would begin building new houses, part of the Emergency Housing Program initiative. In Puebla, the initial stages of the program would involve rebuilding 1,200 houses and moving 500 houses to safer lands. The Mexican government estimated that the housing program would help 37,000 families. Mexico's agricultural ministry provided assistance for farmers to replant lost crops. Through the Temporary Employment Program, the federal government temporarily hired about 1 million people who lost their homes or farms. Students gradually returned to school after repairs were made, and by October 28, over 800,000 students who were affected were able to return to school, including all of Oaxaca and Hidalgo. The area in Teziutlán, Puebla affected by the mudslide was never rebuilt, due to being labeled a high-risk area.

Residents in some portions of the country became angry due to lack of assistance. In the town of Lazaro Cardenas in Tabasco, residents opened ditches to alleviate flooding on their streets, which flooding thousands of vehicles along a section of highway near the state's capital, Villahermosa. In the capital city, which remained submerged by floodwaters for a week, residents protested the sandbagging efforts after waters were redirected to some neighborhoods. Due to the protests, police officers beat and arrested 100 people. The Federal Consumer Protection Agency issued warnings to businesses accused of price gouging for water and other basic products. Isolated villages experienced food shortages due to cut off roads.

Despite growing protests and the increasing death toll, President Zedillo did not initially request for international aid, believing that the country had the necessary resources, although by October 15 he changed his position. The office of Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan issued a statement of condolences to those affected by the tragedy. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated $100,000 on October 13. The European Commission approved €1 million (1999 euros) in aid to be distributed through the German and Spanish Red Cross agencies. The Church World Service launched an appeal on October 8 to raise funds, and provided $47,000 worth of blankets and bedding. The Catholic Relief Services pledged $100,000 for flood victims in Mexico. Thousands of residents in Mexico donated 500 tons of food, along with water, clothes, and medicine to the Mexican Red Cross. After additional flooding in Tabasco, the Mexican Red Cross sent 254 metric tonnes of food, water, medicine, and clothing to the state. The American Red Cross donated about $100,000 to its Mexican counterpart. Direct Relief International sent two loads of medicine and blankets to Oaxaca. Adventist Development and Relief Agency provided food for about 25,000 people.

Outside of Mexico, Honduras's government provided food and shelter for its citizens, but was unable to properly address health-related needs. As a result, the Save the Children Fund provided $83,000 worth of medicine and latrines to 40 municipalities in Honduras.