México: Hurricanes John & Helene - Flash Update No. 01 as of 26 September 2024

KEY MESSAGES

• During the 2024 hurricane season, Mexico's coasts have been hit by hurricanes three times between 24 and 26 September.
• Hurricanes John, which struck twice on the Pacific coast, and Helene, which hit the Caribbean, have triggered Red Alerts in the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán. Other states along the Pacific and southeastern coasts have kept their alert systems active as heavy rains continue across the country.
• The National Civil Protection Coordination is working with State Civil Protection Councils to respond to the emergencies. They are receiving support from the Army, Navy, National Guard, Mexican Red Cross, Federal Electricity Commission, Ministry of Health, the National Center for Epidemiological and Disaster Emergency Care, the private sector, and other government and social organizations.
• The UN Resident Coordinator's Office and the UN Country Team have been monitoring the situation
  with OCHA’s support, keeping in contact with authorities. The UN Resident Coordinator has expressed the UN’s solidarity and support to the Government, if needed. The United Nations Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) is also following the situation and stands ready to assist the national response if necessary.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Hurricanes John and Helene both hit the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, respectively, starting on 24 September 2024. The first landfall occurred on the Pacific coast, between Guerrero and Oaxaca, when Hurricane John made landfall as a Category 3 storm. On 25 September, Hurricane Helene struck the Yucatán and Quintana Roo states as a Category 1 storm in the Caribbean. On 26 September, after the remnants of John strengthened, the system reorganized and made a second landfall on the Pacific coast as a Category 1 storm, mainly affecting Guerrero, Oaxaca, Michoacán, and Colima.

Weather forecasts from the United States’ National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Meteorological System warn of continuous rain in the coming days along the Pacific coast, especially in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Michoacán, and Colima, as well as in the central and much of the south-eastern regions of the country.

Hurricane John – 1st Pacific Coast Impact

Hurricane John’s first landfall affected areas along the Pacific coast, primarily in Oaxaca and Guerrero, including the port of Acapulco, which Hurricane Otis severely affected in October 2023. The Government deployed personnel from the National Civil Protection Coordination, the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and National Guard), brigades from the Federal Electricity Commission, medical teams from the national health system, and other specialized groups for preventive and relief efforts. Authorities have reported a preliminary death toll of three, with some people still missing. Although there are no official numbers on people in shelters, sustained winds of 195 km/h with gusts up to 220 km/h, along with heavy rains, indicate significant damage to homes and roads.

Oaxaca authorities activated 110 temporary shelters, while Guerrero opened 299. Damage assessments to infrastructure and homes are ongoing. The National Civil Protection Coordination declared emergencies in the municipalities of Cuajinicuilapa, Copala, Marquelia, and Florencio Villarreal in Guerrero, as well as Santiago Pinotepa Nacional in Oaxaca, activating resources from the Emergency Response Program for Natural Threats.

Teams are working to restore essential services like electricity, telecommunications, air and sea transport, education, and access to health services in the hardest-hit areas. However, heavy rains and the reactivation of Hurricane John’s remnants along the Pacific coast are creating additional challenges for response efforts.

Hurricane Helene – Caribbean impact

On 25 September, one day after Hurricane John hit the Pacific, Tropical Storm Helene in the Caribbean strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane as it moved across the Atlantic. Passing through the Yucatán Channel, the eye of the hurricane came within 70 km of the coast, primarily affecting Yucatán and Quintana Roo, where heavy rains and strong winds were recorded, especially in Quintana Roo. Local authorities reported significant rainfall in the municipalities of Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Lázaro Cárdenas, and Isla Mujeres. The State Civil Protection Councils coordinated preparation and response efforts, with support from federal authorities and the Armed Forces.

The northern states of the Yucatán Peninsula reported no serious damage or fatalities from the hurricane, and activities in the region are gradually returning to normal.

Hurricane John – 2nd Pacific Coast Impact

After meteorological offices warned of a possible strengthening of Hurricane John’s remnants in the Pacific, authorities confirmed a new landfall on 26 September as a Category 1 hurricane, this time on the coast of Michoacán, neighbouring Guerrero. John’s slow movement and wide cloud bands brought heavy rain and strong winds, causing flooding in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Michoacán, and Colima. Acapulco experienced significant flooding once again, and the risk of landslides increased due to the softened terrain.

State authorities along the Pacific coast are responding to the cumulative effects of John’s two landfalls, with support from federal agencies in the National Civil Protection System, the Red Cross, civil organizations, and the private sector.