Wings CRS - Hurricane John Emergency Feeding Mission Summary
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane John, a lingering Category 3 storm that struck just two months after the Hurricane Otis recovery, Wings CRS initiated an emergency mission to support over 750 at-risk families living in the mountainous regions above Acapulco. The storm’s high winds and heavy rains triggered landslides and created dire conditions in the squatter communities.
Mission Overview:
- Mission Duration: September 25 – December 31
- Primary Focus: Emergency food distribution and clean water supply
- Volunteers: 14 dedicated individuals
Key Actions and Achievements:
- Food Distribution:
- From September to early November, volunteers delivered pantry essentials to impoverished families across three squatter communities.
- Water Delivery:
- In late October, a post-hurricane drought significantly worsened conditions, highlighting the urgent need for clean water.
- By December 31, Wings CRS provided clean water deliveries ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 liters per household for 400 families.
- Water was transported using 8,000-liter trucks, with each delivery significantly improving household resilience.
Financial Management:
- Initial Water Delivery Cost: $30 per family (1,000 liters)
- Final Negotiated Cost: $23 per family, ensuring greater efficiency in meeting ongoing demand.
Conclusion:
By December 31, learning that the government was deeding land to the squatters to build permanent homes, the community was anxious to shed their fragile constructed shelters and build permanent storm-resistant homes, predicated on the community’s security to receive continuing water deliveries. This ended the Emergency Feeding Mission, transitioning its focus to a new phase of Recovery and Resilience, declared as the start of the Guerrero Mexico Recovery & Resilience, a 12-month effort.
Mahalo, and may God bless us in this mission to save more lives!