Mexico Flood Update: November 2007

6 November 2007
Dick Green, Disaster Relief Manager
Travel logistics are proving to be difficult given the conditions, so we are scheduled to meet a helicopter at 8:30 tomorrow morning for a ferry ride into the city to meet the State Minister of Agriculture. We will also meet with two local vets and a representative from Pro- Animal. Our hope is to get a good aerial assessment of the area and that along with the meeting of the Agriculture Minister should enable us to develop strategies for the agriculture response. Additionally, two mobile vet clinics are leaving Mexico City (UNAM) tomorrow and should be here on Wednesday.  The clinics are critically important in responding to trapped animals, especially in areas where help has yet to arrive.

There are a number of groups working in coalition on the response for the affected companion animals so our priority is assist in resource management.

We will also tour the old downtown zoo and a zoological park tomorrow afternoon and assess the needs, if any, of that group.

8 November 2007
Dick Green, Disaster Relief Manager
We have completed aerial and water surveys, have identified priorities, strategies, and start field operations tomorrow. We have established a coalition comprised of IFAW - UNAM/Donkey Sanctuary/ International League of the Protection of the Horse; U Juarez Autonomous of Tabasco; College of Veterinarians - Tabasco; Central Veterinary Urgency Ctr; APAT; Pro-Animal; and WSPA/Hagenbeck Fdn. Through our leadership we have established a command structure and developed a framework for resource management, communications and donation management. A solid command structure is critical to ensuring that all resources are used in the most efficient and effective way to save the animals.

9 November 2007
Dick Green, Disaster Relief Manager
Under the direction of the Mayor of Tabasco, Health division of the Municipality, Director General for Religious Affairs, and State Secretary of Health the top three regions were identified for animal issues as: Centro, Nacajuca and Jalpa. We are all in agreement that the primary emphasis will be on backyard livestock.
 
There are a large number of companion animals in the affected area and a campaign will be initiated for providing food and medical attention throughout Villahermosa. IFAW’s office in Mexico City has initiated a food collection campaign and plans are currently underway for transportation and distribution of these vital supplies.

The enormity of this disaster could mean a long engagement.  But our ER team members are trained to operate in difficult circumstances, often for weeks or months at a time.  We will be deploying the UNAM Mobile clinics to high impact areas as a base of operations. As waters recede, operations will expand north and east.

A centrally located site for food storage and transportation to base camp is being determined by Pro-Animal and Coordinator General's office.