With maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, Hurricane Agatha is the strongest May hurricane to make landfall along Mexico’s Pacific coast since recording began in 1949. The Category-2 storm is the first of the Pacific hurricane season, hitting the beach town of Puerto Ángel first and then moving inland across the southern state of Oaxaca.
Winds, heavy rainfall, and mudslides left communities without water, power, or working communications. WCK supported areas cut off from resources by providing fresh meals and ingredients to people able to cook—including traveling by helicopter to hard to reach places in the mountains. At the same time, our team built connections with local restaurants to help us cook thousands of meals for displaced residents cleaning up following the flooding.
By the numbers
Hot Meals, Sandwiches, and Fruit Served
Pounds of Food Product Distributed
Recipient Communities
Lily
Lily
Lily, on the right, and her neighbor stand outside their home after water had receded from Hurricane Agatha. First it was the strong winds that took part of her room, then an hour later the flood came. Inside Lily’s home, water reached up to her shoulders.
Angel
Angel
Angel stands in front of what was once part of his home in Piedras Negras. “The hurricane suddenly hit our house and many parts flew away. There is nothing anymore. The bedroom and kitchen are gone.”
Simplicia
Simplicia
In the small town of Piedras Negras, many are living in makeshift accommodations following the hurricane. Roads were damanged and there was no electricity. Simplicia said they were desperately short on food. “The first gust of the hurricane made my home fly away. The same happened to many places here. There is water but its contaminated.”
