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On October 29th, due to the recent heavy rains that have relentlessly hammered that particular section of Mexico, the gulf state of Tabasco awakened to one of the worst disasters in the modern history of this country. Yesterday, on November 1st, the sun came out for the first time in several days, and the people of Tabasco had no other choice but to face water… lots of it.
When the rivers had started to rise, the Mexican Army had built some barriers to protect Villahermosa, the capital city of Tabasco, but these were fiercely destroyed as the rivers overflowed their banks with a vengeance. 
As you read this, the citizens of Villahermosa are effectively isolated from the rest of the country. There is no electricity or even money, since the few ATM Machines that still work are already out of cash and no one can get in to restock them. Not that money would do much good at this point. About 90% of the businesses, including restaurants and hotels, have closed their doors, and the few that are still open are only helping soldiers and civil volunteers with food and water while it’s still available.
Tabasco looks like New Orleans did in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, with the main difference being one of scope. In New Orleans, the flooding was mostly in the city. The flooding in Tabasco is throughout the state, including the large city of Villahermosa. Another main difference? Thanks in part to the quick response of the authorities and the Mexican Army, only one fatality has been reported so far among the one million or more disaster victims.
How can you help?
Yucatan Governor, Ivonne Ortega, has instructed the Civil Protection Unit of Yucatan to set up several collection centers to collect as much help and supplies as possible. The centers are accepting donations, including medication, canned food, blankets and bottled water.
These collection centers are located in the following Merida locations:
- "Siglo XXI" Convention Center (on Paseo Montejo past the Gran Plaza)
- Industrial and Commercial Development Secretary (Calle 59 x 62 y 64 Centro)
- Escuela Primaria Moises Saenz also has a collection center (Calle 74 #468 x 49 y 51… this one is in the Santa Ana neighborhood)
- Cruz Roja (Red Cross) (Calle 68 x 67 y 65. The collection center is toward the back of the property)
- DIF Yucatán (on Avenida Aleman)
- Poliforum Zamná (at the Kukulkán Sports Complex)
As of today, Friday November 2nd (a major Mexican holiday and a day when most businesses are closed around the country for that reason), there have been 2 shipments sent already to Tabasco. These shipments have included water, milk, blankets, medication and food enough for roughly 10 thousand people, but much more help is needed. If you can, please bring whatever you can to one of the collection centers. If you cannot donate goods, but would like to donate money, you can go to any Banamex, Scotiabank or Bancomer and indicate that 
you would like to deposit money for the damnificados (victims). Just tell the teller "Deseo hacer un deposito en apoyo a Tabasco" (I want to deposit some money in support of Tabasco).
Also, we will offer our Paypal account as a way to get your money to the victims. If you send your money to this account with a note that indicates ‘donation to Tabasco’, we will take the equivalent amount of pesos and deposit it into a bank account here that has been set up for the victims.
Vaya con Dios, Tabasco!
Articles about the disaster in the press:
A million people hit, Guardian
Calderon Pledges Disaster Aid, BBC
Floodwaters Devastate Tabasco, NY Times
Flooding Ravages Mexico State, Telegraph UK
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Here’s some additional information on places to donate supplies, and cash, from an article in the Diario de Yucatan (my translation):
“Organizations like the Red Cross, the Chamber of Commerce, and Mayab University invite Yucatecos to act in solidarity with the victims of the floods in Tabasco, in order to send them help as soon as possible.
The three institutions opened collection centers that are located in the east branch of the Red Cross, on Avenida Quetzalcoatl, and at the Red Cross in Centro, calle 68 (65 X 67), at the Chamber of Commerice on Avenida Itzaes, and at the Club Cumbres, Calle 5 No. 127 (6 X 18), in the Montecristo section of the city.
Clothing in good condition, bottled water, analgesics, gauze, intravenous fluids, cotton, Isodine, canned foods, dry grains, crackers, cereal, pastas, milk, disposable diapers, bottles, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, mattresses and blankets, cloro in tablet, etc., are being requested.
The Mexican Red Cross also opened the account number 95032723 at Banamex to receive tax deductible donations.”
(FELIX UCAN SALAZAR, Diario de Yucatan, November 2, 2007)
Watch for our News column on Monday for information about just how far reaching this tragedy can be. Quintana Roo and Belize depend on their food supplies to be trucked in from Tabasco. This is going to be a disaster in those places as well.
Another good opportunity to help the disaster victims in Tabasco:
Sunday, November 4, the Yucatan State department of Culture is offering a “Marathon of Solidarity” — at the Teatro Daniel Ayala, AND Teatro Peon Contreras, between 10am and 6pm.
You can bring your donations, in money and kind (canned goods, diapers, etc. — see the article for types of things to donate) — banks will have modules set up at the theaters to receive cash deposits.
The major banks have set up accounts for deposits(Banamex, HSBC, BanNorte, Bancomer, Banco Azteca, etc.) It is not necessary to know those account numbers before going there if you do not have them before hand. Just go to one of the banks. Ask the bank officer in charge for the account number and account name to make your deposit. ( The Mexican TV news stations are broadcasting the account numbers/account names for those who watch Mexican TV.)
The governor of Tabasco stated that 100% of the state’s crops had been destroyed. That is incorrect. The tragedy centers around Villahermosa. Cardenas for the most part is okay. Cattle country on the way to Campeche is on higher ground, and should be okay, although I haven’t seen it. Before these rains, I had flown into Villahermosa. From the air, the place looked like a swamp. Which is normal during rainy season. I am surprised this hasn’t happened sooner. What is really hard for the area is that Villahermosa is the transportation hub for the state. Nothing can move.
We went grocery shopping today at Mega, and there were carts set out there by a local group, collecting supplies for the victims in Tabasco. We donated blankets, cooking supplies and other staples that we bought at the store. We also brought used clothes, grocery bags, insect repellent, cat and dog food and more staples from Costco to the Cruz Roja station on Calle 68 between 67 and 65, which is also set up as a Centro de Acopio.
We noticed that most people shopping in both places seemed to be buying supplies for the people of Tabasco.
[...] there has been no sign of US aid in stricken Tabasco. Ellen has a very good write-up on her blog at Yucatan Living. The rains are still coming, the flooding continues, and hundreds of thousands of Tabascans are [...]
From what I understand, there are quite a few expats living in Villahermosa. Has anyone heard from them?
My heart goes out to the people of Tabasco. Question: How can you tell if items and money collected will get to the persons in need? How does one know if fraud is being conducted? I would give to the Red Cross. Is there a way to check people and groups out, so that people in Tabasco will get the help? I’ve been watching the news on Univision about the flooding in Tabasco. I spent an hour in Villahermosa at the ADO bus terminal (2005). It is beautiful country! To Working Gringos, Khaki, and the others: I will be in Merida, January 23, 2008. For a 1 week stay. Take care everyone. Carlos.
Expats in Villahermosa? Really? Do they work for the oil company? The next expat I see in Cardenas will be my first. I never even met anyone who speaks english.
Tim – I remember that from a gazillion years ago (literally) – when MexConnect was the only gringo web board in all of Mexico – there were a number of retirees in Villahermosa – but no clue about now.
Hi,
help is needed in all possible ways in this situation. The Red Cross is one of the best ways to do so. If you wish to spend I can take the money there bymyself and take it there twice a week. I will give you the names of the persons who got your donations and give you a report with digital fotos how it has been used. I live on the way to Acapulco and I lve in Mexico for 33 years now. You can call me on my cel-phone by dailing 0115215523381048 or send an e-mail to this page.
May god bless you all.
I want to say that this is a very serious tragedy for many, many people. However, the news services seem to be getting their news from politicians secondhand. The politicians seem to believe they will get more aid if the news is exaggerated. How can a million people be displaced if the flood inundated an area where only 1/2 million live? And a lot of them are on high ground?
I liked the last photo in this article. A young man is saving what is important to him. His America jersey.
Anyway, in MexConnect today were articles which more or less claimed that the flood showed how poor Mexico really is. And of course the articles are hogwash. In Mexico, no matter how poor one might be, he always has food to eat and a place to sleep. And usually no one is cold. The same cannot be said of Africa, Honduras, or even New York City. The biggest loss from this flood will probably be TV sets, refrigerators and other electronics. Concrete houses can be hosed down and cleaned with clorox. Unlike New Orleans.
Muchas gracias for the PayPal link for making a donation — I’ve just sent USD 50 for the people of Tabasco.
I’ve been to Merida once… hope to return in the next 6 months or so… and Ihope that things in Tabasco will be improved enough by then for me to visit — which I’ve been hoping to do on this next visit.
Babs
YESTERDAY I HEARD FROM MY SON THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS TERRIBLE DISASTER. HE STATED HE NEEDED MONEY FOR CLOTHING AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO SEND HIM THIS MONEY MY SON IS ADVENTUROUS AND IS A NATIVE OF LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME! I HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM HIM IN REGARDS TO WHERE I SEND HIM ANYTHING. MY EMAIL IS MSANTOS@OYHFS.ORG PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND I AM A VERY CONCERED MOTHER
I think that this is a shock to the world, about the flooding in mexico. People are dying in the this town and it is a shame to the earth.
Any new news on the state of the state of Tabasco? We are planning to drive from New Jersey to Playa del Carmen in January and can’t seem to find any info on how Tabasco is now, a couple weeks later. Has the water resided? Is it still insane there? How difficult will it be to drive through/is it even possible?
We posted this link in the News this week. But here it is for you directly. Should give you the most current information on the roads in Tabasco…
http://aplicaciones.tabasco.gob.mx/contingencia2007/carreteras_afectadas/carreterastab.html
Thanks for this info! We’re going to plan our route and check it on the pdfs they provide!
If you want news of Tabasco, go to tabascohoy.com.
Hello, I will be coming to Merida on 24/12 with a small group (7) and would like to know where we can make a donation to a worthy cause – I don’t know if the Tabasco flood people are still in need of donations? Or if not, is there another cause we can make a christmas donation to?
Many thanks,
Jane