300,000 people trapped in their homes by flooding, deja vu

[uppityperson]

How to help: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2201645




http://www.huliq.com/40516/exodus-out-of-mexico-flood-zone

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled severe floods in the South Mexican state of Tabasco where rivers burst their banks after heavy rain. The centre of the state capital, Villahermosa, is under between 2m (6 feet) and 6m of water with only rooftops visible from the air. Some 300,000 are still trapped in their homes in Tabasco, waiting to be rescued by boat or helicopter.

Overall, the floods have claimed at least five lives in southern Mexico. Officially, one person has died in Tabasco due to the floods, and four people were killed in the neighbouring state of Chiapas, where several thousand homes have been affected. President Felipe Calderon has ordered the entire air force to help bring supplies into the region and move people out.

'Everything gone'

Villahermosa is completely overwhelmed by murky, filthy water, the BBC's Andy Gallacher reports from the city. Soldiers, first-aid workers and volunteers are scouring the streets in small boats, handing out fresh food and water, both of which are now in short supply.

The Mexican government has admitted that the scale of this disaster has taken them by surprise and for those still trapped in the remote areas of Tabasco aid is still a long way off. As the massive operation continues, there are now fears that disease could spread and forecasters say more heavy rain is on the way....(more)

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA110407.24A.mexicoflooding.39bf0a5.html

Much of Tabasco capital remains underwater
Hundreds of rooftops rose like islands from a murky snake-infested sea of floodwater that gave this besieged city a look eerily reminiscent of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Soldiers and sailors in combat gear clutched automatic weapons to ward off looters and other criminals as rescuers worked into the night Saturday. Various media said eight people had died, one in Tabasco state and seven in neighboring Chiapas state, but state officials couldn't confirm the reports.

About 80 percent of Tabasco was underwater, but some rivers receded slightly Saturday. Villahermosa, the state's capital and largest city, remained largely flooded. Emergency crews struggled to maintain calm amid one of this country's worst-ever natural disasters. "It is catastrophic. We're never going to recover," psychologist Guadalupe Soto, 40, said as she peered across muddy, waist-high water at her submerged two-story house.

Villahermosa also was prey to horrifying rumors — that crocodiles, which normally live along the banks of some rivers, had invaded the floodwaters in the city's center, or that a dam upstream was about to burst....(more)

[uppityperson]

1. kick

[hootinholler]

2. Not on the news. K&R n/t

[uppityperson]

3. yup, I had to do some searching. Rather mindboggling, even for me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. There are significant differences from Katrina

The Mexican Miliitary mobilized immediately and sent in troops and established an air bridge using C-130s and the two 727 they own... They have also sent infantry troops for security, rescue et al and the Navy is using Sea Hawks for rescue

The Mexican Red Cross immediately mobilized disaster experts, EMS and Rescue personnel and is taking supplies to the affected area and actively participating in efforts ranging from relief to rescue...

The nation is fully mobilized and states are sending money, goods needed on the ground and personnel.

And of last night when I spent significant time googling this they had one confirmed death and probably twenty they have not been able to confim

Oh and here is one more significant difference. Though Calderon overflew the area (he explained he would get in teh way on the ground... he also spent a full day at the Red Cross in Polanco loading trucks with relief supplies... say what you want... but can you imagine Bush doing a national appeal and then rolling up sleeves and helping to load trucks?

I know what that will do politically, and this will be the end of Obrador... if you want to politize this, since he has tried.

Oh and they have also sent 20K vaccines to the affected area due to the increased risk of dengue, yellow fever, and Hep C... and the Secretary of Health and human Services (not the exact title but same function) has declared that this critical phase will last six months. Oh and they are also going to pay the locals to clean the local area... they are not hiring people from another area of the ecountry or another country. They have also lost the crops for next year, so they face hunger next year, or importing massive ammounts of food

So yes... just like Katrina... which is the model they DON'T want to follow.

[malaise]

5. Great post

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7077428.stm

Pix here

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. And the first photo

add the boy scouts to the mobilization

That was a scout leader entertaining the kids at the shelter.

[malaise]

13. Yep

They're well organized in terms of people. I doubt if they have all the required equipment or resources.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. For that size of a disaster, no, no they don't

so start the countdown for the Mexican Government to cry uncle and accept international aide

Trust me... seen this movie before, and it will take them a few days...

The question is... will it be less time than it took in 1985 after the quake, or for RIce to fold?

[flashl]

9. Sorry if this is OT

There are hundreds of Katrina personal accounts where every day civilians offering help and support were turned around or denied.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Not here the Governor of the state requested anybody who has

personal boats to assist in rescue efforts.

They have mobilized the nation

[flashl]

12. Good to hear. n/t

[flashl]

6. Same as horror stories in NOLA after Katrina

"Villahermosa also was prey to horrifying rumors — that crocodiles, which normally live along the banks of some rivers, had invaded the floodwaters in the city's center"

---

Keep up the good work.

[EFerrari]

7. Kick

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, uppityperson.

[uppityperson]

16. I almost missed this myself, had to go hunt. Thanks to Nadine instead

she brought it to my attention here since I hadn't seen it elsewhere.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Well, then thanks to Nadine as well. n/t

[Kurovski]

15. Kick. (nt)

[countryjake]

18. 800,000 homeless in Tabasco state, authorities say...

Mexico floods recede as thousands more evacuated

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04191207.htm

04 Nov 2007 17:37:04 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Alberto Fajardo

VILLAHERMOSA, Mexico, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Thousands of people were plucked from rooftops in southern Mexico on Sunday as water receded after flooding that left 800,000 homeless in Tabasco state, authorities said.

The army evacuated 5,000 people in a four-hour operation with 14 helicopters, police official Daniel Montiel said, as more food and bottled water was trucked in to crammed shelters that were struggling to provide enough meals and dry beds.

Army officials estimated another 80,000 people were still trapped in flooded homes, local media reported. Aerial images showed the area resembling a huge lake with just the tops of roofs poking through.

More than 30,000 people have been evacuated by the army and navy teams in helicopters or boats, civil protection officials said, despite problems with fog and rain and with flood victims trying to grab onto hovering helicopters.



A Navy helicopter carries relief goods in Villahermosa November 4, 2007. Thousands of people perched on roofs in southern Mexico on Saturday, desperate to be evacuated from flooding caused by heavy rains that has left most of Tabasco state under water and 800,000 people homeless. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo

[pitohui]

19. a terrible tragedy

but meanwhile front page news is some teevee writers might go on strike

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Well there is this footage of a ferret

also there are good reasons for these folks NOT to show it

Comparisons to Katrina and their far better response with far less resources will come up... almost immediately

It is not in their interest to show this