Merida, Yucatan, Mexico….[Raul Lozano/Libna Stevens/IAD]
Powerful Hurricane Dean crashed into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula early on Aug. 21, drenching and flooding the southern coasts of Quintana Roo with its category five winds over 160 mph. Dean battered anything in its path as it moved over the peninsula, crossing the Gulf of Mexico and striking the north of Veracruz before it was downgraded to a tropical storm.
Soon after the hurricane passed through, church leaders took to the streets and affected communities to assess the damages to church buildings and members homes. There are approximately 50,000 Seventh-day Adventists in the area.
Pastor Ignacio Navarro, president of the church Quintana Roo, said the greatest damage was found in the capital city of Chetumal. Streets were flooded and light posts, trees and signs were torn down. Running water and electrical service has been interrupted for over 36 hours and five of the churches were damaged. In the state of Champeche, some churches and schools were flooded and sustained roof damage.
“We are happy that, with all that happened, it’s not what we expected and there was no grave damage,” said Pastor Alejandro Castillo, communication director for the church's Mayab region. “Some of our members corn fields were destroyed, but overall our membership was not affected as much.”
Local church officials are now focused on the rural communities near Chetumal, Carillo Puerto and Bacalarar, were some of the heaviest flooding was reported.
Before the storm hit, ADRA organizers in Mexico purchased and prepared food bags, according to Wally Amundson, ADRA Inter-America director. He said ADRA Mexico is en route to Chetumal, where funds for aid have already been distributed, as well as in other affected regions.
Pastor David Javier Perez, president of the church in South Mexico, has been in contact daily with local leaders in the Mayab region and Quintana Roo. Pastor Perez said that before Dean made landfall, preventative measures were taken and funds were immediately disbursed.
“Last Sunday, there was a meeting with all the district pastors of Quintana Roo where funds were released for them to purchase supplies in their local areas to ensure there were enough food to distribute affected families,” Pastor Javier said.
Church officials like Pastor Javier are still concerned that they still have not received more updates, but reports are slowly coming in.
For now, church leaders continue to assess damages to church structures, members and the surround communities.
