FLOODS IN MEXICOS STATES OF TABASCO AND CHIAPAS

1
FLOODS IN MEXICOS STATES OF TABASCO AND CHIAPAS

• WORST FLOODING IN 50 YEARS
• 1 MILLION PEOPLE ADVERSELY AFFECTED
• ONE OF THE WORST NATURAL DISASTERS IN MEXICOS
  HISTORY
• NOVEMBER 1-2

2
FLOODS IN MEXICO NOVEMBER 1-2, 2007
3
ANNUAL FLOODING IN TABASCO

• Mexicos state of Tabasco has a history of floods
  during November of every year.
• Many of Tabascos low-lying neighborhoods, such
  as Villahermosa, the state capital, have become
  accustomed to living with water in the first
  floor of their residence for about six months of
  every year.

4
80 PERCENT OF VILLAHERMOSA, TABASCOS CAPITAL,
FLOODED
5
70 PERCENT OF TABASCO STATE UNDER WATER NOV 2,
2007
6
ANNUAL FLOODING IN TABASCO CONTINUES

• After a week of rain in October-November 2007,
  the Grijalva River rose 2 m (7 feet) above flood
  stage and overflowed, along with other regional
  waterways.
• Approximately 80 percent of Villahermosa and 70
  percent of Tabasco were under water.
• 900,000 houses were flooded.
• Potable water supplies were exhausted.

7
SOCIETAL IMPACTS IN TABASCO

• Nearly all services in Villahermosa were shut
  down.
• Thousands clung to roofs of houses or waited
  inside water-soaked houses or designated
  shelters, waiting to be rescued or to receive
  emergency assistance.
• Elevated parking structures were turned into
  temporary shelters because many shelters were
  unsafe.

8
FLOODS IN THE STATE OF CHIAPAS

• Tabascos neighboring state of Chiapas, which is
  also flood-prone, experienced extensive flooding
  in November 2007.
• 100,000 people were adversely affected and faced
  the same problems as in Tabasco state.

9
FORECAST

• More rain is forecast for the already drenched
  region.
• With food and drinking water scarce, and some
  300,000 of the 1,000,000 still cut off from
  rescuers, the conditions for serious medical
  problems such as cholera and other water-borne
  diseases, now exist.