Hurricane John: The Day Acapulco Went to Hell (and Back)

Hurricane John’s recent battering of this Pacific resort city has laid bare not only the destructive power of nature but also the precariousness of urban development and housing infrastructure, leaving officials grappling with a complex recovery effort. Beyond the immediate challenges of civil protection and debris removal, a deeper crisis is emerging: a housing dilemma rooted in economic hardship and a reluctance to abandon hard-won homes.

“This is a human tragedy,” says Violeta Martínez Pacheco, local deputy for District 6 in Acapulco, affiliated with the Morena party. “Families don’t want to leave their homes because it represents a lifetime of effort, and they prefer to face the risk.”

The storm’s impact has been widespread, though a precise assessment remains elusive. Census efforts are still underway in hard-hit neighborhoods like Emiliano Zapata, Renacimiento, Las Cruces, La Frontera, Libertad, and Los Manantiales, where landslides have compounded the damage. Preliminary estimates suggest more than 40 neighborhoods have been affected. The disruption extends beyond housing; the city’s drinking water supply has been severely compromised due to damage to the intake network and pumping units. City officials project a return to normalcy within 10 days, according to recent press conferences.

The recovery effort is a multi-layered undertaking, involving federal, state, and municipal authorities. In District 9 alone, 350 individuals have received assistance, and nearly 10 tons of solid waste have been collected. The state government has established community kitchens in areas such as Plan de los Amates and Puerto Marqués, providing crucial support to displaced residents. State-led initiatives also focus on evacuating rainwater and clearing sewer blockages across Acapulco and the wider state. Work is ongoing to restore water pumping systems, while electricity service is reportedly near complete restoration across the city.

Despite these efforts, the pace of reconstruction is a point of contention. While roads are being cleared and debris removed, the situation in some neighborhoods remains dire. “Despite support at the federal, state, and municipal levels,” Ms. Martínez Pacheco notes, “and even though roads are being cleared or opened, earth and debris removed, we still have areas that have not been restored, such as Manantiales or the Libertad neighborhood.” This suggests that claims of 90% progress in reconstruction are premature, highlighting the uneven distribution of recovery efforts and the persistent challenges facing vulnerable communities.

Acapulco’s Hurricanes Expose Need for Stricter Building Codes, Climate Change Adaptation

The back-to-back blows of Hurricanes Otis and John have delivered a harsh lesson to this coastal city: existing building codes and disaster preparedness measures are insufficient in the face of increasingly intense weather events. While Otis brought destructive winds, John’s torrential rains triggered landslides and widespread flooding, revealing vulnerabilities that demand urgent attention.

“Each hurricane had its own characteristics,” says Violeta Martínez Pacheco, local deputy for District 6 in Acapulco, affiliated with the Morena party. “With Otis, it was the intensity of the winds; with Hurricane John, it was the excess of water.” This variability underscores the need for a more holistic approach to disaster mitigation.

While acknowledging improved public awareness and timely warnings compared to past events, Ms. Martínez Pacheco emphasizes the critical need for a stronger “prevention culture.” Areas built on riverbanks, particularly vulnerable to flooding and landslides, present a significant challenge. The Libertad neighborhood, where an entire hillside collapsed, exemplifies this risk. Civil protection authorities are urging residents of remaining structures to evacuate due to safety concerns.

The devastation has prompted calls for a comprehensive review of building regulations. Drawing a parallel to the 1985 earthquake, which led to significant changes in construction standards, Ms. Martínez Pacheco, an architect, argues that both Otis and John have exposed critical shortcomings. “With the 1985 earthquake, the construction regulations had to be changed to adapt to the strongest earthquake that had occurred until then,” she explains. “With Otis, we learned that winds can also be very destructive, and that the construction procedures failed because those winds were not considered.”

This necessitates a thorough reassessment of building codes, civil protection protocols, and construction practices, particularly in coastal areas susceptible to hurricane impacts. The focus must shift to incorporating lessons learned from both wind and water damage. The need for stronger structural integrity to resist high winds, coupled with improved drainage and erosion control measures, is paramount.

Beyond immediate structural improvements, the specter of climate change looms large. “We also have to consider the events of climate change,” Ms. Martínez Pacheco warns, “because we are seeing more floods, more hurricanes, all in excess.” This acknowledgment underscores the urgency of adapting to a future where extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent and severe.

The current situation is compounded by a housing crisis. Many residents, having invested their life savings in their homes, are reluctant to evacuate, even when facing imminent danger. “We are facing a human tragedy where families do not want to leave their homes because it means the effort of a lifetime and they prefer to face the risk,” says Ms. Martínez Pacheco.

The scale of the disaster is still being assessed. A full census is yet to be completed in affected areas such as Emiliano Zapata, Renacimiento, Las Cruces, La Frontera, Libertad, and Los Manantiales, where landslides have been particularly destructive. Preliminary estimates suggest over 40 neighborhoods have been impacted. The city’s water supply has also been severely disrupted, with damage to the intake network and pumping units. Officials anticipate a return to normal water service within 10 days.

Acapulco’s Recovery Hampered by Lingering Damage

While government agencies at all levels have mobilized to address the devastation wrought by Hurricane John, significant challenges remain in Acapulco’s recovery, particularly in hard-hit neighborhoods. The storm, characterized by excessive rainfall and subsequent flooding, has prompted renewed calls for stricter building codes and a heightened focus on disaster preparedness.

The immediate relief efforts have been substantial. In District 9, 350 individuals have received assistance, and nearly 10 tons of solid waste have been collected. The state government has established community kitchens in areas such as Plan de los Amates and Puerto Marqués to provide essential support to displaced residents. State-led initiatives also include evacuating rainwater and clearing sewer blockages across Acapulco and the broader state. Work continues to restore damaged water pumping systems, while electricity service is reportedly near complete restoration across the city.

Despite these efforts, assessments on the progress of reconstruction paint a less optimistic picture. While roads are being cleared and debris removed, some areas remain significantly impacted. “Despite the support at the federal, state, and municipal levels,” a local official noted, “and even though roads are being cleared or opened, earth and debris removed, we still have areas that have not been restored, such as Manantiales or in the Libertad neighborhood.” This suggests that claims of 90% progress in reconstruction are premature, highlighting the uneven distribution of recovery efforts and the persistent challenges facing certain communities.

The experience of both Hurricane Otis, which brought destructive winds, and Hurricane John, with its intense rainfall, has underscored the need for a more comprehensive approach to disaster mitigation. “Each hurricane had its own characteristics,” a local deputy observes. “With Otis, it was the intensity of the winds; with Hurricane John, it was the excess of water.” This variability necessitates a more holistic approach to disaster mitigation.

While acknowledging improved public awareness and timely warnings compared to past events, there is a recognized need for a stronger “prevention culture.” Areas built on riverbanks, particularly vulnerable to flooding and landslides, present a significant challenge. The Libertad neighborhood, where an entire hillside collapsed, exemplifies this risk. Civil protection authorities are urging residents of remaining structures to evacuate due to safety concerns.

The devastation has prompted calls for a comprehensive review of building regulations. Drawing a parallel to the 1985 earthquake, which led to significant changes in construction standards, local officials argue that both Otis and John have exposed critical shortcomings. “With Otis, we learned that winds can also be very destructive, and that the construction procedures failed because those winds were not considered,” one official stated.

This necessitates a thorough reassessment of building codes, civil protection protocols, and construction practices, particularly in coastal areas susceptible to hurricane impacts. The focus must shift to incorporating lessons learned from both wind and water damage. The need for stronger structural integrity to resist high winds, coupled with improved drainage and erosion control measures, is paramount.

Acapulco’s Hurricane Aftermath

While efforts to restore Acapulco’s tourist areas are underway following Hurricane John, a deeper crisis is unfolding in residential neighborhoods, where the storm’s impact has exposed a complex interplay of housing vulnerability, economic hardship, and security concerns. The storm has also reignited debate about the efficacy of current disaster relief mechanisms compared to previous systems.

The human cost of the hurricane is particularly evident in neighborhoods like Libertad, where landslides have destabilized homes and forced evacuations. The situation is fraught with emotional and economic complexities. “Walking through the Libertad neighborhood,” a local observer recounted, “I came across houses that were right next to where the landslide began, and there were women who were taking out their belongings.” The observer described encounters with residents facing agonizing dilemmas: “They are asking me to leave my house. At one point I didn’t have a place to build, it was cheap here and I built my house. It’s the effort of my entire life, and now they are asking me to leave and get out. How long will it take me to rebuild my assets?”

The reluctance to evacuate is rooted in deep economic insecurity. For many residents, their homes represent their life’s savings, making displacement a devastating prospect. Some residents have even refused to leave despite the risks, stating, “I’m not going to leave my house. It is an effort of my whole life and the rain will take me away with everything and my house.” This underscores the difficult balance between ensuring safety and respecting the profound emotional and financial attachment residents have to their homes.

Adding to the distress is the fear of looting and theft. As residents remove their belongings, they also worry about losing what little they have left to opportunistic crime. This security concern further complicates the evacuation process and adds another layer of stress to an already difficult situation.

While the focus on restoring the tourist areas is understandable given their importance to Acapulco’s economy, the situation in residential neighborhoods cannot be overlooked. The State Government's Tourism Secretariat, in coordination with the municipal government and citizen volunteers, has been working to rehabilitate the tourist strip. Hotels are reportedly operational, though not at full capacity, and efforts are underway to restore various services. Officials express confidence that Acapulco will be ready for the December tourist season and anticipate a good influx of visitors for upcoming long weekends.

Legislative efforts to support the affected population include individual contributions, such as donating a month’s salary, and providing essential supplies like food and drinking water. Support has also been provided in the form of heavy machinery like backhoes and dump trucks.

The adequacy of federal economic support remains a key question. While the president has announced resources for cleaning efforts (8,000 pesos per household), the full extent of financial assistance is still being determined pending a complete census of the damage. Unlike previous disasters, where support included cleaning, household goods, and reconstruction aid, the scope of assistance this time is not yet clearly defined. Officials emphasize that the situation is different from previous events, as not all of the population was affected this time.

The absence of the Fonden (Natural Disaster Fund), a previous disaster relief mechanism, has also prompted discussion. Officials argue that the current system ensures more transparent distribution of resources directly to the people, reducing bureaucracy. They contrast this with past experiences, such as after Hurricane Paulina, where support was often received in the form of goods like mattresses and sheets, rather than direct financial assistance. The current government asserts that the changes implemented will ensure that economic support reaches people directly, making them responsible for managing those resources.

The challenge for Acapulco is twofold: to quickly restore its crucial tourism sector while simultaneously addressing the complex needs of its residents in devastated neighborhoods. The long-term recovery will depend on not only rebuilding infrastructure but also addressing the underlying economic vulnerabilities that have been exposed by Hurricane John.

In-text Citation: (Espinosa Torres, 2024, pp. 30-34)