Mexico hurricane victims need help

By Teresa Puente, Chicanísima

A recent news story that you might have missed was about the hurricane and tropical storm that struck southern Mexico, especially in the area around Acapulco.

Tropical Storm Manuel came in from the Gulf of Mexico and Hurricane Ingrid from the Pacific serving up a double dose of damage in Mexico. More than 120 people were killed, and almost 100,000 have been relocated or moved to temporary shelters, according to The New York Times.

I saw pictures of the devastation in one town, Coyuca de Benitez, Guerrero, because my cousin lives there.

There are many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the U.S. worried about their relatives impacted by the flooding.

My cousin, Gloria, born in Chicago, moved to Mexico with her parents when she was a young girl. That was more than 30 years ago.

She stayed in her adopted country, started a family of her own and now is helping her community rebuild after the devastation that destroyed the bridge that connects her town to the coastal communities.

Via Facebook, she shared pictures of the devastation. There also were pictures of neighbors coming together and of the Mexican Army and Red Cross distributing food and assistance.

But the people of Coyuca and of Mexico will need more help as it will take months for things to get back to normal.

I have many fond memories of Coyuca as I first traveled there as a child with my family to see my relatives.

My cousin lives by the river and shared with me a Mexican folk tale of the weeping woman, “La Llorona.” After the hurricane, that same river overflowed.

I remember eating giant plates of shrimp on the nearby beach and watching huge waves crash in the Pacific. Now part of the coastal area is cut off because a bridge collapsed.

I remember church fairs where the whole town came out to play games of “lotería” or Mexican bingo. Now people in the town are rallying to help each other.

I know that eventually this town will come back but it could take months if not years. They can use some help.

Consider making a donation through the Red Cross for the flood victims of Mexico.

This article was first published in Chicanísima.

Teresa Puente is a journalist and blogger. She is on the journalism faculty at Columbia College Chicago and is editor and publisher of Latina Voices.