Help Acapulco Families Affected by Hurricane Otis

On Monday night, we lost communication with my mom. The last thing we knew was that it was barely a tropical storm. Nobody saw it coming. As winds catapulted to Category 5 strength on Tuesday evening.

In less than 24 hours, Otis hit Acapulco on early Wednesday, the 25th, arriving with up to 195mph winds, destroying everything and causing extensive damage to the city.

We couldn't contact my mom, all we could see were videos and photos from Acapulco's tourist areas, but nothing about working-class neighborhoods. We were in a panic, worrying about her, with no electricity, no network, and no phone service. We couldn't be sure she was alive and safe.

My sister Paty quickly created a group for all the relatives of my mom's neighbors, all the people who are in other cities or countries looking for hope and news, for any sign of life of their love ones.

Panic and anxiety filled us; it was already Thursday, and we still knew nothing about her. The videos and photos kept coming out, but nothing about her neighborhood, Mozimba. We were extremely desperate. We created a list of all my mom's neighbors, along with a Google map, to keep track of any news about her street. We started receiving news of people having to walk kilometers to reach some network. We kept updating the list and the map, but still nothing about my mom. All we could hear in these few seconds calls was, "No one has died, just material damage. There is no food, no water, no electricity, nothing."

We knew that her street, Loma Bonita, was blocked by fallen trees and light poles, with no car access to them. We updated the map with the only walkable access they had.

Finally, on Friday, the 27th morning, my sister Paty received a quick call - my mom was alive! Her house was damaged: the gate flew away, stairs fell, first floor flooded, and there was no access to her second floor. The most important thing is that SHE IS ALIVE. She said and confirmed what we already knew:

There is no food, no potable water to drink, no electricity, no batteries available, no medicine, no gas... but the neighbors were helping each other and sharing what they had. Also, they cleaned the street, but at night, they are rotating guards to avoid riots and looting by desperate people who don't belong to the neighborhood.

We are organized, we are together, trying to do the impossible for our families who are in Acapulco. We know there are some elderly neighbors who can't walk and are out of food. Another has cancer and doesn't have medicine, others are kids. A neighbor lost their entire house, there are pets without food, and all of them had catastrophic damage to their property.

Government's help is not arriving to them, they are hungry, they are afraid, they are uncommunicated.

This is not only for my mom, who is there alone, but for her neighbors who are taking care of each other, it's for Acapulco that you can't see on the news, and it's for the people we love.

We truly appreciate your help in this moment. Remember that every cent makes a huge difference because of the Mexican peso exchange rate.

All the help will be personally delivered to my mom and neighbors. Fund will be used to get food, medicine, clean water and any need for them

A couple answers for The Gofundme team and all donors:

1- This fundraiser is for my mom and her neighbors who lives in Loma Bonita st, we also sending help to Alta Loma st and Riscos st in COL. MOZIMBA in Acapulco

2.- I am sending the funds to my sister Paty, and Ram (son of my neighbor) they are driving to Acapulco from Guadalajara and CDMX with cars full of food, water and medicine. I am keeping updating of the purchase and the receipts.

Google maps of Loma Bonita st

Neighbors List