“New Hurricane Protocol Unveiled in Quintana Roo – Enhanced Safety Measures in Place!”

The National Civil Protection Coordination has introduced a new protocol in Quintana Roo to address hurricane threats. The protocol emphasizes the importance of preparation and prevention in the face of natural disasters, particularly as the intensity of such events is expected to increase due to climate change. The Coordination Meeting on Rains and Tropical Cyclones-Coastal States 2024 was attended by the National Civil Protection Coordinator, Laura Velázquez Alzúa, and presided over by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa. The meeting focused on various aspects of natural disaster preparation and prevention, inter-institutional coordination, and the importance of proactive communication to mitigate risks associated with these weather phenomena.

Governor Mara Lezama stated, "I am confident that these new coordination plans and protocols will continue to ensure the safety and protection our people need. In Quintana Roo, every individual is our priority, from those in the most remote villages to the tourists staying in our hotels."

Laura Velázquez Alzúa, the head of the National Civil Protection Coordination, emphasized that climate change has resulted in more intense hurricanes in recent years. This has necessitated updates to the Hurricane Threat Response Protocol on a national level. These updates aim to enhance and coordinate the authorities' response to high-impact hydrometeorological events. They include improvements to the authorities' actions, reinforcement of risk communication, and early deployment of aid to affected areas.

The protocol has already been introduced in Tabasco and Baja California and will be implemented in the country's 17 coastal states, which are more likely to be affected by cyclones. The Benito Juárez Municipal Government has stated that Cancún is prepared to provide shelter for 25,000 residents and 50,000 tourists in the event of a disaster. This April, tours began to inspect hurricane shelters, with participation from various departments, including schools of architects, engineers, security corporations, Sedena, Health, Marina, National Guard, Firefighters, Cofepris, the Ministry of Education, the Municipal Ecology Department, Public Services, Urban Development, Social Development and the Alfredo V. Bonfil Delegation. In 2023, in collaboration with the tourism sector, there were 21 self-shelters with a capacity to accommodate 11,465 tourists and 98 temporary shelters capable of housing 36,164 people.