Nobody’s home

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Víctor Martínez, World Vision Latin America and the Caribbean 

Last Friday, a World Vision team left immediately from Mexico City, heading for Jalisco to respond to what was expected to be one of the worst disasters in Mexico and the world. 

Throughout Saturday morning we kept abreast of the strange yet fortunate weakening of Hurricane Patricia. First thing in the morning, after substantiating preliminary data with Federal Police officials, we traveled to the town of La Mascota, in Jalisco state, nestled among the western Sierra Madre Mountains, just 56 miles (90 km) from Puerto Vallarta. According to local authorities, a thousand homes suffered some sort of damage due to the La Mascota River spilling over its banks, leaving 500 hectares of corn, peppers, and tomato completely destroyed. 

See Also: Damage caused by Hurricane Patricia in Mascota, Jalisco

According to the Mexican government, the impact and damages wrought by Patricia were lighter among the majority of the population in Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima state, but some people in La Mascota had lost everything they had in a matter of hours. 

This is what Luz Delia Rodríguez, Edgar Contreras, and their five daughters went through. Just like any other Friday, they were resting at home when a neighbor told them that the river was rising massively and that they had to get out as soon as possible. Without a second thought, Edgar and Luz Delia awoke the girls to take them to their great grandmother’s house. Minutes later they returned to take what they could: furniture, beds, clothes, stove, refrigerator, etc. Nonetheless, the water rose so fast there was nothing they could do. Suddenly, the flooding waters were nearing the five foot mark.

According to the Mexican government, the impact and damages wrought by Patricia were lighter among the majority of the population in Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima state, but some people in La Mascota had lost everything they had in a matter of hours.

“The water came in right when we were about to disconnect the washing machine. We wanted to save some of our things, but at that point Civil Defense authorities arrived to tell us we had to leave,” said Luz Delia. 

By Saturday morning Patricia had been downgraded to a tropical depression and rains had ceased. Edgar decided to go back home to see what was left. What he found left him heartbroken. All he felt like doing was breaking down and crying. Their belongings were all floating about, their dogs and cats were on the roof. All had been saved, except for Blackie, a puppy that the river had swept away. “When we returned everything was topsy-turvy. The pressure of the water coming in was considerable. That bunk bed over there is all that’s left. The concrete began to buckle and peel off the walls, which broke up; but here we are, making the best of the situation.” 

The Contreras family had to wait two days for the water level to go down. It was not until Monday that they were able to open the windows and doors. The plumbing burst, the river water mixed with in with the sewage, making smells in the house unbearable. Nevertheless, they all returned to clean, including all of Edgar and Luz Delia’s daughters Lucía, Esmeralda, Guadalupe, Marlene, and Cecilia. 

“The school supplies and backpacks got wet. We haven’t gone back to school because we don’t have anything to carrying our notebooks in. Our uniforms are all muddy. It’s better for us to be home helping my mom clean and sweep the rooms. I hate looking at the mess,’ said 11 year old Guadalupe. 

The Contreras family has received clothing and food from some of their neighbors and the municipal government lent them support in the form of water. In days to come, they will also receive three double and two single mattresses and a water purification filter from World Vision. 

Nobody's home today. All that remains in the back yard is what little there is left of their belongings. I admire the strength of each of these individuals. I admire Luz Delia and Edgar for protecting the lives of their daughters. I admire their girls because, despite her sadness and fear, they are standing strong and supporting their parents.