Monday, November 12, 2007
Tabasco Tragedy Also One of Mexico’s Finest Moments
By Carlos Luken
When nature unleashes its massive forces against the frailness of human weaknesses, you generally
get disaster. No nation or any other human association can protect itself enduringly against the ravages caused by earthquakes,
hurricanes, forest fires or flooding.
Although in some exceptional cases man’s ingenuity and technological progress allow for safeguards
that lead to brief periods of harmony with the natural world, human arrogance often forgets that nature is a jealous and resentful
companion. Humanity forgets but nature always remembers and the results are always catastrophic.
The bluntness of this disharmony was felt in the southern Mexican state of Tabasco. Villahermosa,
Tabasco’s capital, was flooded by colossal thunderstorms that delivered the largest rainfall recorded in the last 100
years. The rains were a remembrance of nature’s rage, and the ensuing Katrina-like calamity was a testimonial to man’s
pigheadedness – but what followed was a monument to man’s solidarity in times of trouble.
Like New Orleans, Villahermosa is a city built long ago in the worst possible location. It is positioned
on a piece of land at the mouth of three great rivers. In the past flooding has been recurrent and predictable; but human
stubbornness has acknowledged the dangers and then disregarded them. Ignoring the possible dangers, the city thrived and grew.
From time to time projects have been considered but then postponed for other
priorities.
Three quarters of Villahermosa, the city surrounded by swelling rivers, was almost instantaneously
submerged in ten feet of water; people could not be evacuated before the water’s sudden rise, and close to one million
persons were left homeless. In the neighboring regions, the rain and flooding consequences were less numerous to persons but
the economic repercussions were disastrous to millions of farmers as100% of the banana, coffee and cacao crops were lost.
As reports of the tragedy filled Mexico’s airwaves, news of the hunger, disease and misery that
was being suffered by hundreds of thousands of residents of Villahermosa and neighboring communities sent an urgent galvanizing
message to all Mexicans. The response was swift.
Traditional political differences were immediately set aside as Tabasco Governor Andres Granier Melo
set-up makeshift shelters. President Felipe Calderon personally visited the disaster area, accompanied by several cabinet
members, and he took command of relief operations and ordered a total of 7,000 troops, helicopters and boats to help in rescue
and evacuation operations. Calderon ordered the secretaries of health, defense, communications, social development and agriculture
to stay in Villahermosa and personally coordinate measures. In the days that followed, Calderon made four additional visits
to the region.
Electricity and water were partially restored, roads were cleared and opened in order to allow relief
aid to filter in, and the army was also made responsible for shelter operations and provided food preparation and medical
personnel.
Federal aid programs were promptly implemented as Calderon offered a $7 billion peso aid package to
help Tabasco’s recovery and tax payments. Federal home financing installments were deferred.
The Mexican Red Cross set-up a national network of food, water, medicine and clothing gathering centers,
and hourly broadcasts were delivered nationally to inform the population of the list of materials needed.
The response was massive as most Mexican cities started food and medicine collection drives. Gathering
centers multiplied daily as tons of materials were airlifted or sent by road, also daily. Hundreds of firemen, nurses, teachers
and medics volunteered their services.
The Red Cross also established several relief donation bank accounts, and local and foreign cash donations
have been received in the millions.
The Mexican private sector also aided. Food and purified water producers made massive donations to
the relief efforts, and tortilla magnate Roberto Gonzalez Barrera donated $100 million pesos and the free distribution of
tortillas in the disaster region. Mexican banks delayed credit card payments and commissions on most banking services.
In an exceptional solidarity and unity, all political parties rallied around the victims and government
relief efforts, and all refrained from politicizing the tragedy. The only exception was an opportunistic attempt by former
presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a Tabasco native, who attempted to have a political rally and was forced
to cancel it after being heckled and booed by the people.
These past days, during one of the country’s worst tragedies, Mexico has experienced one of
its finest moments. The Mexican people, politicians and government have demonstrated uncommon signs of solidarity and selflessness
that may result in a new beginning for the country’s future.
I for one, say, that I am hopeful and very proud.
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Carlos Luken, a MexiData.info columnist, is a Mexico-based businessman and consultant. He
can be reached via e-mail at ilcmex@yahoo.com.
