A team from Connecticut-based non-profit AmeriCares is on the ground in Mexico assessing the need for disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Patricia. Patricia made landfall late Friday as a Category 5 hurricane, but weakened rapidly to a tropical storm.
Flooding and potential landslides remain a concern in the face of heavy rain from the storm. Garrett Ingoglia of AmeriCares said it appears the storm’s impact was not as catastrophic as feared, but the Connecticut team will be able to verify exactly what needs affected communities may have.
"In preparation for these kinds of events, we work with local partners to make sure that they're prepared," Ingoglia said. "So we have pre-positioned supplies with a local partner in the area, and they'll be distributing those supplies to families who have displaced by the storm. So that will be our first line of response."