The Salvation Army in Mexico provides aid to victims of Hurricane Wilma

The Salvation Army has been working flat out in the tourist resort of Cancun, Mexico, which was hit with the full force of Hurricane Wilma. Sustained winds exceeded 110 miles per hour, with gusts reaching even higher speeds. Tidal surges hit luxury resorts that line a strand of beach between the Caribbean Sea and an alligator-filled lagoon, causing extreme damage. Windows were blown out, walls collapsed and in some cases the sea swelled high enough to reach the third floor.

The cement homes of the local people mostly survived intact, though many suffered from wind-damaged roofing. Rural homes on the outskirts, made of local materials, were obliterated. The immediate aftermath of the storm left all neighbourhoods without electricity, water or security.

In anticipation of the storm, The Salvation Army had dispatched Major Gilberto Martinez from Veracruz and Captain Marco Ramos from the Children’s Home in Mérida to support Majors Eligio and Rosa Martinez who run the Army church and a children's feeding station in Cancun.

The four officers prepared to wait out the storm which lasted three days and then offer what help they could from the feeding station. As the storm began to abate, three more Salvation Army officers and six volunteers in a Salvation Army two-ton truck set out to take relief supplies to the area. Having unloaded at the feeding site the team camped out on the floor to protect the supplies.

The next day, using US$5,000 provided by the USA's Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), more food was purchased from the local market and the team began feeding the residents who were without water or electricity. The team served meals and then loaded the truck with bottles of water and distributed these until curfew at 7pm.

It soon became clear that the most urgent need was for drinking water. So when a Pace Aviation Boeing 757 landed in Cancun to take out stranded tourists, the plane brought in 10 tons of bottled water from the USA, coordinated by SAWSO. Working with cooperative Mexican Customs, the water was loaded onto Salvation Army transport and taken into the city for distribution.

Major Mike Olsen of The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services was sent to assess the needs of the city. He reports: ‘The problems in Cancun are far different than those of other affected areas where The Salvation Army is working. The impact of the storm will be more long lasting on the neediest. This community depends on tourists. The lower-paid tourist industry workers such as waiters and bellmen rely solely on the gratuities given for service. Simply put, no tourists means no tips and no tips means no food. The tourists escaped but the locals are surviving without electricity, water, sewage or affordable food. The economic shortfall is expected to be catastrophic.’

The officers and volunteers are still housed at the children’s feeding station and facing many daily hardships. When asked by Major Olsen if they would liked to be moved their response was summed up by one volunteer who said: ‘We are working hard and have a good spirit. We want to make a good impact and give good testimony of the love of Jesus. It is difficult to sleep on the floor but we don’t demand a hotel because the people see us here and we stayed for security.’

The International Headquarters of The Salvation Army has released US$10,000 to help with the costs of purchasing food and other supplies.