A hurricane warning has been issued for portions of southern Mexico’s Pacific coastline, including Acapulco, as Hurricane Erick intensifies offshore. The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, is projected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane early Thursday morning, bringing life-threatening wind, rainfall, and coastal flooding to an already hard-hit region.
The area in Erick’s projected path has faced two major hurricanes in the past two years, including last year’s devastating Hurricane John and the unprecedented Category 5 Hurricane Otis in 2023. The storms left much of Guerrero state’s infrastructure fragile and local communities vulnerable. Soils remain saturated from successive storms, increasing the risk of severe flooding, landslides, and disease outbreaks.
According to Mexico’s national forecast, Erick is expected to drop between eight and 16 inches of rain, with isolated areas liable to receive up to 20 inches. Authorities warn of coastal inundation and flash flooding in low-lying areas. Rough seas and dangerous storm surge conditions are expected to develop ahead of landfall.
Coordination Underway
Direct Relief is in close contact with Mexican health authorities and partners on the ground. Teams have spoken with the coordinator of the Guerrero Centro Regulador de Urgencias Médicas, or CRUM, who has requested additional emergency health kits and medical backpacks to supplement units already staged in the region.
Direct Relief has also connected with the head of the Federal Centro Operativo para la Atención de Contingencias, or COPAC, which is currently meeting with local authorities to determine the highest-priority needs and deployment logistics.
CRUM and other regional agencies are actively preparing for a potential medical response, including the deployment of first responders to flood-prone areas and mountainous regions likely to be cut off by road damage.
Long-Term Health Concerns
Public health officials warn that Hurricane Erick could worsen ongoing challenges stemming from previous disasters. Following Hurricane Otis, which devastated Acapulco and surrounding communities in late 2023, the region saw a surge in dengue fever cases due to extensive standing water and debris, which created prime breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
This risk remains high. Direct Relief-supported responders noted that even months after Otis and John, many parts of Guerrero still struggle with debris, limited infrastructure, and interrupted healthcare access. Saturated soils also raise the threat of waterborne illnesses and cholera outbreaks.
The affected region is home to approximately 1.2 million people. No deaths or evacuations have been reported at this time, but the situation remains fluid.
Direct Relief’s emergency response team is closely monitoring Hurricane Erick and remains ready to mobilize additional resources, including medical aid, cold-chain support for vaccines, and backup power systems, as needed.
