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As Hurricane Polo Threatens Coastal Mexico, Direct Relief Mobilizes Medical Support

Direct Relief has operations in Mexico and is preparing emergency medical supplies for Michoacán search-and-rescue group, and additional support is expected to be distributed in Baja California Sur to areas of greatest need.

News

Hurricanes

Hurricane Polo as pictured from satellite imagery on Sept. 23, 2026, off Mexico's Pacific Coast.
Hurricane Polo as pictured from satellite imagery on Sept. 23, 2026, off Mexico's Pacific Coast. (NOAA Image)
By Staff

Mexico’s Pacific Coast is bracing for the impacts of Hurricane Polo, currently a Category 4 hurricane, which isn’t expected to make a direct hit, but could bring flooding and mudslides to an area of Mexico still recovering from past storms.

After rapidly strengthening to Category 5 on Tuesday, Polo remained a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph at 9 a.m. Mexico City time on Wednesday, Sept. 23, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters expect 4 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated totals of up to 8 inches, across coastal Guerrero through Thursday, raising the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Coastal areas of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco could receive 2 to 4 inches.

Emergency Medical Supplies Prepped in Mexico Ahead of Hurricane Polo

Direct Relief has staff in Mexico and has mobilized emergency medical supplies, including field medic packs designed to equip first responders with medical essentials for triage care. The packs are being deployed to Michoacán to support a search-and-rescue group. Additional packs are expected to be distributed in Baja California Sur to areas of greatest need.

“Direct Relief has been preparing for a stronger-than-usual Pacific hurricane season, and as part of that preparedness, we maintain a stock of field medic packs and emergency health kits in Mexico that can be rapidly deployed to communities affected by severe storms,” said Eduardo Mendoza, director of Direct Relief’s operations in Mexico.

“The contents of these kits reflect lessons learned from past emergencies and have proven valuable during major storms, including Hurricane Otis in 2023,” he said.

“We are closely monitoring Hurricane Polo and are prepared to respond quickly as needs become clearer.”

Flooded roads, damaged health facilities and power outages can interrupt medical care and leave patients without essential medications. These disruptions can be particularly dangerous for people managing diabetes, hypertension and asthma, especially in communities where healthcare is already difficult to access.

Ongoing Disaster Preparedness and Pacific Hurricane Response Efforts

Direct Relief’s broader hurricane preparedness program pre-positions packs of essential medicines and medical supplies with healthcare providers in storm-prone areas. The supplies help providers treat injuries and maintain care for chronic conditions when regular deliveries are disrupted.

The organization’s recent responses in Mexico include equipping medical teams after Hurricane Otis in 2023, a Dengue Fever outbreak a few months later, Hurricane John in 2024, and supporting mobile health brigades following severe flooding in 2025.

Direct Relief will continue working with local partners to assess needs and determine whether additional resources are required.

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