Mexican response to Hurricane Katrina

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Mexican troops in San Antonio, Texas.
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Mexican troops in San Antonio, Texas.
Hurricane Katrina

2005 Atlantic hurricane season


On August 30 Mexican President Vicente Fox sent his condolences to President George W. Bush, "In the name of the people and of the government of Mexico, I assure you of my deepest and most sincere condolences for the devastating effects caused by Hurricane Katrina". He also mentioned his instructions to the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs; that the United States would be provided with any kind of help that was needed.

On September 1, Mexican aid workers set up temporary headquarters in the Houston Astrodome to assist Mexican nationals affected by Katrina, and also offered to cover the costs of returning them to Mexico. Also offered was teams of epidemiologists, to reduce the risks of infections caused by mosquitoes.

The Mexican Red Cross sent four rescue experts from the state of Jalisco to assist in rescue efforts in New Orleans. The government of the Mexican Federal District also pledged to help with relief efforts.

On September 4 the Mexican Navy offered ships, buses and helicopters to assist in rescue missions. The offer was accepted and the Mexican ship Papaloapan departed from Tampico, with two Mi-17 helicopters, eight all-terrain vehicles, seven amphibious vehicles, two tankers, radio communication equipment, medical personnel and 250 tons of food.

On September 5, the Secretariat of Social Development pledged 200 tons of food, to be delivered in five airplanes by the Mexican Air Force.

The Secretariat of National Defense, on September 6, sent personnel with expertise in rescue missions to the area affected by Katrina. Also sent the same day was 35 vehicles and 162.7 tons of food, that was carried by trucks travelling through the state of Texas.

The members of congress of the Federal District pledged a day of salary each on September 7, to be sent to those affected by Katrina. The National Commission of Water sent bottled water and canned food upon request. Naval ship Papaloapan arrived the same day, with 389 soldiers and other personnel from the Mexican Navy. Units of the Mexican Army, a total of 194 people, arrived by land with 45 military vehicles.

On September 8, the Mexican Army was received with honors at Kelly Air Force Base by the mayor of San Antonio, Texas. Local news channels noted the fact that the Mexican Army operated on U.S. soil after 159 years of absence, last time being the Mexican American War.


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