| In the Wake of the Hurricane: What You Can Do to Help Rebuild Los Cabos Dr. Irene S. Levine - The Huffington Post | |
| go to original September 26, 2014 |
 |
The New Dawn: San Jose del Cabo after Odile (Mike Arce)
On September 14, 2014 tropical storm Odile barreled into the Baja peninsula leaving a path of unprecedented destruction wreaking havoc on hotels, homes, bridges; flooding roads and whole neighborhoods; and decimating concrete structures that had seemed impenetrable. Along with local people - the vast majority of whom worked in the hospitality industry - more than 30,000 tourists were left stranded.
The Cat-3 storm left Los Cabos with no running water, no electricity, no cell phone service, limited medical care, long gasoline lines, closed banks and no ATMs. The international airport closed, so badly damaged that it won't be fully operational until the end of November. Because Los Cabos is geographically separated from mainland Mexico, it was difficult to mobilize help quickly.
...Sitting here in my comfortable home with every creature comfort, it's hard to imagine the desperation of all of those who are left with little or nothing. Yet the several friends I spoke to on the ground are optimistic they will recover and rebuild before high season this year. With so much need across the world, it's easy for the story of Odile to become yesterday's news.
Several relief funds have been established to help people take back their lives and return to their livelihoods.
Odile Relief Funds
To provide food, shelter, education, and help sport fishermen get back on the water to support their families
To provide humanitarian disaster relief
Group Questo Hurricane Odile Relief Fund
Set up by the luxury real estate company to support their employees who lost their homes or suffered severe damage from the storm
To support relief efforts in Cabo and the local community
Amigos a Amigos Hurricane Odile
Set up by the Rotary Club of Los Barriles Cabo Este to raise money for supplies to assist locals in rebuilding homes and bringing life back closer to normal
Baja California Disaster Relief Fund
The International Community Foundation (ICF) is partnering with on-the-ground relief organizations, including the Mexican Red Cross, and their grantees throughout the region
People who live in Cabo reach out to help the people and animals left behind
Cabo Villas Beach Resorts & Spa
To help employees rebuild their homes and their lives
Administered by Holding Hands Charities out of San Diego, donations go towards helping those in need in Cabo with supplies and by working with other organizations.
Other resort-specific relief funds
Hotel Chatter, an industry site, has a list of websites where donations can be made to assist employees of specific resorts including Las Ventanas, Capella Pedregal, Hilton Los Cabos, Esperanza Resort, and Pueblo Bonito Resorts
N.B. Unfortunately, whenever disasters occur anywhere, scammers come out of the woodwork. To the best of my knowledge, these are reputable funds. Before making any donations, do your own due diligence to check into any sponsoring organization.
Read the rest at The Huffington Post
We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!
Celebrate a Healthy Lifestyle
From activities like hiking, swimming, bike riding and yoga, to restaurants offering healthy menus, Vallarta-Nayarit is the ideal place to continue - or start - your healthy lifestyle routine.
Banderas Bay offers 34 miles of incomparable coastline in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, and home to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit's many great destinations.