Update from the Fund Managers of Hurricane Patricia Victim Relief Don Pickens - Casa Cupula and Taste Restaurant
October 31, 2015

At a meeting yesterday we discussed the current situation with the folks on the ground.

Things are much better now in terms of emergency provisions, we have had a huge impact. The army is now in some bigger towns now (like Emiliano Zapata). Other towns like Mascota and Melaque/Barra de Navidad have local business interests helping address rebuilding. But there are small villages right around where the eye hit such as: Chamela, La Huerta, Arroyo Seco and, La Fortuna, which we are focusing on helping most directly since we are the only ones there.

The two biggest issues now are reconstruction of roofs on people's homes and medical supplies. People are falling ill from exposure and the conditions in these areas (heat, cold, mosquitoes).

As of our meeting yesterday, we had raised about $31k USD plus the foundation's pledge for $5k More. We have spent about $16k USD on supplies as of yesterday.

That leaves about $20K or around $330K pesos to work with now. We calculated that to buy and kit the materials to rebuild roofs (wood beams, laminated roofs, nails, hammers, etc) is about $7100 pesos/house. We agreed to allocate about $172,000 pesos now for 24 house "kits" as soon as possible and get them in the field. We expect to allocate about $100,000 pesos to medical supplies, as we know the health clinics there have little to work with. We need to hold back some funds for gas, and today purchased about 50 tarps to provide temporary shelter.

We have asked the three orgs we are working with to survey the health clinics and we will get specific feedback on needs. We are assembling family medical kits with basics, and expect this will be a good area to focus as the needs will continue.

We would like to put together another 26 roof "kits", to rebuild a total of 50 houses, which will be possible if we hit our $50K goal. As of this post, we are at $38,259 USD including the pledged foundation match.

We will close down the www.gofundme.com/patriciahelp account after Sunday November 1 and so we hope any last minute donors can help us toward this goal. Remember, every $7100 pesos or about $433 is a repaired house. We will re-evaluate on Monday where we stand to determine how best to spend the money left.

We are deeply grateful to the Lion's Club of PV, the Rotary Club of El Tuito and Comparte Centro Comunitario for the unfailing amount of work they have put into finding those in need and handling distribution in a direct and effective way. We are purchasing these supplies wholesale by the truckload to get the best prices and vendors have been very helpful. Your money is being very, very well spent to help those most affected.

Thank you for your support!
Julie Guerrero, No Way Jose and JG Group
Danny Minnini, Act II/Stages
Don Pickens, Casa Cupula and Taste Restaurant

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