Bringing relief and hope after the hurricane

The challenge and blessings of being an IES officer

by Captain Matthew Beatty

One wouldn’t expect a latenight call from the territorial commander (TC) of the Mexico Territory, but for an International Emergency Services (IES) program officer, it’s all in a day’s work. The TC, Colonel Ricardo Fernadez, said the people of Acapulco urgently needed help.

I had just returned home to London from an almost three-week assignment in Papua New Guinea and had been monitoring, what was at the time, Tropical Storm Otis. However, in 24 short hours Otis had become one of the most lethal weather engines on the planet, a category 5 hurricane.

On October 26, around 1:00 a.m., Hurricane Otis slammed into the beautiful seaside city of Acapulco with sustained winds of 165 mph and reported gusts of 205 mph. The Salvation Army in Mexico, supported by IES from London, immediately responded.

I arrived in Mexico City late Tuesday evening after a 12-hour flight from London. Flying directly into Acapulco was not possible as the airport had been destroyed. I met with Salvation Army leadership for the territory immediately and then headed off to bed for just a few hours sleep before departing at 4:00 a.m. for the five-hour drive.

Once I arrived, a rapid assessment commenced. Fallen trees, along with collapsed and damaged structures and buildings, had disabled life-giving services such as electricity and roads and had even destroyed the entire cellular network. The humanitarian situation was dire. The security situation was even worse, as violent looters plagued the city. People were desperate. The good news was, under the local leadership of Captains Danny and Lila Yáñez, a positive response had already started.

In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, Captain Danny had forged a relationship with La Marina and Armada de Mexico (Mexico Marines and Navy of Mexico). Due to the still unsafe conditions, The Salvation Army began providing food and aid to first responders inside a command center on Acapulco Bay. As the security situation slowly stabilized, and under the armed protection of the Marines and Navy, only then were we able to get more into the community to meet the needs.

In the mornings, we did physical labor clearing the property of debris at the Acapulco Corps and Salvation Army Children’s Home. Additionally, we headed out into the community to help remove power lines, trees and other debris from the roadways. In the afternoons and evenings, we distributed hot meals and food boxes, and later, a supermarket voucher distribution program for 1,500 families.

All in all, our small IES team of two people (joined later by Bob Meyers of the USA Eastern Territory) along with the amazing officers and volunteers from Mexico, were on the ground for about six weeks giving much needed aid and support to thousands in the community. Indeed, God is good.

I feel extremely blessed to be a part of such an amazing international team. My travels thus far have taken me to the continents of Oceania, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. We work in the most difficult environments for extended months at a time with little or no warning. It is only through faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the support of a loving spouse, that I not only survive but thrive in this unique appointment. To God be the glory.