MÉRIDA, Mexico — For the second consecutive year, authorities, academic institutions, and animal protection organizations including Humane World for Animals participated in a hurricane simulation exercise that included animal related concerns. The simulation was based on a Category 5 hurricane scenario making landfall along the Yucatán coast, triggering alerts and the evacuation of people and animals in the city of Mérida. A temporary shelter was set up at locality of Opichén, designated by the Mérida City Council as one of four priority shelters equipped to receive people and animals during emergencies. The purpose of the simulation was to raise awareness and strengthen preparedness processes relating to the use of temporary shelters for both people and animals in the event of a hurricane.
Before the drill, Humane World for Animals provided a training for authorities, veterinarians, students, and community members that covered topics like the rationale for including animals in disaster preparedness plans, humane handling of animals in crisis situations, basic first aid for companion animals and the management of temporary shelters for people and animals.
Felipe Márquez Muñoz, program manager, disaster response, for Latin America at Humane World for Animals, says: “Last year, we had the opportunity to conduct Mérida’s first hurricane simulation exercise that included animals. This experience allowed us to identify areas for improvement and work on them collaboratively with the municipality of Mérida’s Environmental and Animal Welfare Unit, with the goal of being better prepared in case a disaster impacts the city.”
This year’s simulation involved participants from the Autonomous University of Yucatán, veterinarians, temporary shelter managers, municipal Civil Protection authorities, Environmental and Animal Welfare Unit officials, and members of the community. Notably, five families living near the shelter took part in the exercise and received emergency preparedness kits that included supplies for their companion animals.
“For us, the most important goal is to build communities that are better prepared for disasters. We firmly believe that comprehensive preparedness, which includes animals’ interests, too, is more effective, safer, and represents a better investment of resources,” Márquez Muñoz adds.
Following the exercise, at a roundtable exchange, participants discussed lessons learned, areas for improvement, and the particular factors that contributed to the successful implementation of the simulation.
Humane World for Animals provides disaster response and risk reduction support in Mexico and other nations around the world to assist animals and affected communities. In June 2025, the team deployed to Oaxaca, Mexico, to support people and animals impacted by Hurricane Erick; in 2023 and 2024, the organization responded to emergencies in the state of Guerrero following Hurricanes Otis and John. Humane World for Animals has also supported animals affected by volcanic eruptions in Guatemala; earthquakes in Nepal, Ecuador, Mexico, and Turkey; severe storms in India, Haiti, Costa Rica, South Africa, Mozambique, and the United States; wildfires in Australia and Chile; as well as in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine. In addition to emergency response, the organization continuously invests in preparedness, mitigation, and long-term recovery efforts aimed at strengthening and empowering communities before disasters occur.
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