Executive Summary: Learning from the 2020 floods in Tabasco, Mexico
March 20, 2023
In October and November of 2020, a series of cold fronts and two cyclones caused severe flooding in the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, and Veracruz, Mexico. Tabasco also received significant rainfall in the month of November. Floods, landslides and the discharge of water from the Angel Albino Corzo “Peñitas” hydroelectric dam left the region under water. In total, the storms and resulting floods inundated 14% of the state and affected approximately 800,000 people, damaged close to 200,400 houses and flooded thousands of hectares of crops throughout the state.
The Mexican Red Cross, in collaboration with ISET, IFRC and Zurich Mexico, conducted a Post-Event Review Capability (PERC), which reflects on the causes of the 2020 floods in Tabasco, Mexico, and presents recommendations that contribute to risk management. This PERC and the experiences from the floods of 2020 illustrate that learning continues and that successful practices need to be built upon to fill the gaps in risk management. PERC research highlights multiple entry points for increasing resilience, including: strengthening early warning systems, integrating grey and green infrastructure, investing in social and human capital, researching alternative housing models, pursuing land-use management policies, and improving dam management.
In addition to the full report, you can also find the following PERC related products:
Puede encontrar el informe completo, el resumen ejecutivo y el resumen de políticas en español aquí.