La Paz sets up 20 shelters and 600 food kits ahead of rains and hurricanes

The La Paz city government has identified 20 sites that will serve as emergency shelters in the municipality's outlying districts and communities, plus additional points in the city center, as part of its preparations for the rain and hurricane season. In a first phase, the local government gathered about 600 food kits, along with sleeping mats, blankets and cleaning supplies to assist people who take refuge.

Prevention work includes cleaning and dredging arroyos, leveling ground and building berms and small dams to channel water during heavy rain. Protection Civil, the Integrated City Management office, Public Services, Sustainability and the municipal DIF are taking part in a coordinated effort.

"Here the aim is always to prevent; that is the most important thing, to be prepared for any situation," said Amor Fenech Montaño, the acting mayor, as she outlined the deployment.

The preparation responds to a pattern already unfolding in the city: recent rains left dozens of citizen reports and forced crews to dredge low water crossings such as El Vaquero and to clear arroyos in neighborhoods like Paraíso del Sol. In those cases, crews remove branches and trash that block the flow of water and cause flooding.

For residents, the most useful step is to locate the nearest shelter to their home now, especially those living beside an arroyo or in a low-lying area. During heavy rain, authorities advise against crossing low water crossings or arroyos with running water —on foot or by vehicle—, slowing down and staying informed through official channels.

Reports of flooding, fallen trees, blocked drains or rain damage can be filed through the App La Paz application, which routes requests to municipal crews. Having the exact address and a clear reference point of the affected spot on hand helps crews respond faster.