When torrential rains swept through east-central Mexico last week, the devastation was both swift and staggering. At least 76 people lost their lives, dozens more went missing, and entire communities found themselves scrambling for safety as rivers burst their banks and landslides wiped out roads and bridges. The city of Poza Rica in Veracruz was among the hardest hit, with residents recalling how they began fleeing their homes only after the floodwaters had already started pouring in. For many, the warnings from authorities came too late—or didn’t come at all.
According to the Associated Press, these floods have once again cast a harsh spotlight on Mexico’s ability to alert its citizens to severe weather dangers in a timely manner. The events of the past week have prompted tough questions about what more can be done to prevent such tragedies in the future. Researchers and residents alike are asking: How could so many have been caught off guard, and what must change to keep history from repeating itself?
The numbers alone paint a grim picture. Forecasts a day before the flooding in Veracruz had predicted nearly 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain. That’s a lot by any standard, but the reality proved even more extreme—the region was deluged with nearly three times that amount. With rivers in the northern part of Veracruz state jumping their banks, entire neighborhoods were submerged before many even realized the danger was at their doorstep. By October 18, nearly 500 people had moved into emergency shelters, while thousands of soldiers and officials worked around the clock to reopen roads blocked by landslides and washed-out bridges.
Yet, for some, the disaster was not wholly unpredictable. Christian Domínguez, a researcher at the Atmosphere and Climate Change Institute at Mexico’s National Autonomous University, told the AP, “We’re being more and more affected by these phenomena and we can’t go on like this, failing by not knowing what to do and not having … adequate warning.” She pointed out that what was once considered unusual weather has now become disturbingly routine, thanks to the accelerating impact of climate change. Last year, it was drought; this year, relentless rain. The message is clear: severe weather is no longer the exception in Mexico, but the new norm.
The country’s technological shortcomings have only compounded the problem. Mexico currently lacks sufficient real-time instrumentation to measure river levels and doesn’t have enough weather radars to provide detailed hydrological forecasts. Domínguez emphasized that even with the forecasts available, prevention strategies could be much stronger if officials considered not just hurricanes, but the danger posed by the convergence of multiple weather systems—something that happened last week with devastating results.
Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist with AccuWeather, echoed these concerns, noting that severe weather events are now happening outside of traditional seasons and in places not typically seen as high-risk for flooding. “A severe weather event can develop anywhere when the ingredients come together,” Porter said, highlighting the unpredictability that now defines the climate landscape.
For residents of Poza Rica, the warnings simply weren’t enough. Many began to evacuate only after the water was already inside their homes, a delay that proved costly for some. Some residents reported that authorities warned them too late, while others admitted they simply didn’t believe the situation would become so dire. Even in neighboring Tamaulipas state, where officials watching the Panuco River issued clear warnings as it rose almost a foot (30 centimeters) on October 17, the challenge remained: How do you get people to act before it’s too late?
It’s not just about issuing alerts, experts say, but ensuring that people understand what those alerts mean and why they matter. Domínguez explained that Mexico has risk maps and civil defense officials tasked with alerting the public, but “beyond alerting, the people have to also understand what is being said.” The need for better public education is urgent. In the aftermath of Hurricane Otis in late 2023, for example, a woman in Acapulco told reporters she’d heard a Category 5 hurricane was coming but didn’t realize it meant her entire neighborhood could be destroyed. This disconnect between scientific warnings and public understanding can mean the difference between life and death.
Carlos Valdés, former head of Mexico’s National Disaster Prevention Center, underscored the importance of both language and recognition in communicating danger. “The first thing we have to do is recognize that there is a change … the atypical is now the most typical,” Valdés said. In other words, the way authorities talk about risk needs to evolve alongside the changing reality of Mexico’s weather.
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has a background in climate science and has been in office for about a year. While she expressed a willingness this week to review prevention protocols, she stopped short of directly addressing climate change in her remarks, instead insisting that it was impossible to predict with precision how much rain would fall in any given place. Still, Sheinbaum said her administration would focus more on prevention efforts related to hurricanes and heavy rains—a commitment that many hope will translate into real action on the ground.
On October 17, thousands of soldiers and officials worked to reopen roads and restore access to isolated communities in Veracruz. Meanwhile, in Tamaulipas, local authorities issued clearer, earlier warnings about the risk of flooding as the Panuco River continued to rise. By the following day, nearly 500 people had already sought shelter, a testament to the growing awareness—if not yet the full preparedness—of the region’s residents and officials.
Despite these efforts, the fundamental challenges remain. Experts argue that society and governments are still stuck in the past, slow to accept that severe weather is now a constant threat. The technological gaps are real, but so too is the need for a cultural shift—one that prioritizes education, training, and a willingness to act quickly in the face of danger. As Valdés put it, “When authorities’ actions are good, nothing happens.” In other words, the true measure of success is not in the disasters averted, but in the ones that never materialize because people were prepared.
As climate change continues to reshape the landscape, the stakes for Mexico—and countries around the world—have never been higher. The floods in Veracruz and beyond are a stark reminder of the urgent need for better warning systems, more robust infrastructure, and a public that’s both informed and ready to respond. The challenge is immense, but the alternative—more lives lost, more communities shattered—is simply unacceptable.