For Elisa Trujillo, preparedness is the foundation of an effective disaster response. This is especially critical in a country like Mexico, which experiences frequent natural disasters. “We don’t know when, but we have the certainty they will happen,” Trujillo said. Over 40 percent of its territory and nearly a third of its population is vulnerable to natural disasters like hurricanes, storms, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
As Director General of the National Center for Epidemiological Emergencies and Disasters (CENACED) in Mexico, Trujillo leads a network of over 180 organizations to ensure a coordinated response when disaster strikes—so people can get the support they need, when they need it most.
In 2019, CENACED joined the Connecting Business Initiative (CBi), a USAID-funded program that convenes businesses and civil society partners in support of disaster prevention and emergency response. This enabled CENACED to tap into a broad network of private sector resources, expertise, and capabilities to boost response and recovery efforts. In 2023 with funding from CBi, CENACED launched Unidos por Ellxs, a virtual platform to support private sector engagement in disaster risk reduction in Mexico.
Mobilizing the Private Sector Response to Hurricane Otis
The value of this network and platform was clear when Category 5 Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco on October 25, 2023. Otis caused catastrophic damage to the coastal city, resulting in at least 52 fatalities and an estimated $12-16 billion (USD) of total damage—making it the costliest tropical cyclone in Mexico’s history.
Following Hurricane Otis, CENACED supported the Mexican government’s response through a multi-stage approach—from deploying first responders and mobilizing private sector humanitarian assistance, to coordinating donations to support livelihood recovery and reconstruction efforts. Through CENACED, 9,200 tons of humanitarian aid—including food, bottled water, hygiene kits, and cleaning supplies—were delivered across 112 communities. Over 5.3 million hot meals were provided through 12 community kitchens and more than 100 restaurants. CENACED also helped coordinate medical assistance and the delivery of water, sanitation, and hygiene services to affected communities.
When Otis struck, many businesses came forward to offer their services, growing CENACED’s network of allies from 73 to 183. “We have enabled a channel to connect real needs on the ground with collaboration opportunities from the private sector,” Trujillo said. She also emphasizes the importance of early engagement and increased communication between the humanitarian community, including the private sector, during the periods between disasters to foster learning and innovation. Through Unidos por Ellxs, CENACED members can access training and other resources, identify real needs at the local level from reliable sources, have direct contact with disaster risk management stakeholders, and ensure transparency of resources donated to communities.
According to Trujillo, CENACED aims to drive cultural change to build a more sustainable and disaster-resilient Mexico. But its impact extends beyond national borders. Through its involvement with CBi, CENACED reaches a global network of over 9,000 members in some of the world’s most at-risk countries, exchanging knowledge, tools, and solutions to adapt to their unique challenges.
ABOUT THIS STORY
CENACED (Centro Nacional de Apoyo para Contingencias Epidemiológicas y Desastres) works towards creating a more disaster resilient and sustainable Mexico. It is Mexico’s representative on the Connected Business Initiative (CBi), a global network of local business federations, chambers of commerce, trade federations, and associations in some of the world's most at-risk countries. CBi is jointly managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Development Programme, with support from USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.