Hurricane Helene: IFAW deploys to assist emergency shelter operation

Hurricane Helene, predicted to be the largest hurricane to hit the US in over a year, has already impacted the Cayman Islands and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, and is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday 26 September. As of Wednesday afternoon, it is classed as a Category 1 hurricane, and it is expected to reach Category 3 status by the time it arrives in the US.

IFAW's Disaster Response staff have deployed to support the Holbox Animal Shelter in Quintana Roo, Mexico, in the evacuation of the animals in their care. IFAW's Dr. Erika Flores helped safely transport them to our partner Coco's Animal Welfare for temporary shelter until they can return home. Four municipalities in Quintana Roo opened pet-friendly shelters-Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Lázaro Cárdenas, and Cancún. We provided a hurricane kit to the Isla Mujeres shelter, and the other shelters were able to open on their own.

Our team continues to stand by, prepared to respond in other ways as we are needed.