During the aftermath of a natural disaster, it's natural to ask what you can do to help.
In the case of Hurricane Patricia, the strongest storm on record in the Western Hemisphere, there are many ways to aid relief efforts on the ground in Mexico -- no matter where you are.
The hurricane made landfall near Cuixmala along the coast of western Mexico Friday night, with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph and gusts of around 200 mph. As it weakened over land from Category 5 to tropical storm on Saturday, it continued to bear down over communities across the country and may produce up to 20 inches of rainfall in the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero.
The storm has already caused flooding and mudslides, which the National Hurricane Center warned could increase and become life-threatening throughout Saturday. Heavy rains also caused dangerous coastal flooding in Texas, worsened by onshore winds.
No deaths or major damage have been reported at the time of writing, but tens of thousands of people have been displaced after evacuating the affected areas in advance of the hurricane. Hundreds of shelters have popped up through aid organizations, where many children and elderly -- among the most vulnerable populations -- have taken refuge.
The impact on more isolated communities along the Sierra Madre Mountains in western Mexico is still unclear.
VIDEO: Hurricane #Patricia: in Cihuatlán in the state of Colima. Palm trees figting against wind. pic.twitter.com/urNul5eiIJ v @alezrodriguez— reported.ly (@reportedly) October 24, 2015
Más imágenes de la comunidad de Emiliano Zapata, cerca de Cuixmala, Jalisco. pic.twitter.com/66HT0jxp6y— Enrique Acevedo (@Enrique_Acevedo) October 24, 2015
We rounded up the following list of organizations and relief efforts, several of which are working in both Mexico and Texas, that you can support to help people affected by this historic storm.
Donate to impactful charities.
Various organizations and nonprofits mobilized early on the ground in Mexico, setting up essential provisions such as first aid and shelters.
Se trasladan 18 unidades de emergencia de Cruz Roja a Puerto Vallarta ante la presencia del #HuracánPatricia pic.twitter.com/PLjsfaizm1— CRUZ ROJA MEXICANA (@CruzRoja_MX) October 23, 2015
The Mexico arm of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) began assisting with community evacuations on Friday, having already set up 18 emergency response units around Puerto Vallarta and positioning 30 tons of relief supplies.
The Mexican Red Cross is focusing on first aid, logistics, relief distributions, shelter support and damage assessments. You can donate directly here, or find donation pages in various languages to the IFRC's disaster relief efforts here.
Millions are in the path of the strongest storm in history. RT&Donate: https://t.co/kO852TQYWA #HurricanePatricia pic.twitter.com/YmmalC87kq— Intl Medical Corps (@IMC_Worldwide) October 24, 2015
International Medical Corps deployed a seven-person assessment team to southwest Mexico Friday to "evaluate the humanitarian impact of the storm," in addition to first-response personnel ready to assist in medical relief to those who need it.
Donate to International Medical Corps' Hurricane Patricia response here.
Help the children & families of #HurricanePatricia. We are ready to respond. @MobileGivingOrg https://t.co/aDW3ZGLK8o— Save the Children US (@SavetheChildren) October 24, 2015
In any disaster, children are among the most vulnerable populations. Save the Children has local teams helping children and families in need with emergency assistance.
You can donate directly to Save the Children's Hurricane Patricia efforts here.
Message from @UNICEFMexico to people in #HurricanePatricia risk areas. Keep food, water, radios & lamps near. https://t.co/Rhf29S6WTm— Unicef UK (@UNICEF_uk) October 23, 2015
UNICEF has also mobilized to help children and families in danger. The organization is focusing on restoring medical services, water and sanitation; delivering hygiene and nutritional supplies; reuniting families; providing mental health support; and, as conditions improve, help children get back to school.
You can donate directly to UNICEF Mexico here (in Spanish) or find more ways to help here.
#HurricanePatricia has just made landfall in #Mexico. Donate now to help Oxfam respond: https://t.co/kjwAQG63VF pic.twitter.com/7lR7Izi7Ua— Oxfam America (@OxfamAmerica) October 24, 2015
Oxfam is evaluating the needs of affected communities in Mexico, and is responding where it can best provide emergency assistance.
The organization has set up a dedicated donation page here.
#SalvationArmy has set up a fund for relief efforts in #Mexico after Hurricane #Patricia; To give, visit https://t.co/DrHjyZRJ4G— Salvation Army EDS (@SalArmyEDS) October 23, 2015
The Salvation Army has had a presence in Mexico for 87 years, and is "prepared to do all it can to serve those in crisis through physical, material and spiritual support."
You can donate directly to the Salvation Army's Hurricane Patricia efforts here
We're assembling an immediate response team & assessing the humanitarian needs to come with #HurricanePatricia: https://t.co/TBnEVmIBpm.— PCI (@PCIGlobal) October 23, 2015
PCI has deployed an immediate response team and supplies, and is working to secure its distribution networks for response and recovery. It will also focus on water, sanitation and hygiene, emergency shelter, non-food items and plans for long-term recovery.
You can donate here.
Hurricane #Patricia is bearing down on #Mexico @mapintl is preparing medicines and medical supplies now. Donate https://t.co/YOuzSMc4mZ— MAP International (@mapintl) October 23, 2015
Map International is working to secure antibiotics and oral rehydration salts for children during the aftermath of the storm. The organization says 100% of donations will help fund an air shipment of medicines and medical supplies for those most affected by Hurricane Patricia.
You can donate directly here.
Heart to Heart International (HHI)
We are on standby to help. Stay safe Mexico. #Patricia pic.twitter.com/qkdh9eE96o— Heart to Heart Int'l (@Heart_to_Heart) October 23, 2015
HHI has deployed medical teams and relief supplies in affected areas. Find the organization's Hurricane Patricia donation page here.
Emergency Response: Category 5 Hurricane Patricia making landfall today in Mexico. https://t.co/YLgMvOLOv3 pic.twitter.com/Bb2Ssyn6Xq— Direct Relief (@DirectRelief) October 23, 2015
The Direct Relief Emergency Response team is preparing a preassembled Hurricane Response Module with needed items for health facilities in Mexico. It's also working with the Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil (SEGOB), Fundación IMSS, SEMAR, CADENA and the Ministry of Health.
Direct Relief has also sent modules to U.S. partners in Texas, focusing on areas in the storm's path to prepare for intense flooding. The organization has offered support to the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, the National Emergency Management Team and other health facilities at risk.
You can donate here.
Our teams are ready to respond to #HurricanePatricia as it approaches Mexico. Follow at || https://t.co/acprSgwJyP pic.twitter.com/mT55p87yCW— Convoy of Hope (@ConvoyofHope) October 23, 2015
Convoy of Hope's U.S., Mexico and Central America teams are poised for a full-scale response, according to Chris Dudley, the organization's disaster services response director. It's focusing on food, water and supplies for those in need.
You can donate directly here.
Pray for those affected by #HurricanePatricia & help us reach as many families as possible: https://t.co/DCh9Jcy9gx pic.twitter.com/5gXwDDfSsp— Catholic Relief (@CatholicRelief) October 24, 2015
Catholic Relief Services and its partners (including Caritas Internationalis and local organizations) have planned a coordinated response, pinpointing the needs of the most impoverished populations affected.
You can donate to CRS' efforts here.
Operation Blessing International (OBI)
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Operation Blessing International is responding with chlorine generators to disinfect contaminated water as a result of flooding, as well as power washers, chainsaws and other tools for cleanup and recovery. OB Mexico has set up two mobile kitchens to provide hot meals for victims of Hurricane Patricia.
Donate to OBI's disaster relief efforts here.
Child safety is a top concern. We're ensuring #aid and emotional support for children following #HurricanePatricia: https://t.co/JNgEqvtzej— World Vision (@WorldVision) October 23, 2015
WorldVision is providing emergency humanitarian aid in the form of blankets, tarpaulins, kitchen kits and bottled water. Donate to the charity's efforts here.
Support the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team.
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The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team is mapping affected areas along Mexico's Pacific coast to build out a complete road network so relief organizations can deliver aid quickly in the aftermath of Hurricane Patricia.
Learn how to assist with the mapping response here, or donate directly to the team's efforts here.
Get in touch with family and friends.
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));We just activated Safety Check in Mexico after Hurricane Patricia struck the coast. We've been following this closely....Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday, October 24, 2015
If you have friends and family in Mexico, there are several ways you can check to see if they're safe.
Facebook launched its Safety Check feature for Hurricane Patricia Saturday morning, which allows you to check whether any of your Facebook friends might be affected. If you're in the area yourself, you'll get a notification that lets you mark yourself as safe.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted the social network's notification plans this Saturday, adding that he's "thinking of everyone caught up in this storm."
The Red Cross urges people to continue calling friends and family, sending texts and trying to connect via email or social media. Calling during off-peak hours may help to get through busy phone lines.
If you're trying to get in touch with U.S. citizens who may have been in the storm’s path in Mexico, contact the U.S. Department of State's Office of Overseas Citizens Services.
This post has been updated to reflect information about heavy rains and flooding in Texas.