Laura Velázquez, national coordinator of Civil Protection, reported that 57 municipalities have risk levels classified as medium to very high, representing slightly more than two-thirds of the state.
During the Civil Protection Council session and the establishment of the state command post in Hidalgo, she explained that, according to the National Risk Atlas, 25 municipalities have medium risk, 25 have high risk, and three have very high risk.
She also explained that more than 2.4 million people live in these municipalities, highlighting the need to strengthen preventive, monitoring, and institutional response measures.
According to the Analysis and Assessment of Hydrometeorological Risks in Hidalgo, Pachuca, Mineral de la Reforma, Tepeji del Río, and Zempoala have a medium flood-risk index, while Tulancingo, Tizayuca, Huejutla, Tula, Ixmiquilpan, and Cuautepec have a high index.
She also pointed out that 70 critical points were identified in 31 municipalities. Tepeji del Río has the highest number of critical points, with seven, making it the priority municipality for hydrological monitoring and preventive response efforts.
In addition, 70 critical flood points were identified across 65 bodies of water. In this case, the Tula River has the highest number, with three critical points, as it passes through Ixmiquilpan, Tepeji, and Tula.
Meanwhile, the Río de las Avenidas has two critical points as it passes through Mineral de la Reforma and Tizayuca; the Río Grande passes through Acatlán and Tulancingo; along with streams located in various municipalities.
“Pachuca, Mineral de la Reforma, and Tulancingo are the main municipalities with populations exposed to flooding. In the state, the southern region, the Mezquital Valley, the Valley of Mexico basin, the Altiplano, and the Tulancingo Valley have areas with a higher risk of flooding,” she explained.
Likewise, she said that Ixmiquilpan, Tepeji, and Tula should also be reviewed, as they are exposed to water flows. Authorities therefore need to identify neighborhoods and people who could be affected by their proximity to bodies of water.
In this regard, she stressed that temporary shelters must be established and prepared for the population, while authorities must also inform residents when they need to evacuate or take shelter at home following forecasts of heavy rainfall.
Finally, she pointed out that 61 municipalities could experience wind gusts of between 100 and 110 kilometers per hour, while 23 municipalities could experience gusts of between 130 and 160 kilometers per hour. She therefore called for increased monitoring, noting that 15 percent of Hidalgo’s population lives in homes with sheet-metal roofs.
Source: lajornadahidalgo
