Silver Spring, Maryland—When Hurricane Dean struck the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula early Tuesday morning, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was ready to respond, with ADRA offices throughout Central America and the Caribbean having initiated preparations well before the June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Hurricane Dean, the first hurricane of the official season, transformed into a category five storm with winds reaching speeds of up to 165 miles per hour as it made landfall in Mexico early this morning.

Dean entered the eastern Caribbean on Friday, August 17, bringing torrential downpours and intense winds to the islands of St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, and Guadalupe. Over the weekend, the steadily intensifying hurricane hit southern Haiti, as well as the southern coast of Jamaica, damaging rooftops and flooding streets as it tore its way through the Caribbean. At least 10 people are known to have died.

A month-long state of emergency was issued in Jamaica after the onslaught, to help survivors recover from their loss. Jamaican authorities are estimating that 300,000 people have been displaced by the hurricane, which caused mudslides, blocked several major roads, and affected digital telecommunications on the island.

In Jamaica, the government has selected ADRA to be in charge of the registration of hurricane-affected families and to coordinate the distribution of goods in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean. ADRA is currently distributing bedding, sponges, blankets, water, raincoats, water boots, flashlights, and food items to affected families.

On the island of Saint Lucia, ADRA is assessing the needs of survivors whose livelihoods will suffer dramatically from the devastation of the banana crops and other long-lasting effects of Hurricane Dean.

ADRA's initial response to Hurricane Dean in Mexico will include a distribution of 400 food baskets in Quintana Roo and 400 additional food baskets in Campeche and Ciudad del Carmen. More than 4,000 people will benefit from ADRA Mexico's preparedness and response activities, which may be increased as assessments determine the full scope of the hurricane's impact on the local communities.

"This is the type of intervention most needed after hurricanes," comments Rafael García Valderrábano, country director for ADRA Mexico. "Once the hurricane has left, affected families don't normally move from their homes to shelters, as they want to stay watching over their property."

As Hurricane Dean continues its rampage westward toward Veracruz and beyond, ADRA teams are continuing to assess the damage left by the storm throughout the Caribbean and to assist those affected by the disaster.

Updates will be released as more information is available.

Separately, ADRA is continuing its responses in other disaster-hit areas of the world, expanding relief efforts to earthquake survivors in southern Peru and providing tents, blankets, warm meals, medical assistance, and emergency non-food items for survivors in the badly affected Ica region.

In addition, ADRA is implementing expanded relief projects across flooded areas of South Asia to meet the needs of flood survivors in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and China.

"The global presence of ADRA allows us to manage and respond to multiple emergencies at once, be it an earthquake, hurricane, or flood. We consider the whole scope of needs experienced by each person affected by disaster, and we treat each survivor equally," says Frank Teeuwen, bureau chief for emergency management at ADRA International.

To donate to ADRA's responses to help survivors of the hurricane, earthquake, and flooding, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or donate online to ADRA's Emergency Response fund at www.adra.org.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Media Contact: Nadia McGill ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.5145 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org