In the face of disaster, the first things that come to the forefront are not figures or technical analyses, but basic needs: water, food, hygiene products, shelter, medical care, and security. In those critical and chaotic first hours, humanitarian logistics becomes the difference between life and death.

In Mexico, a country highly vulnerable to meteorological phenomena, this logistical approach isn’t improvised; it’s built through planning, partnerships, and experience. A clear example is the work of the National Center for Support in Epidemiological Contingencies and Disasters (CENACED) , which operates at the heart of emergencies, coordinating aid, bringing together stakeholders, and delivering resources precisely where they are most needed.

During the presentation of the 2025 results report, Cynthia Espinoza , director of CENACED, reiterated that the organization’s mission remains unchanged since its inception: to save lives, reduce human suffering, and build resilient communities . To achieve this, the organization has strengthened its multisectoral coordination model, Unidos por Ellos (United for Them) , which has become more than just an operational framework; it has become a shared identity.

This model integrates academia, governments, United Nations agencies, the private sector, and civil society organizations , enabling coordinated field operations, risk prevention, and clear and transparent accountability processes. The logic is simple yet powerful: “When each actor contributes its strengths, the humanitarian response becomes faster, more efficient, and more impactful.”

2025 was not an easy year. In June, Hurricane Erick impacted communities in Oaxaca and Guerrero, damaging homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods. The response was immediate: the Unidos por Ellos (United for Them) protocol was activated, and 14 civil society organizations worked to assist 30 communities in 14 municipalities , benefiting 39,624 people through the delivery of 9.3 tons of humanitarian aid .

Months later, in October, a new emergency struck the country. Floods in Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, and Querétaro caused rivers to overflow, roads to be blocked, schools and health centers to be damaged, and hundreds of families to be temporarily displaced.

During the first critical 72 hours , CENACED reactivated its protocol, achieving immediate coordination between civil society, the private sector, and authorities.

One of the key events of this emergency was the activation of the agreement with the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) , which allowed for the channeling of aid from the private sector—in coordination with the Ministry of Economy —through CENACED’s humanitarian warehouse. The result was the mobilization of 2,560 tons of aid , an amount that, as the organization illustrated, would allow tractor-trailers loaded with aid to surround Azteca Stadium more than twice.

Beyond its scale, humanitarian logistics is measured by its effectiveness on the ground . In this emergency, the organization coordinated actions with 23 civil society organizations and, thanks to the support of partners, managed to acquire and distribute 4,310 kits containing food, hygiene, and cleaning supplies from its humanitarian warehouse.

In total, 27 shipments left the humanitarian warehouse, supported by routes donated by UPS Foundation and private sector companies, moving more than 19 million pesos in humanitarian aid.

Behind every box delivered are unseen but crucial logistical processes. In 2025, the operational capacity of CENACED’s humanitarian warehouse grew by 15% , thanks to the creation of new operational flows and a continuous improvement strategy.

The optimization included a new layout , improvements to receiving and sorting, inventory control with an internal system, new KPIs, self-audits, and more robust procedures . Under this framework, 2,945 humanitarian kits were assembled , reinforcing efficiency during periods of high operational pressure.

Humanitarian work cannot be done alone. In 2025, CENACED consolidated strategic alliances with the organization SOCPINDA , the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Cemefi), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) , the latter through the creation of an annual revolving fund of one million dollars to guarantee immediate resources in emergencies, with a priority focus on the protection of children and adolescents.

Looking to the future, CENACED seeks to further strengthen the Unidos por Ellos network, expand its operational coverage, and consolidate its position as a national leader in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action . Because when an emergency strikes, good intentions are not enough; what is needed is organization, processes, infrastructure, and, above all, logistics that put people first.

In a country where disasters strike without warning, humanitarian logistics becomes a bridge of hope .

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Facing disruptions in the supply chain remains a challenge for logistics companies, which is why they look to planning and technology , especially the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as part of the solutions to transform the response to disasters and crises of various kinds .

According to Samsara ’s State of Connected Operations (SOCO) — Plan, Act, Recover: Disaster Preparedness in Physical Operations report , only 3% of Mexican companies plan for supply chain disruptions and security threats , while 89% have suffered financial losses due to being unable to locate critical assets.

“Mexican companies are unprepared for large-scale crises such as natural disasters, supply chain collapses, civil unrest, and security threats,” the study, which included 1,550 emergency specialists—150 from Mexico—emphasized.

According to the data revealed by the analysis, 22% of respondents stated that their organizations are not ready to respond to a major crisis.

“The biggest risk in Mexico isn’t the weather, but rather operating blindly when networks fail or routes are blocked,” said Brendali López, Marketing Director for Samsara in Mexico.

In addition, they showed low confidence in their level of preparedness, as only 23% feel adequately trained, mainly in extreme weather events, as well as natural disasters and cyber incidents .

Access to connectivity during a crisis is a clear issue. In Mexico, 59% of leaders reported inconsistent real-time data on key resources, while 77% expressed concern about maintaining critical communications needed to coordinate people and assets.

The role of AI in disasters

For 79% of respondents—across 21 industries and seven countries, whose roles span planning, response, and recovery— AI will fundamentally transform disaster response over the next five years .

“Leaders in the region are looking to technology to strengthen emergency planning, early warnings, and real-time decision-making,” the study stated, adding that an effective response requires a better-prepared workforce .

In this regard, in Mexico, 76% of respondents considered that their frontline teams lack the necessary training to use digital tools in a crisis .

In addition, 86% noted that the increasing frequency of disasters is generating new training demands, particularly in the use of data and technology .

This underscores the urgency of using artificial intelligence and other technological innovations to more effectively support leaders in managing future emergencies.

“True resilience depends not only on AI, but also on orchestrated operations, redundant communications, and trained teams. When these three elements align, organizations can keep people safe, redirect supply chains in hours, not days, and contain the financial impact,” emphasized Brendali López.

Supply chain recovery after a disaster is only possible with a strategy in place to get businesses back on track.

Thus, 97% of organizations with emergency plans resume operations within three days of a crisis , confirming that “preparedness not only speeds recovery, but also reduces losses.”

In a context of increasingly frequent disasters, planning is essential to protect people, ensure operational continuity, and maintain the trust of employees, customers, and citizens.

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Tremors, earthquakes, floods, droughts, forest fires, Mexico and the world are susceptible to these events that put the most essential supply chains in check, impacting the most vulnerable communities, which is why Amazon opened the first Disaster Assistance Center in Latin America, located in Mex 3, in Tepotzotlán, State of Mexico.

This center, which represents the company’s 15th worldwide, with locations in Germany, India, Japan and the United States, will boost its response capacity to these events.

Diego de la Luz, director of operations for Amazon Mexico, stressed that the company has the responsibility to operate not only as a logistics giant, but also as a key player in humanitarian assistance in emergencies.

“At Amazon, we have a responsibility to serve our customers with excellence, and that commitment extends to the community. We embrace one of our 16 leadership principles, ‘with great power comes great responsibility,’ which drives us to respond to the needs of our local communities and the planet,” he said.

De la Luz recalled past experiences, such as the care provided after the earthquake in Mexico City in 2017 and other emergencies, such as Hurricane Otis in 2023, demonstrating that this center is the result of years of work and solidarity.

For his part, Abe Díaz, leader of the International Disaster Support Program, highlighted that with the logistical muscle that the e-commerce giant has , actions can be focused on the good of the communities.

“Thanks to its proximity to our transportation network, this center in Mexico will allow us to quickly distribute essential supplies, equipment and supplies to affected communities, ensuring a response within 72 hours after a disaster,” Díaz said.

This hub will house 25,000 essential items , as well as relief equipment such as flood mitigation, water filtration systems, flashlights and personal care materials, all selected in close consultation with partners and allied organizations.

Partnerships that strengthen humanitarian response

Mariana Jiménez, general director of the Mexican Network of Food Banks , highlighted that the center not only improves distribution logistics, but is also key to guaranteeing food security in critical moments.

“Having a logistics hub for disaster relief is strategic and encouraging, as it allows us to react immediately to crises that affect the most vulnerable,” said Jiménez.

For his part, Isaac Oxenhaut, commander and national coordinator of Relief for the Mexican Red Cross , highlighted the long collaboration between Amazon and the institution, which has allowed for a quick response in situations such as the 2017 earthquake and recent hurricanes.

“This centre strengthens our ability to act quickly, establishing a model for collaboration between the private sector and humanitarian organisations,” said Oxenhaut.

Dana Graber, head of mission for the International Organization for Migration in Mexico, emphasized the importance of coordination and strategic alliances.

“Rapid response can save countless lives. Amazon’s logistics expertise and close collaboration with government and organizations allow us to efficiently deliver essential supplies to communities in crisis,” Graber said.

Laura González, Secretary of Economic Development of the State of Mexico, closed the day by highlighting the strategic value of having the first disaster support center in the region.

“This facility is not just a warehouse for materials, it is a symbol of hope and solidarity. Thanks to Amazon’s vision and the collaboration of our allies, we are strengthening our response capacity to future disasters,” said González.

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In the face of inevitable natural events, companies must have a contingency plan that allows them to minimize the impacts and repercussions on the business that this may leave, without neglecting to safeguard the integrity of the workers.

Once again, the inclement nature of nature showed the great damage it can cause to logistics and supply chains, when last Thursday the tropical storm “Alberto” made landfall in northeastern Mexico, stranding carriers transiting through the main routes that go to and from Laredo, Texas , where between 15 thousand and 18 thousand transport units are operated daily in both directions .

In these cases, safeguarding human life is a priority. The governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García, agreed that all people should stay in his house until the storm passed, but the recovery of the activity of the population and businesses is what is complicated.

For example, as Javier Cendejas Meneses, director of Institutional Relations at Dicex , mentioned , it was necessary to take action in response to the events in the northeast area where the cargo units were stopped , which is why he recommended that customs have 24-hour schedules while normalize the flow of goods, which was affected.

In the country alone, the executive summary of the Socioeconomic Impact of Disasters in Mexico during 2022 study , published by the federal government, indicates that 570 events of this nature occurred that year, generating damages and losses of 16,600 million pesos. .

For this reason, Miguel Guzmán, general director of PISVI Mobility , commented that one of the most important points that companies must consider is a business risk analysis, including an established financial plan that determines how to act in these situations. .

“For example, in the financial area, what are we going to do if there is a flood, if we run out of product due to theft, if there is structural damage. You must have an action plan, a financial plan of where we are going to take resources to do it, how we are going to work first with our people, ensure that they are in the best conditions, let’s help there first so that they can later help us build the business.” , said.

Subsequently, to implement this plan, physical integrity must be ensured and then reactivate the supply chains, explains the specialist.

On the other hand, the safety of workers is a priority, since the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation indicates that about 7% of accidents on federal highways are due to natural factors such as rain .

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