Baja California Sur Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío chaired the 11th Extraordinary Meeting of the FADENBCS disaster trust fund committee on July 1, launching a statewide hurricane season preparedness plan that includes 169 temporary shelters and new flood control infrastructure.
The meeting produced concrete commitments: cleanup and dredging of waterways across 23 priority zones in all five BCS municipalities. State officials said the work will directly protect roughly 14,600 residents who live near flood-prone arroyos and drainage channels.
New Flood Barriers for Mulegé Communities
The FADENBCS committee approved construction of two hydraulic protection barriers made of gabions, rock-filled wire cages used to absorb floodwater energy, for the communities of Vizcaíno and Santa Rosalía in Mulegé municipality. The project carries a price tag of 8.2 million pesos (approximately $410,000 USD) and is designed to reduce flood and runoff damage during heavy storms.
Santa Rosalía has a history of hurricane damage. The town was hit hard by Hurricane Odile in 2014, which destroyed boats and flooded streets. Mulegé municipality, stretching across much of the central peninsula, is one of BCS’s most exposed areas due to its narrow valleys and seasonal arroyos that can turn into torrents during tropical storms.
Statewide Shelter Network and Equipment Inventory
The state confirmed that 169 temporary shelters are in place and ready to receive residents across BCS. Castro Cosío also ordered a coordinated inventory of machinery, equipment, and personnel in all five municipalities to ensure rapid deployment when storms arrive.
The Pacific hurricane season officially opened on May 15. BCS authorities had already begun strengthening protocols at that time, urging residents to prepare family emergency plans and pack basic supply kits with water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and medications. The federal government’s Plan DN-III-E military disaster response protocol has also been activated for 2025, deploying 3,000 Navy personnel to reconnoiter vulnerable areas across the peninsula.
Peak Months Ahead for the Peninsula
July through September are historically the most dangerous months for tropical cyclone activity in BCS. At least 65,000 people in the state live in areas classified as vulnerable to flooding, according to previous state assessments. La Paz and Los Cabos typically face the highest risk due to geography and population density.
Residents and visitors in low-lying or arroyo-adjacent areas should note that official shelter locations are being updated ahead of peak storm season. Standing water after storms can become contaminated, posing an additional health risk.
The announcement was first reported by the BCS state government (bcs.gob.mx).