Amazon opens first Disaster Relief Hub in Latin America
Amazon is expanding its disaster relief operations south of the U.S. border.
The e-commerce giant has opened its first Disaster Relief Hub in Latin America, located in Tepozotlán, Mexico. The new hub continues Amazon’s efforts to support communities impacted by natural disasters through its Disaster Relief program, and pre-positions more than 25,000 critical relief items in the region in preparation to quickly deliver vital aid if and when disasters strike.
The Disaster Relief Hub launch in Mexico follows the opening of similar hubs in Southern California and Germany in 2024. There are now 15 total hubs worldwide, with each leveraging Amazon’s operational expertise, global logistics network, and technologies to provide fast and effective support to communities ravaged by natural disasters.
[READ MORE: Amazon's 'Wildfire Relief Hub' assists in LA relief efforts with supplies, tech]
The new Mexico hub is in close proximity to Mexico City and transportation networks, enabling Amazon to rapidly deliver prepositioned relief supplies to impacted communities within 72 hours of a relief partner’s request.
“When a natural disaster strikes, providing immediate relief is critical. Our capabilities in logistics and technology allow us to provide fast and effective assistance,” said Diego Mendez de la Luz, director of Amazon’s operations in Mexico. “With the opening of this new hub in Mexico, our response time to partner with emergency management agencies and relief organizations during natural disasters across the country will be even faster and more efficient.”
The new hub will support Amazon’s community partners, including NGOs and disaster response agencies like the Mexican Food Bank Network, the Mexican Red Cross, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration, and World Central Kitchen.
Amazon says it analyzed data from past relief efforts and designed a pre-positioning strategy to ensure the most in-demand items are close to disaster prone areas. The Mexico hub currently stores thousands of vital supplies needed in the aftermath of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, landslides, tornadoes, and other disaster events, including:
- Flood mitigation equipment such as shovels, mops, buckets and storage containers.
- Cleanup and repair materials, including contractor bags and trash cans.
- Hygiene and personal care supplies crucial for those impacted as they return to their communities.
- Other emergency supplies like tarps, water filtration systems and flashlights.
“The launch of this disaster relief hub is not a coincidence,” said Laura González Hernández, secretary of economic development for the State of Mexico. “The hub’s strategic location in the State of Mexico and ability to use Amazon’s transportation infrastructure, technology, and logistical expertise, enables Amazon to demonstrate its capacity to quickly respond to natural disasters. Amazon shares our commitment to support the welfare and path to recovery for all who are affected by these tragedies.”
Since 2017, Amazon has donated and delivered more than 25 million relief items to support communities affected by 187 natural disasters around the world, including Acapulco and Monterrey in Mexico. In just the last 24 months, Amazon Disaster Relief has responded to flooding in Spain and across Central and Eastern Europe; wildfires in California, Chile, Colombia, Australia and Hawaii; earthquakes in Japan, Turkey, Syria and Morocco; and hurricanes and cyclones in Florida, India, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
