Hurricane Otis Hits Mexico Claiming 27 Lives and Leaving Damage in the Billions

On Wednesday, October 26, 2023, Hurricane Otis came ashore in Acapulco, Mexico as a Category 5 major hurricane with sustained wind speeds of 165 mph, claiming the lives of at least 27 people and devastating the infrastructure in the region.

On Tuesday morning, Otis was not even a hurricane, but rather a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. Six hours later, Otis intensified to a Category 3 hurricane bringing sustained winds of 125 mph and three hours later, Otis became a Category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph.

Within another six hours, just 27 hours after being a tropical storm, Otis transformed into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane packing maximum sustained winds of 165 mph, an increase of almost 100 mph over 27 hours.

Preparing for the Unpredictability of Hurricanes

Of the many lessons we can take away from Hurricane Otis, the one that stands out the most is the sheer unpredictability of hurricanes. The damage and destruction left by Hurricane Otis demonstrates the importance of being prepared through hazard mitigation.

In practical terms, this means closely monitoring forecasts and official information from government officials. For individuals and families, preparing early for power and infrastructure outages by gathering needed food, water, prescriptions and other necessities well ahead of the storm is essential.

For homes, businesses and governments one of the most impactful investments that can be made is mitigating risks caused by potential natural hazards, like winds and floods. This can be accomplished through the adoption, implementation and enforcement of updated building codes for the construction and maintenance of homes and businesses.

Disaster Mitigation Through Updated Building Codes

Model building codes, like the International Codes® published by the International Code Council, represent best practices and science-based solutions that help protect homes and businesses from the effects of hazards like winds and floods. 

Model building codes can be used to regulate minimum construction standards for floods, including elevating properties and installing water-resistant doors and windows. Building codes can also help mitigate the effects of wind by regulating minimum construction standards for roofs, wall systems, and wind-resistant finishes.

The Code Council will continue to monitor events in Acapulco and work to better understand the lessons to be learned from this devastating storm.

For more information about preparing for hurricanes visit the Code Council’s hurricane resources and information page.