Our Coast Is Changing: Climate, Extreme Weather and Community

Resilience in Bahía de Banderas

Understanding the risks, preparing for emergencies and looking after one another.

More than a storm

Along the Pacific coast of Nayarit, the ocean is part of everyday life. It shapes our communities, supports local livelihoods, attracts visitors and gives children and young people places to explore, learn and play.

But living close to the ocean also means living with environmental risks. Heavy rainfall, hurricanes, flooding, coastal erosion and dangerous waves can affect homes, roads, businesses and entire communities. As extreme weather events draw attention to our region, we are reminded that understanding these risks and preparing for them is a shared responsibility.

Recently, videos circulating online have shown beaches in places such as Sayulita, San Pancho and Punta de Mita that appear dramatically smaller or almost absent. These images have raised questions about what is happening to our coastline and what the future may hold.

At ALMAR Surf & Skate A.C., we believe these conversations deserve attention, reliable information and a strong sense of community — without fearmongering or oversimplifying complex environmental changes.

What is happening to our coastline?

Beaches are dynamic environments. Waves, tides, ocean currents and seasonal weather patterns continually move sand along the shore. Following strong waves or storms, a beach can look very different from how it appeared only a few days earlier.

However, coastal erosion can also become a longer-term problem. Its causes may include changing wave patterns, rising sea levels, storms, the shape of the coastline, coastal development and human interventions that affect the natural movement of sand.

A video showing a beach with little visible sand does not, by itself, tell us whether the change is temporary or permanent. Understanding what is happening in a particular location requires reliable observations over time and, where possible, scientific assessment.

This does not mean that the changes should be dismissed. Coastal erosion and storm damage can threaten infrastructure, homes, public spaces and local livelihoods. Communities that depend on tourism and the ocean can be particularly affected when beaches and access routes are damaged.

Instead of relying on dramatic headlines or isolated images, we should ask better questions: What has changed? Over what period? What are the possible causes? Who is affected? And what can be done to reduce future risks?

El Niño, climate change and hurricanes: understanding the differences

Environmental issues are often discussed together, but it is important to distinguish between them.

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon associated with warmer-than-usual surface waters in parts of the tropical Pacific. It influences atmospheric circulation and can change rainfall and temperature patterns in different parts of the world. Its effects vary by region and season.

Climate change, driven primarily by human greenhouse gas emissions, is changing the conditions in which weather systems develop. Rising sea levels increase the potential for coastal flooding, while warmer air can hold more moisture, contributing to heavier rainfall in many situations. The relationship between climate change and tropical cyclones is complex: it can influence rainfall intensity, storm-related hazards and the impacts of coastal flooding, but it does not mean that every hurricane is caused by climate change.

Hurricanes and tropical storms can bring powerful winds, intense rainfall, storm surge, dangerous waves and flooding. Heavy rain can also cause rivers to rise rapidly, overwhelm drainage systems and trigger landslides.

No single factor explains every storm, flood or changing beach. Nevertheless, the combination of environmental changes, exposure to hazards and social vulnerability makes preparedness increasingly important for coastal communities.

For reliable information, consult the Mexican National Meteorological Service (SMN), CONAGUA and the National Hurricane Center. During an active weather emergency, always check the latest official bulletins rather than relying on older reports

When flooding becomes a personal experience

For many people in Bahía de Banderas, flooding is not an abstract environmental issue. It is something they have experienced firsthand.

We remember rainy seasons when roads became fast-flowing channels of water, including the road between Higuera Blanca and Litibú. We have also seen how flooding can leave families without essential belongings. A damaged home can mean losing mattresses, bedding, furniture, clothing and other items that are necessary for everyday life.

For households with limited financial resources, replacing these belongings can be extremely difficult. A family may already be struggling to cover rent, food, transportation, school supplies and other basic expenses. Losing several essential items at once can create financial pressure long after the water has receded.

The effects of a disaster are not limited to the immediate danger. Families may face interrupted work, damaged homes, school disruptions, health concerns and the challenge of rebuilding their lives with limited resources.

This is why disaster preparedness must include more than emergency warnings. It should also include community support, accessible information, safe housing, reliable infrastructure and plans for recovery.

Who is most affected?

Disasters do not affect everyone equally.

Families with limited income may have fewer resources to prepare, evacuate or replace damaged belongings. Some people cannot afford to miss work, even when weather conditions are dangerous. Others may lack access to private transportation, secure housing or a safe place to stay.

Children, older adults, people with disabilities, people with chronic medical needs, outdoor workers, fishers and people living in vulnerable homes may face additional challenges during emergencies.

People whose livelihoods depend on tourism, fishing, construction or other outdoor work can also experience a sudden loss of income when businesses close or roads become inaccessible.

Recognizing these differences is essential. Community support should not be based on assumptions about what people need. It should begin with listening to those affected, respecting their dignity and asking how assistance can be provided safely and effectively.

How can we prepare before an emergency?

Preparedness does not require expensive equipment or a perfect plan. Small, practical steps can make a meaningful difference.

Prepare an emergency kit

Where possible, keep the following items together in a waterproof bag or container:

• Drinking water and non-perishable food.

• Essential medication and basic first-aid supplies.

• A flashlight, spare batteries and a battery-powered radio.

• A charged power bank and phone charging cable.

• Copies of identification and important documents in waterproof packaging.

• Hygiene products, basic clothing and necessary supplies for children or dependants.

• Supplies for pets, if applicable.

Adapt the kit to the needs of your household, including medication, mobility aids and other essential items.

Make a family emergency plan

Know which routes lead away from flood-prone areas and where the nearest official emergency shelter is located. Agree on a meeting point and an out-of-area contact person in case family members become separated.

Consider who may need assistance with evacuation, including children, older relatives, neighbours with disabilities and people without access to a vehicle.

Keep phones charged when severe weather is approaching, but do not depend exclusively on mobile networks. Follow local authorities for information about shelter locations and evacuation routes.

Know when to leave

If authorities issue an evacuation order, follow it promptly. Do not wait until a road is flooded or conditions have deteriorated.

Stay away from rivers, drainage channels, unstable slopes and coastal areas when dangerous conditions are expected. Never walk or drive through floodwater: its depth and current can be deceptive, and roads may have been damaged underneath.

What should we do during and after a storm?

During severe weather, prioritize human safety over belongings. Stay in a safe location, follow official instructions and avoid unnecessary travel. Do not approach the sea to watch large waves or attempt to cross flooded roads.

After a storm, do not assume that an area is safe simply because the rain has stopped. Floodwater may be contaminated, buildings may be unstable, electrical cables may be dangerous and rivers can continue rising.

Return to evacuated areas only when authorities say it is safe. Avoid damaged structures and downed power lines, and report hazards through the appropriate local channels.

If a tsunami warning is issued, or you experience strong or prolonged earthquake shaking near the coast, move away from the shoreline and head inland or to higher ground immediately, following official evacuation guidance. Do not go to the beach to observe the water, and do not return until authorities have declared the danger over.

For emergencies in Mexico, call 911. For local instructions, consult the municipal government of Bahía de Banderas and the relevant civil protection authorities. During a developing emergency, check current official notices before sharing claims about warnings, evacuations or all-clear announcements.

How can we help our community responsibly?

When a disaster affects a community, the desire to help is powerful. But effective support requires coordination.

Before collecting money or goods, contact a trusted local organization and ask what is needed, who will receive the assistance and how it will be distributed.

Depending on confirmed needs, useful supplies may include drinking water, hygiene products, food, blankets, bedding, mattresses or cleaning materials. However, these are examples rather than a confirmed list of current needs in Sayulita, San Pancho or Punta de Mita. Unrequested goods can create storage, transport and distribution problems, particularly during an emergency.

Financial donations can allow experienced organizations to purchase the items most urgently needed. Donate through official websites or verified fundraising channels, and check how the money will be used. Be cautious of unverified accounts, forwarded payment details and appeals that do not explain who is collecting the funds.

Potential points of contact include:

• Cruz Roja Mexicana — for information about official relief activities and donation channels.

• DIF Nayarit — for information about social assistance and support for vulnerable families.

• DIF Bahía de Banderas — a local point of contact for questions about community and family assistance.

• CONAGUA and the SMN — for official weather and water-related information.

• The municipal government and local civil protection authorities — for emergency instructions and information about official shelters.

  
  

Contact these organizations directly to confirm current needs, operating arrangements and accepted forms of assistance. Do not assume that a particular organization is collecting mattresses, food or other supplies unless it has confirmed this.

People can also help by sharing verified information, checking on neighbours when it is safe, supporting trusted local initiatives and offering practical skills when requested. Do not enter disaster areas or attempt rescues without the appropriate training and coordination.

The role of ALMAR Surf & Skate A.C.

ALMAR was created to support children and young people, promote health through sport and contribute to the well-being of our community.

Surfing and skating remain important parts of our identity, but community care is bigger than any single activity. When conditions become dangerous, planned sessions and events can wait.

Our responsibility is to listen to local partners, understand what people actually need and explore ways to contribute that are safe, respectful and appropriate to our mission.

Once conditions are safe, this may include working with established community organizations, supporting children and young people as communities recover, sharing preparedness information or exploring educational activities with qualified partners.

We do not need to act as an emergency-response organization to make a contribution. We can help by connecting people with reliable information, coordinating with experienced organizations and supporting community initiatives where our involvement is genuinely useful.

Building a more resilient community together

The changing coastline and recurring floods remind us that preparedness cannot begin only when a storm is approaching. It requires continued attention to the environment, thoughtful planning, reliable public information and support for people who have the fewest resources to recover.

We cannot prevent every storm or control every change in the ocean. But we can improve how we prepare, how we respond and how we care for one another.

At ALMAR Surf & Skate A.C., we believe that community resilience starts with awareness, responsibility and solidarity.

Stay informed. Prepare early. Listen to local needs. Help responsibly.

Our community comes first.

This article provides general preparedness information, not real-time emergency guidance. Always follow the latest instructions from the competent authorities.