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By Donald D. Groff

Oct. 14, 1999 | I'm planning to attend the Day of the Dead festivities in Oaxaca, Mexico, early in November, but am wondering whether the recent flooding will interfere. How can I find out?

Start by looking at the Safe Mexico site created earlier this year by the Mexican government. This site offers fairly timely notices regarding crime and natural disasters that might affect visitors. Earthquake information is there, and this notice was posted after the recent flooding:

"Over Oct. 5-7, unusually heavy rainfall associated with a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico caused heavy flooding and mudslides in the eastern mountainous areas of central and southern Mexico. Portions of the following states were affected: Veracruz, Tabasco, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Oaxaca and Chiapas ..."

"With the rains now subsided, there are no reports of injuries by tourists. Major tourist cities, such as Veracruz, Puebla and Oaxaca have suffered little or no substantial damage from these rains. Virtually all principal hotels, airports and bus lines are operating as normal, and the Ministry of Tourism sees no reason for visitors to change their travel plans for these cities."

The Safe Mexico site was obviously set up so authorities could put their own spin on negative reports -- particularly about crime -- that dampen tourism. (There's even a tortured response to a British survey reflecting on traveler's diarrhea.) But it isn't a total wash. The flood advisory continues: "Those with plans to visit rural areas in the states of Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Chiapas and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec may wish to adjust their plans ... while clean-up operations are completed."

The best advice, of course, comes from those who either are in your destination or have just returned, and Web exchange boards are an excellent source for that information. Check out Oaxaca's Tourist Guide, a privately maintained site that has a "Web community" section from which you can glean information and on which you can post questions. You can also contact the Oaxaca State Tourism office (dialed from the United States) at 011-52-951-4-7733. Another contact is the Oaxaca Convention & Visitors Office at 011-52-951-4-2757.

Nearly 20 U.S. State Department offices are scattered across Mexico, and U.S. citizens can register with any of them and ask about the latest security information. Phone numbers can be obtained at the State Department Web site or through the U.S. Embassy at 011-52-5-209-9100. Ask for "American citizen services."

The Days of the Dead are celebrated Nov. 1-2 each year, with Nov. 1 being Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) and Nov. 2 Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead or All Soul's Day). The holiday is featured in the October Mexico Online and at a Dia de los Muertos page.

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