Initial reports from CNN in Playa del Carmen
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InimanaChoogamaga
Well, heartening *so* far! 
A few things... one, if you've got a reporter saying no damage he/she probably at this point means 'that we've found or can see with the naked eye' - might be that the person didn't phrase it that way because they're on site, got no sleep and are hopped up on adrenaline (or are back at the anchor desk and just - whatever). Can't imagine that any 'official assessments' that are comprehensive would exist yet - though could imagine that government might've answered a reporter's question by saying they didn't have any reports of damage (as in 'yet').
If I recall, the area itself is flat and kind of scrubby - I don't recall all that many trees except for palm trees, and low brush outside of that. Probably a good thing in that because the area's been subject to hurricanes over geologic time, the environment that's there is the environment that is most suited to coping with hurricanes. (After all, Huracan is a Mexican deity and where the name hurricane comes from.)
The concrete construction is a *wonderful* thing for the area so the major hotels and some of the non-major buildings (some villas, minor hotels).**
Sure there's bound to be some damage but I so hope with all the prayers and proverbial good karma of the people there it turns out to be minimal for the strength of the winds.
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**and those buildings are nice to be in - would welcome some other thread, maybe in the hurricane prep section, on the economics of building the types of concrete buildings found along the Mayan areas vs. wood frame and other things.
A few things... one, if you've got a reporter saying no damage he/she probably at this point means 'that we've found or can see with the naked eye' - might be that the person didn't phrase it that way because they're on site, got no sleep and are hopped up on adrenaline (or are back at the anchor desk and just - whatever). Can't imagine that any 'official assessments' that are comprehensive would exist yet - though could imagine that government might've answered a reporter's question by saying they didn't have any reports of damage (as in 'yet').
If I recall, the area itself is flat and kind of scrubby - I don't recall all that many trees except for palm trees, and low brush outside of that. Probably a good thing in that because the area's been subject to hurricanes over geologic time, the environment that's there is the environment that is most suited to coping with hurricanes. (After all, Huracan is a Mexican deity and where the name hurricane comes from.)
The concrete construction is a *wonderful* thing for the area so the major hotels and some of the non-major buildings (some villas, minor hotels).**
Sure there's bound to be some damage but I so hope with all the prayers and proverbial good karma of the people there it turns out to be minimal for the strength of the winds.
----
**and those buildings are nice to be in - would welcome some other thread, maybe in the hurricane prep section, on the economics of building the types of concrete buildings found along the Mayan areas vs. wood frame and other things.
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another update from Cozumel:
""TELMEX ROCKS!"
Never thought you'd see me say that would you! But we still have phone service and computer in San miguel. Not sure how long our battery will last so I'll just paste in an email i sent friends ...
Hi, again checking in. The worst of the storm was over by 2 and we fell asleep about then; woke up at 4 and it was still, quiet and the rain was over. Hard whistling winds, lots of water, the occasional piece of plywood ripping off a house and blowing down the street.
Got up about 7 and the neighbors were already outside, assessing the damage, hauling off tree branches, unboarding windows. Lots of people driving around, looking at everything. Guys are already working downtown, cutting down tree branches and hauling away garbage. We hear various things about when the electricity will come back _ one friend says within 24 hours; our landlord and our nanny say more like a week. Our nanny survived Gilberto and she says this storm was just about as strong, but people were much better prepared this time, and that made the difference in the extent of the damage. As far as we have heard, there was not a single death.
We lost the awning at the restaurant, which is kind of bad. Will be hard to reopen until we can at least get a tarp or something rigged up. Otherwise, there is some water inside, but everything was intact, including the large plateglass windows. Glenn's carpentry held up really well. Best case scenario, we will be open in 48 hours; worst case, well, more than that.
At the house, we had some leaks, but nothing too bad. The worst thing is the roof cistern sprung a leak and we have no reserve water, just what we stored in trash cans and the bathtub.
Enzo slept through the whole thing. Glenn and I did not _ but, all in all, it really could have been a lot worse.
Hope everyone else is all right! Off to check the streets ...."
""TELMEX ROCKS!"
Never thought you'd see me say that would you! But we still have phone service and computer in San miguel. Not sure how long our battery will last so I'll just paste in an email i sent friends ...
Hi, again checking in. The worst of the storm was over by 2 and we fell asleep about then; woke up at 4 and it was still, quiet and the rain was over. Hard whistling winds, lots of water, the occasional piece of plywood ripping off a house and blowing down the street.
Got up about 7 and the neighbors were already outside, assessing the damage, hauling off tree branches, unboarding windows. Lots of people driving around, looking at everything. Guys are already working downtown, cutting down tree branches and hauling away garbage. We hear various things about when the electricity will come back _ one friend says within 24 hours; our landlord and our nanny say more like a week. Our nanny survived Gilberto and she says this storm was just about as strong, but people were much better prepared this time, and that made the difference in the extent of the damage. As far as we have heard, there was not a single death.
We lost the awning at the restaurant, which is kind of bad. Will be hard to reopen until we can at least get a tarp or something rigged up. Otherwise, there is some water inside, but everything was intact, including the large plateglass windows. Glenn's carpentry held up really well. Best case scenario, we will be open in 48 hours; worst case, well, more than that.
At the house, we had some leaks, but nothing too bad. The worst thing is the roof cistern sprung a leak and we have no reserve water, just what we stored in trash cans and the bathtub.
Enzo slept through the whole thing. Glenn and I did not _ but, all in all, it really could have been a lot worse.
Hope everyone else is all right! Off to check the streets ...."
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azskyman
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Even though the expensive hotels south of Cancun in and around Playa De Carmen are made of concrete and stucco to a large degree, there are some structures right on the beachfront...at best a couple hundred yards from the existing surf and not all that high from sea level.
If they were spared as much as first reports seem to indicate, it could be because of the "breaking effect" of tides on the eastern face of Cozumel. The channel between Cozumel and Playa is not all that wide...so the island could have served as a break against those highest of tides.
Gotta believe with the limited infrastructure outside of the resorts, though, that the local businesses and homes there were beat up.
If they were spared as much as first reports seem to indicate, it could be because of the "breaking effect" of tides on the eastern face of Cozumel. The channel between Cozumel and Playa is not all that wide...so the island could have served as a break against those highest of tides.
Gotta believe with the limited infrastructure outside of the resorts, though, that the local businesses and homes there were beat up.
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southerngale
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- Location: Southeast Texas (Beaumont area)
lisa0825 wrote:Normandy wrote:I hope their is no damage, im just not so optimistic, especially since FOX news reporters reported flooding in Cancun and roof damage (considering it was no where near the eyewall).
I hardly trust FOX. They are the most inflammatory network on the air.
I do, much more than the others!
As for the damage, I just pray the preliminary reports suggesting severe damage are wrong and the preliminary reports suggesting minor damage are correct. It will be a miracle if they escaped without much destruction, and one that many have hoped and prayed for.
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other places to read about emily's damage?
caribepr wrote:I'm just concerned that there is no report yet on stormcarib.com or on the blog that is on another thread from Cozumel. So until I hear something to the contrary that is factual (from people I know there or in contact with people there), I can't believe that it was a light hit...and hope I'm really wrong.
What" blog that is on another thread"? Do you mean a different thread within storm2K.org or elsewhere? can you give us the link?
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Re: other places to read about emily's damage?
jill wrote:caribepr wrote:I'm just concerned that there is no report yet on stormcarib.com or on the blog that is on another thread from Cozumel. So until I hear something to the contrary that is factual (from people I know there or in contact with people there), I can't believe that it was a light hit...and hope I'm really wrong.
What" blog that is on another thread"? Do you mean a different thread within storm2K.org or elsewhere? can you give us the link?
It was mentioned on another thread, I think: http://stormcarib.com/reports/2005/mexico.shtml
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Re: other places to read about emily's damage?
jill wrote:caribepr wrote:I'm just concerned that there is no report yet on stormcarib.com or on the blog that is on another thread from Cozumel. So until I hear something to the contrary that is factual (from people I know there or in contact with people there), I can't believe that it was a light hit...and hope I'm really wrong.
What" blog that is on another thread"? Do you mean a different thread within storm2K.org or elsewhere? can you give us the link?
Sorry, yes on here - I haven't looked at it today yet as there were many others.
wunderground.com/blog/InCozumel/show.html
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I figured the east side of Cozumel would take a beating.... especially since the structures there are not built as tough....
""Windward (East) side of the island"
LAST EDITED ON Jul-18-05 AT 03:25 PM (GMT)
Initial reports are not looking good from the east side.
I was married at Cocconut's and the island is near & dear to my heart.
Please add any updates to the posting.
Thanks & my thoughts are with everyone in Coz.
From:http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=204203&page=3&pp=25
Quite the ride, but evryone's cleaning up. Took a ride tothe other side and bad news....Coconuts, Mezcalito's and Bob Marley(Paradise Cafe) are basically gone. I saw BM's personally and it is wiped out, couldnt get to the other ones but friends in a 4X4 coming the other way told me they were gone.
PB took a beating (Palapa damage) as well as Playa Mia (the huge palapa-GONE!), Nachi-s little palapas are 75% damaged and they lost a lot of beach, as did evryone I guess."
""Windward (East) side of the island"
LAST EDITED ON Jul-18-05 AT 03:25 PM (GMT)
Initial reports are not looking good from the east side.
I was married at Cocconut's and the island is near & dear to my heart.
Please add any updates to the posting.
Thanks & my thoughts are with everyone in Coz.
From:http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=204203&page=3&pp=25
Quite the ride, but evryone's cleaning up. Took a ride tothe other side and bad news....Coconuts, Mezcalito's and Bob Marley(Paradise Cafe) are basically gone. I saw BM's personally and it is wiped out, couldnt get to the other ones but friends in a 4X4 coming the other way told me they were gone.
PB took a beating (Palapa damage) as well as Playa Mia (the huge palapa-GONE!), Nachi-s little palapas are 75% damaged and they lost a lot of beach, as did evryone I guess."
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