OK. I'm back.
Well, I never went anywhere -- as you know. But the electricity was just restored. And that puts me back in contact with the rest of you.
As it turned out, Jova is right up there in the Irene category. Lots of hype (for our area). Not much wind. But lots of water.
We lost power last night around 10 or so. The rumor is that the electrical company turned it off to avoid injuries when lines started dropping. I don’t know if that is true or not. It is just what I heard.
Apparently, the storm passed north of us. Giving us a few gusts of wind. When I got up this morning, this is what my garden looked like. Some debris, but not as much damage as I had expected.
I took a quick walk around the neighborhood. Not everyone was as lucky as I. Some good-sized trees were toppled. Taking power lines (fortunately, dead) with them. And often on top of cars. (Who parks their car under a tree when a wind storm is on the way?)
But today’s theme was not wind. It was water.
Between the main highway and the beach, there is a very noticeable dip. A dip that water seeks out with a vengeance.
I walked up that way to see how the church palapa frame fared. It seems to have survived without noticeable damage. But the street in front of the property had turned into a chocolate pudding river. I should add, a very fast-moving pudding.
Most of the houses in that area were flooded. I retreated only when we received another torrent of rain. Rain that is still falling this evening.
Kim of Boston asked me to post a post-hurricane photograph of the beach from the same spot as two days ago. That spot is no longer there.
Here is my best attempt.
Steve - Thanks so much for the post - we've been wondering how everyone is. So glad you're safe. Some photos on Tomzap of Barra's beach and also of Cihuatlan are pretty sobering...We continue to keep you all in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteIt felt odd to be out of contact for those 24 hours. And the two of you can certainly appreciate what our church neighbors are going through right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting back to us as soon as possible. I have been checking all day!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice having the power back. It went out briefly a moment ago. But it is back again. Tomorrow I am going out to see if I can help do anything with the flooding. It is still a problem.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us all know that you are safe and that your house doesn't have a meter of water in it. I've been checking for your post all day.
ReplyDeleteSome newbies up here in the mountains were ready to evacuate but people on Chapala.com tried to get them to calm down. No wind here but plenty of rain ALL day. Reminds me of the PacNW--only not nearly as cold.
If you had brought a snow shovel with you, you could help your neighbors with the sand and mud in their houses.
God bless--Pat
Dam good to have you back soldier, the reports from this end were kinda frightening. Reports were Jova hit the coast with 100 mile an hour winds, that would blow my wood frame home into a nice pile in the backyard. Somewhere I read something about 20 meter waves, although that didn't sound possible. Photos show some pretty horrific damage, Seamasters, broke in two, just about at the table, wife and I ate dinner at last Sept. and that resturant that was just across the patio, best shrimp stuffed avocado I've ever tasted, I think got tore up pretty bad too, no good pictures of it, think it was nachos or ponchos, nice family run place. Anyway, glad your OK and not much damage, thanks for hollering.
ReplyDeleteThe tool rental place is just a couple of blocks from Bungalows Brandy, where we stayed last winter. I hope Consuela and Jose luis are OK.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you're ok.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link I just found with photos of Melaque. You were really, really lucky Steve.
ReplyDeletehttp://jova.pen.io/
Glad you are OK, and hope that the town is not too damaged by the flooding. We were watching a news report on TV yesterday and one of the reporters was in Melaque reporting standing on the beach of course.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the disaster people were ready and in place before the event so hopefully all goes well.
Take care.
The people who evacuated from here are now cut off by road closures. But, this is Mexico. The roads will be back in operation soon. Or as soon as this rain stops.
ReplyDeleteMe, too.
ReplyDeleteSteve - Have friends from Seattle staying at Hotel San Felipe, just received a call from them. Everyone safe, some minor flooding 1st floor of hotel, beach in front a real mess. Power just came back on, but is sporadic. Have another buddy that lives year-round across the street from Red Lobster; no news of his area or house yet. Would appreciate an update of that area if you have a moment. Thanks for your prompt post, and wish i were there to help out the locals.
ReplyDeleteThose are mainly photographs of Cihuatlan. Fortunately, we have had nothing like that -- even though are flooding is bad.
ReplyDeleteAnd we were lucky the storm moved away from us. At least, for wind damage.
ReplyDeleteI walked by the Red Lobster today. Rain water in the street, but no storm or water damage. A couple of trees down here and there.
ReplyDeleteI suspect Bungalows Brandy probably had a good deal of flooding. But people were ready. When water comes, that area can flood. That is one reason there were so many evacuation areas in town.
ReplyDeleteYou hear correctly about the electricity being turned off, they do that on this coast as well and it's a smart thing.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are well and things are getting fixed as quickly as possible. I read in the local news that the eye came ashore at Punta Perula, that was one of our favorite spots in Mexico. We spent a couple months there twice and always said it was a 2 bit town with a million dollar beach. I hope they are all fine there but it is probable that there is a lot of damage.
Glad you are OK and your house came through well.
It is interesting how different people react to the same situation. Of course, almost all of the houses here are built of concrete. Not much that a wind storm can do to them. Except fill up with water.
ReplyDeleteThe businesses on Barra's sand strip have been hit hard.
I have not been to Punta Perula, by my friends (Lou and Wynn Moody) used to park their RV there. The waves have modified our beach. I imagine a lot has changed up there.
ReplyDeleteWas Figaro hit badly? Hoping the best for our friends. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI guess I don't know what that is.
ReplyDeletethe nice Italian restaraunt on the beach, thinking of our friend Pino.
ReplyDeleteI guess this is a restaurant I have missed over the past three years. In Melaque or San Patricio?
ReplyDeleteI just did a quick search on TomZap. It appears to be in La Manzanilla. Sorry. I have no way of knowing.
ReplyDeleteI was just reading a report, by "RGM", on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Mexico Branch about the effects of the storm in your area. Glad to read that it wasn't worse.
ReplyDeleteHere in the Pátzcuaro area it has been overcast, rainy and much cooler.
Saludos,Don Cuevas
Glad to hear that you are safe and well. Hurricanes are horrible things....and scary to live through! I've been through 6 of them now. The electricity here is shut off the day before we expect it to make landfall as a safety precaution. I expect the same was done there.
ReplyDeleteYou dodged the bullet again. You were on the "good side" of the storm.
ReplyDeleteI understand this storm is going to deliver a bit of rain through the highlands.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you. Staying here for the storm was a learning experience.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was fortunate to live where I do. The surrounding area has been hit rather hard by flooding.
ReplyDeleteWe are so glad to hear about the good news in amongst the bad Steve. I guess our house on Vicente Guerrero is OK since it is quite a bit higher than the laguna, but perhaps we lost our satellite dish off the roof. It must have been frightening to be there through the storm, but it is frustrating to not be there to help.
ReplyDeleteThe fellow from Texas who lives in the bungalows by the beach asked about you yesterday. I checked on him because he was so close to the ocean. The laguna did not flood on our end because the authorities opened it up before the rains started. It was flowing as fast as I have seen it.
ReplyDeleteIn the area of Esmeralda and Vicente Guerrero - was there actual flooding, ie standing water, or was it just deep but moving street runoff?
ReplyDeleteHow far back from the lagoon did East Melaque get flooded?
Glen
On that corner, it was no worse than it is for the usual summer rainy season. About up to my calf. But that was just in that low spot. The only flooding was at the north end of the laguna up by the highway. About a three or four block strip that stretched back to west Melaque. If I had wanted to leave then, I could not have made it across with my truck.
ReplyDeleteSteve, Thank You! I met you once or twice but we've both forgotten when/where.
ReplyDeletePor Favor... Can you look to the west and give us and idea of how the palapa restaurants in West Melaque faired? We live above the La Costenita from Nov-May and cannot get a word in or out to them. La Costenita, Sirenita, Concha Del Mar?
My friend Pancho owns the building & apartments above Concha del Mar... wondering if it survived.
Thanks again. See you in month.
Kip and Janine (Suzanna en Melaque)
Tacoma Washington
enjoy your posts immensely. thanks, steve. (san & dave)
ReplyDeleteAmazing that you have electricity already.......glad you're safe and sound.......
ReplyDeleteYour description of the "chocolate pudding river" put me in mind of the actual Pudding River which used to flood the road to Mt. Angel. Glad you made it through okay.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I enjoy writing them.
ReplyDeleteElke reports things are well down that way.
ReplyDeleteIt reminded me of the Pudding River where it passes through Aurora under Highway 99E. But this version was running fast.
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of the flooding, we got off easy.
ReplyDeleteDo not know where you were on the great Columbus Day storm of 1962 if my memory serves me right (big if!), but if I were you I would be very careful around Columbus Day regardless of where you are. Glad to hear you are/were a good soldier...or rather officer, Sir!
ReplyDeleteI was in Milwaukie then. And I remember it well. My mother, who admonished me to get out of Melaque for this hurricane, walked up to 99E with my younger brother and me to see the damage -- as it was happening. Trees falling. Power lines snapping. The neighbor lady thought she was crazy. I told her yesterday that I come by this risk aversion naturally.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are well and the property also. At least one can sort of prepare for a hurricane. A tornado doesn't give you much time and I live in Tornado Alley. Hope your coast and lagoon with the resident crocs recover back to normal.
ReplyDeleteNita
On my trip through the village, things are getting back to normal very fast. They have to. Life here does not offer a wide margin.
ReplyDeleteGracias por esto.
ReplyDeleteIt is my pleasure to be part of this.
ReplyDelete