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Hurricane John Sept. 2, 2006
Hurricane John scored a direct hit on La Paz, arriving at 2:15 am. The eye passed over between 3:15 and 3:45 am and then the winds reversed and blew until 5:30 am. Winds were reported as being sustained at 80mph with gusts to 98mph. The vessels on the beach were spread between Hotel Los Arcos and Vista Coral. The hummingbirds had made a nest in the dock lines on Dolby on dock 4 at Marina Palmira. They were rescued by Vicky on Inspiration at Sea and are now being fed by their mother bird again! The marina shots are all at Marina Palmira. - Click on individual photos to enlarge
photos; Tom Zyber (Baja Insider), Vicky (Inspiration at Sea), & Rick Cromwell (Kaos)
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The
photos bottom left are of Mulege which was severly damaged when the river flooded. photos furnished by Nancy (New Beginnings) For additional photos of the devastation in Mulege CLICK HERE For photos of devastation in La Ventana CLICK HERE |
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| I have seen an ugly, brown
fifteen-foot wall of water inundate the small Mexican town that I call
home. I have seen cattle, motor homes, cars, and everything you would find in a home rushing out to sea under me as I stood on the bridge crossing the Mulegé River. I have seen real heroes. People like Dustin, Mick, and O.B. John risk their lives to make sure all the people in the homes along the river had been rescued. I have seen tears. I have seen a good friend sitting in a chair, soaking wet and shivering, looking down at his bare feet. He had lost everything. I did not know what to say to him. I have stood at the gravesite of another friend Peter Clark. He tried to drive out of the flood. I have talked with Mel Humes. He said the reports of his death in the San Diego Union had been grossly exaggerated. I have seen cars in trees. I have seen boats on top of houses. I have seen mud a foot thick inside of homes. I have seen the waterline high on the walls. And afterwards: I have seen this Mexican community pull together like one big family. Me casa is su casa. I have seen the government come in with food, clothing, shelter. I have talked with a government official whose purpose here was to offer FREE homes to anyone who wanted them. A new home. I have seen heavy equipment moving down Mex 1 going to repair the roads that were washed away. I have seen the power company trucks from all over Mexico pull into Mulegé, and within days they had replaced over 100 power poles, fifty-seven in Mulegé alone. I have seen power company employees walking down the streets where power has been restored, offering to make sure the electricity was on and in working order. I have seen the portable water purifier that was set up at the fire station to provide FREE purified water to anyone who wanted it. I have seen the water trucks, driven by firemen, enter the areas where water has not been restored and providing FREE water. I have seen planeloads of clothing and food delivered by the flying Samaritans. I have seen 4 pages of Mexicans that have lost everything. This is the priority list. I have seen the military kitchen set up in front of the kindergarten providing FREE meals to anyone who walked up. I have seen the town’s merchants expressing concern as they prepare their shops for October. “Will the gringos come back?” This town survives on the money that is brought in by the Americans and Canadians who spend their winters here. I have seen the palapas and homes along the beaches were only minimally affected by Hurricane John. I have talked with the Mayor and city officials and asked them what is needed most. The following are their priorities. Sleeping bags, bedding, and canned food. Power washers and lastly money. Donations of clothing are ok, but low on the priority list. An account is being set up in Santa Rosalia to receive funds to be used in the relief effort. And, I have seen smiles, and I am starting to see the desert bloom again. Geary Ritchie |
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