We are now remnants of Hurricane Andres, which I guess means we survived. Actually, probably everyone survived, even without the security of Perla Del Mar.
We lost power several times yesterday and the water pressure was too low last night for a shower, but that’s about it. When Perla is complete, we will have the luxury of our own cistern for fresh water, our own water pressure system and back-up power. This means that yesterday’s events would have been pretty much non-events for Perla dwellers, had the timing been in the future. The only obvious thing to us this morning is that about half of the beach was eroded by the big waves that started about when I last sent an update, 5:00 pm yesterday. This morning the waves are almost back to normal, the sky is higher overcast stratus, and there is an open patch of sky to the south. Humidity is 95% and the air smells like the inside of a damp cave. (By the way, the small waves will return all of the sand that the big waves borrowed, within about 5 days we’re told - and it will have been totally cleaned.)
From what I could tell, this storm was typical of what happens here ie: these storms that develop this far south move parallel to the coast and usually graze Manzanillo. The frequency of hurricanes is higher as you go further northward and highest in the Baja California where that area seems to take a direct hit almost every year. Mazatlan receives its share as well, but it seems that Cabo and area bear the brunt of the volume.
This storm was also early in the season so the sea surface temperatures (SST) are not near their peak yet. With higher SST’s later in the season, the storms are stronger, remain stronger longer and it seems, are farther north. Many more of them are farther out to sea as well (on the Pacific side of the continent) and never reach land. This storm only reached hurricane 1 status for a few hrs. and then was downgraded to a Tropical Storm again, which it is now as is passes PV.
In summary, Perla is well situated and equipped for these events, higher locations bear the brunt of the wind, and south or south-east facing properties are directly exposed. The center of Andres was about 60 miles west of Manzanillo at the closest, and maximum winds only extended for about 15 - 20 miles from there. The biggest impact for us was the surf which was probably created some distance off-shore and drifted in to Manzanillo.
There will be chain saws running here today as we hear there were a few trees toppled, but nothing serious. Today it’s back to work as we meet with ‘fiscal accountants’ (our Mx. hired accountants who keep us in good standing with the Hacienda - Mx. for CRA or IRS). Then we hope to take Dolly, our friend and computer genius who accompanied us on this trip, to Ida’s for chicken soup dinner. If you haven’t been to Ida’s, you can book a trip on us when we get together in Manzanillo.
