Initial reports from CNN in Playa del Carmen

[lisa0825]

The clump of lights to the NNW of cozumel is promising, however the complete lack of light from cozumel turns the stomach quite a bit.

A Cozumel resident posted on another forum that they were going to turn off the electricity at a certain time, and not turn it back on until inspections and major repairs were made. Not sure if this is a fact or not, just reporting what i read elsewhere.

[Raebie]

I don't see how you get "no damage" from this report. It doesn't say much of anything at all.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/07/18/t ... index.html

[Stephanie]

The resort I stayed at in 2003, Bahia Principe is on the Riviera Maya, south of Playa del Carmen. It's right on that beach there. I can't imagine that it didn't suffer any damage what so ever!

[lisa0825]

The resort I stayed at in 2003, Bahia Principe is on the Riviera Maya, south of Playa del Carmen. It's right on that beach there. I can't imagine that it didn't suffer any damage what so ever!

Most probably suffered some damage, and some probably suffered major damage as well. I'm just hopeful that most damage is minor, and the area will be back in shape for tourists very quickly. Mexicans like to joke about doing things "on Mexican time," as in very laid back and usually late. But when it comes to their livliehood, they tend to get working right away.

[Normandy]

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).

[lisa0825]

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.

[Derecho]

CNN has a guy on videophone from Playa Del Carmen; says all he's seen are trees and powerlines down.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

The center of the eye was 7 miles to the south of the southern tip of the Island. The eye was 14 miles wide...With its strongest winds at around the southern part of the island. If there was no damage/little damage then this was no cat4 hurricane I can asure you. If this turns out to be true then the data was wrong.

7 miles from center to southern Tip. You get a 14 mile wide eye in which is 7 miles north/south of center. Then you get The eyewall...In which was over the southern Part of the Island.

[lisa0825]

Some flooding and some roof damage is to be expected. I'm just trying to focus on the extent of damage. a percentage of homes with some damage doesn't equate to "flattening" and isn't a catastrophe to folks who are used to cleaning up after storms.

update:

"17. "RE: HURRICANE REPORTS MONDAY"
In response to message #0

I heard from friends who live in Corpus Christi area of Coz, via cell phone. They are ok, lots of water/flooding, no major damage to their house (including two large palapas on the roof). They, too , are out now trying to assess the rest of the island, so no, it has not been "leveled". Electricity still out and lots of debris reported. I think it will be little while till we find out about the rest of the island. Major part of the storms seemed to hit them between 11am and 2am this morning. "

[msbee]

I was watching CNN this morning. I think when the reporter says there is no damage, he is talking about some of the solid hotel structures there. It is possible that they suffered only minimal dmaage.
He is reporting damge or lack of it for the tourism sector, NOT for the people who live there.
There is no way that some of those homes where the Mayans live did not suffer serious damage but who reports on what hapopens to them?
and the fact that there is no report from Cozumel yet is troubling to me. That may be the area where you see the worst damage reports ..in time..
I also heard Ed Rappaport from NHC say, in connection with the reporting of not much storm surge at Playa del Carmen, that he would expect that there will be reports of higher storm surges on Cozumel.

[Normandy]

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.

Good point

[Derecho]

I also heard Ed Rappaport from NHC say, in connection with the reporting of not much storm surge at Playa del Carmen, that he would expect that there will be reports of higher storm surges on Cozumel.

There's next to nothing on Cozumel on the side of the island facing the Carribean; all the hotels, the town are on the west side of the Island facing the Yucatan peninsula.

[Normandy]

as a newbie here, it does seem to me that folks are hoping for more excitement, as in major damage.

Its not that, its just with a Cat4 landfalling hurricane people EXPECT major damage....thats generally what hurricanes that strong do. Look up pics of Charley and Hugo to see what I mean.

For example...
http://www.floridatoday.com/galleries/n ... ath/13.jpg
Thats what people generally expect when a hurricane this strong hits.

[CajunMama]

I'm waiting for my friend to hear from her son who is the social director at Playa del Secreta. They were evacuated to Cancun. She sent me this email:

He was in Cancun in an apartment - we didn't hear from him last night or today -- pictures from area and calls were from Cozumel which got more of the storm -- Playa del Carmen said their resorts were made of concrete - which is same as Erich's location so hopefully buildings still there -- waves made area waist deep water - so I am anxious to hear his story of adventure -

[Brent]

The fact is... a Category 4 made landfall less than 10 miles south of Cozumel. They were in the northeast eyewall. There should be severe damage.

[Thunder44]

People might have to start dealing with the reality that they're not seeing the damage they hoped for, especially to the well-built tourist stuff.

Was that really neccessary?

Seriously.

The fact is... a Category 4 made landfall less than 10 miles south of Cozumel. They were in the northeast eyewall. There should be severe damage.

1. They might have not gotten Cat 4 winds at the surface, because the storm was weakening. Pressure was 955mb which is more consistent with a Cat 3 hurricane.

2. Structures maybe built very well to withstand at least Cat 3 winds.

3. The storm was also moving rather quickly. So less time for impact.

[HeatherAKC]

Well, if you all can wait 2 weeks, I'm supposed to be visiting Playa Carmen, Cozumel, Belize and Grand Cayman via cruise ship at the end of July...We'll know the truth if A)My itinerary/ports of call change or B)I get to go and see what's up for myself (keeping in mind that there will be a 2 week window for clean up).

I don't think they could have escaped this thing with little damage...

[Stratosphere747]

Derecho made a great point in relation to where most of the structures are and where the eye hit.

We may not actually see the destruction that some think.

[lisa0825]

"20. "OPTIMISITIC MONDAY AM REPORT"
In response to message #19

My daughter is honeymooning on Cozumel and is renting a private home in town through Cozumel Villas. They arrived Saturday, 7/16, and I was shocked this morning to learn that they were willing and able to go to the island after their arrival via Cancun early Saturday afternoon. She called this morning to report that they are safe, that the storm was “a little loud and a little scary,” there was "a little bit of water" that got in the house, but otherwise no damage to the single story concrete block house that they are renting. While they had not ventured out, their initial sense was that there were a few trees down, but otherwise they could not detect a lot of damage to the immediate neighborhood around 15th Avenue Sur. When I called the Cozumel Villas office in Colorado, they had reports of more serious damage at some of the properties that they manage north of town. I must admit that my information is preliminary and inconclusive, but I share it because it is positive and hopeful. Personally, I wish that those who are speculating with negative information, such as a network news person this morning who said that “the entire island must have been devastated by a 25 foot storm surge” would keep their negative thoughts to themselves until the facts are in!
davepausa"

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

The only one that could of done this is God. Thats the only way to explain this. In which a cat4 moved with in a few miles of the island with little damage. Thats all I got to say...