I’ve been out and about in the city today and have spoken to lots of people about the upcoming hurricane. No one is panicking but everyone is preparing. Still lots of smiles and jokes about it, it was great to see everyone in a good humour. My class this morning was five students who all work in the tourism industry. I spent an hour and a half teaching them hurricane vocabulary and customer service jargon. “No maam, I don’t know how this will affect your trip in November.” “We are doing everything we can to resolve our customer service issues to everyone’s satisfaction.” “No sir, I don’t think Cancun is going to fall into the ocean.” Their nervousness was not about their homes or their safety, but about their job security. All of them remember Wilma and none of them want to be victims of a hurricane aftermath. They are very positive about Cancun’s ability to recover and about their role in the recovery. Love my students!

I went to Costco to pick up a few things and was surprised that it was not a zoo. Yes, there were lots of people there but no fights, no panic and no lines! I got my smokes, chocolate, pretzels and Coca Cola, we’re almost ready.

Here’s some pics of some buildings boarded up in preparation….

posted by CancunCanuck

All of us here in Cancun are scrambling to get our homes ready for the wrath that Hurricane Dean may be bringing us. So it’s critical for us to have a sense of when we will start experiencing bad weather.

Of course it’s too early to know for sure what will happen or when, but given the current size, current speed and the expected time that the center of the storm will be over us here are my calculations:

1 pm Monday - Tropical storm force winds will begin to hit us, this will last approximately 12 hours.

1 am Tuesday - Hurricane force winds will begin to hit us, the first half will last 3.5 hours.

4:30 am Tuesday - The center of the storm is predicted to make landfall over Yucatan, we will have another 3.5 hours of hurricane force winds.

8 am Tuesday - Hurricane force winds will abate, we will have another 12 hours of tropical storm force winds.

8 pm Tuesday - Tropical storm force winds will abate.

This is just an estimate, and things will change. But it looks like we should all be buckled down and finished with our preparations by noon on Monday!

My data and timing sources are the National Hurricane Center’s 11 am advisory and the Hurricane Dean “Closest Point” information on StormCaribe.

Posted by RiverGirl

RiverGirl’s Blog

Official Bulletin of the State of Quintana Roo

(From Cancunweathertoday.com)

The Governor of Quintana Roo just addressed to the state a few minutes ago, the hurricane alert status was upgraded to YELLOW ALERT (permanent watch for possible impact from 48 to 72 hours). Among the immediate preventive actions the most important are:

1.- Schools will be closed on Monday for the whole north area of the state

2.- The airports of Cancun and Cozumel will continue operating until Monday as long as the weather allows the aerial operation.

3.- The full evacuation of the Islands of Contoy, Holbox and the keys of the central part of the state will be completed today. Cozumel is excluded of this evacuation since that is a big island that has its own system of protection, in the case of Isla Mujeres there will be meetings this afternoon to take the decision about the actions to take.

4.- Travel agencies must NOT bring to any tourist to the region

5.- Flights departing Cancun and Cozumel from today and until Monday are reported as full

6.- Empty planes will be arriving to the Cancun airport this weekend to take the most number of tourist out of this area

7.- Travelers staying in Cancun at this moment must contact their airline to book a return trip immediately

8.- Tourists that can not get a seat to return hotel will be protected by the government in the authorized shelters

It is recommended to the people to follow the bulletins that the government will be issuing over the course of this day, the next one will be at 4:30 pm.

Issued by: Gobierno del Estado de Quintana Roo

Translation: www.cancunweathertoday.com

Below is a list of hurricane shelters that are assigned to specific Cancun hotels.

HOTEL AZUL BEACH
Shelter Name/Address: UNIVERSIDAD DEL MAYAB MERIDA
HOTEL BARCELO TUCANCUN
Shelter Name/Address: ESCUELA KABHA Y COLEGIO MERIDA SM-48 MZ-13 L-2 OCOSINGO Y CARR. BONFILKM. 9
HOTEL BLUE BAY CLUB
Shelter Name/Address: CMPO. ESC. SAN JOSE CAR. CANCÚN-MERIDA KM.310
HOTEL BLUE BAY GATEAWAY
Shelter Name/Address: CMPO. ESC. SAN JOSE CAR. CANCÚN-MERIDA KM.310
HOTEL BEACH PALACE
Shelter Name/Address: HOTEL AZTECA Y GUADALUPE L. PORTILLO SM-65 MZ-2 L-6
HOTEL CANCUN PALACE
Shelter Name/Address: ESTAN. INFANTIL PALACE CALLE 74 Y MIGUEL HIDALGO
HOTEL CROWN PARADISE
Shelter Name/Address: UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLOGICA AV. LUIS DONALDO COLOSIO
HOTEL DOS PLAYAS
Shelter Name/Address: HOTEL KAMNA. SM-23MZ-32 AV TULUM
HOTEL DREAMS CANCUN
Shelter Name/Address: CECYTE No. 1 Reg 229 MZA 28 Calle 71 esq. Av. Leona Vicario
HOTEL F.A. CONDESA
Shelter Name/Address: UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLOGICA SM-51 AV. KABAH 3
HOTEL F.A. CORAL BEACH
Shelter Name/Address: DEP. ALVATROS INST. ECAB RGN- 95
HOTEL FLAMINGO
Shelter Name/Address: ESCUELA NIÑO MEXICANO REG.95, MZA. 31 Y 32 AVE. COMALCALCO
HOTEL GOLDEN PARNASSUS
Shelter Name/Address: HOTEL LA FINCA REG. 107 MZ 81 LOTE 6 EX HAD STA MARIA Tel 8986184
HOTEL GR SOLARIS
Shelter Name/Address: SINDICATO DE TAXISTAS RGN-92 MZ-12,13 Y15 RUTA 4
HOTEL GRAN MELIA
Shelter Name/Address: INST. LEONARDO DAVINCI S.M. 51, MZA. 72, LIBRAMIENTO KABAH
HOTEL GRAN OASIS
Shelter Name/Address: COLEGIO BACHILLERES 2 Av. Francisco I. Madero, Esq. Ruta 4, Reg. 102 por calle 137
HOTEL GRAND OASIS PLAYA
Shelter Name/Address: COLEGIO BACHILLERES 2 Av. Francisco I. Madero, Esq. Ruta 4, Reg. 102 por calle 137
HOTEL GREAT PARNASSUS
Shelter Name/Address: Escuela primara federal Raza de Bronce Reg. 200, S.M. 127, L. 2
HOTEL HILTON
Shelter Name/Address: ESC. PRIMARIA J.J. ARREOLA RGN. 520, AV. NICHUPTE
HOTEL HOLIDAY INN ARENAS
Shelter Name/Address: ESCUELA SECUNDARIA CECILIO CHI S.M. 516
HYATT CANCUN CARIBE
Shelter Name/Address: MOTEL PUERTA DEL CIELO S.MA 22.CALLE CRISTANTEMO N.15
HOTEL HYATT REGENCY
Shelter Name/Address: ESC. JOSEFA ORTIZ DE DOMINGUEZ CALLE COYUCA SM-30
HOTEL LE BLANC
Shelter Name/Address: HOTELES SAN CARLOS Y TROPICAL CARIBE CALLE CEDRO 40 Y SM-23 MZ-32 L-8 AL 16
HOTEL LE MERIDIEN
Shelter Name/Address: COLEGIO EDUCACION COMUNIDAD DEL SOL SM-30 MZ-39 FRA SINAI BONFIL
HOTEL MARRIOT (JW/CASA MAGNA)
Shelter Name/Address: LUZ DE LUNA (CASA MAGNA) / MOTEL CEREZA (JW MARRIOTT) AV. PORTILLO POR LOS SOLDADO (LUZ DE LUNA) Y AV. LUIS DONALDO COLOSIO (MOTEL CEREZA)
HOTEL ME
Shelter Name/Address: ESC. SEC. R FLORES M. RGN-93 MZ-10 L-15 AV KABAH
HOTEL MOON PALACE
Shelter Name/Address: MOTEL LA COSTA BACHILLERS PLANT 2 FCO. I. MADERO RGN-102 MZ-14LOPEZ PORTILLO
HOTEL NH KRYSTAL
Shelter Name/Address: COLEGIO AMERICANO AV. TANKAH SM-26 MZ-15
HOTEL OASIS AMERICA
Shelter Name/Address: OASIS AMERICA Av. Tulum esq. Brisa SM4 MZ19 Colonia Centro
HOTEL OASIS CANCUN
Shelter Name/Address: COLEGIO BACHILLERES 2 Av. Francisco I. Madero, Esq. Ruta 4, Reg. 102 por calle 137
HOTEL OASIS PALM BEACH
Shelter Name/Address: COLEGIO BACHILLERES 2 Av. Francisco I. Madero, Esq. Ruta 4, Reg. 102 por calle 137
HOTEL OASIS VIVA
Shelter Name/Address: COLEGIO BACHILLERES 2 Av. Francisco I. Madero, Esq. Ruta 4, Reg. 102 por calle 137
HOTEL OMNI
Shelter Name/Address: COLEGIO ALEXANDRE COL. ALAMOS (BONFIL)
HOTEL PARADISSUS
Shelter Name/Address: BACHILLERES 1 Calle 21, Mza. 56 y 57. Reg. 91
HOTEL PRESIDENTE
Shelter Name/Address: INST. LEONARDO DAVINCI S.M. 51, MZA. 72, LIBRAMIENTO KABAH
HOTEL RADISSON HACIENDA
Shelter Name/Address: RADISSON HACIENDA AV. NADER
HOTEL RITZ
Shelter Name/Address: HOTELES POSADA LUCY Y XBALANQUE GLADIOLAS 8 SM-22 MZ-18 Y SM-22 MZ-18 YAXCHILAN 31
HOTEL RIU CANCUN
Shelter Name/Address: INST. LEONARDO DAVINCI S.M. 51, MZA. 72, LIBRAMIENTO KABAH
HOTEL RIU PALACE
Shelter Name/Address: Instituto Cancun AV. Yaxchilan Sm 18, Mz-18, L1
HOTEL ROYAL SOLARIS
Shelter Name/Address: MOTEL COSTA RGN-104 MZ-19 L-14 # 1557
HOTEL SOLYMAR
Shelter Name/Address: PRIM. AGUSTIN MELGAR SM 27 RETORNO 3 CALLE CORAL SN
HOTEL SUN PALACE
Shelter Name/Address: HOTELES PINA Y NICTEHA SM-64 MZ-6 Y 23 LOTES 14 Y 14
THE AMBIENCE
Shelter Name/Address: HOTEL TANKAH SM-24 AV. TANKAH
HOTEL WESTIN REGINA
Shelter Name/Address: CONALEP SM-1 MZ-3 L4AV. G DE LA TORR

Posted by RiverGirl

RiverGirl’s Blog

As of the 5 am update, the hurricane computer models show Hurricane Dean making landfall somewhere near Cancun along the Yucatan peninsula.

Here is a quote from the 8 am NHC intermediate advisory:

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 150 MPH…240 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SATELLITE IMAGES SUGGEST THAT DEAN COULD HAVE WEAKENED A LITTLE DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS…BUT REMAINS AS A DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS CURRENTLY APPROACHING THE HURRICANE AND WILL DETERMINE THE INTENSITY. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN
INTENSITY ARE LIKELY DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES…95 KM…FROM THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205MILES…335 KM. NOAA BUOY 42059 RECENTLY REPORTED A 1-MINUTE AVERAGE WIND OF 65 MPH…105 KM/HR AND A WIND GUST OF 76 MPH….122 KM/HR AS DEAN MOVED NEARBY.

This storm, including the hurricane force winds and the tropical storm force winds is over 500 miles across.

Posted by RiverGirl

RiverGirl’s Blog

BOLETIN
HURACAN DEAN ADVERTENCIA NUMERO  21
NWS TPC/CENTRO NACIONAL DE HURACANES MIAMI FL   AL042007
500 AM AST SABADO 18 DE AGOSTO DE 2007

...EL EXTREMADAMENTE PELIGROSO CATEGORIA CUATRO HURACAN DEAN
CONTINUA A TRAVES DEL MAR ESTE Y CENTRAL DEL CARIBE...

ESTA EN EFECTO UN AVISO DE HURACAN PARA LA COSTA SUR DE LA REPUBLICA
DOMINICANA DESDE BARAHONA AL OESTE HASTA LA FRONTERA DE HAITI Y
REPUBLICA DOMINICANA. UN AVISO DE HURACAN SIGNIFICA QUE SE ESPERAN
CONDICIONES DE HURACAN DENTRO DEL AREA BAJO AVISO EN LAS PROXIMAS 24
HORAS. LAS PREPARACIONES PARA PROTEGER VIDA Y PROPIEDAD DEBEN SER
TERMINADAS.

ESTA EN EFECTO UNA VIGILANCIA DE HURACAN PARA JAMAICA. UNA VIGILANCIA
DE HURACAN SIGNIFICA QUE CONDICIONES HURACANADAS SON POSIBLES DENTRO
DEL AREA DE LA VIGILANCIA GENERALMENTE DENTRO DE 36 HORAS.
PROBABLEMENTE SE REQUIERA UN AVISO DE HURACAN PARA JAMAICA MAS TARDE
ESTA MANANA.

UN AVISO DE TORMENTA TROPICAL CONTINUA EN EFECTO PARA LAS ISLAS
VIRGENES BRITANICAS...LAS ISLAS VIRGENES AMERICANAS Y PUERTO RICO.
ESOS AVISOS PROBABLEMENTE SERAN DESCONTINUADOS MAS TARDE HOY. ESTA
EN EFECTO UN AVISO DE TORMENTA TROPICAL A LO LARGO DE LA COSTA SUR
DE LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA DESDE CABO ENGANO AL OESTE HASTA
BARAHONA. UN AVISO DE TORMENTA TROPICAL SIGNIFICA QUE CONDICIONES DE
TORMENTA TROPICAL SE ESPERAN DENTRO DEL AREA DEL AVISO DENTRO DE LAS
PROXIMAS 24 HORAS.

UNA VIGILANCIA DE TORMENTA TROPICAL ESTA EN EFECTO PARA PORCIOENS DE
CUBA...DESDE LA PROVINCIA DE CAMAGUEY AL ESTE HASTA LA PROVINCIA DE
GUANTANAMO. UNA VIGILANCIA DE TORMENTA TROPICAL SIGNIFICA QUE SE
ESPERAN CONDICIONES DE TORMENTA TROPICAL PARA EL AREA BAJO
VIGILANCIA...GENERALMENTE EN LAS PROXIMAS 36 HORAS.

LOS INTERESES EN EL RESTO DEL AREA EN EL CARIBE CENTRAL Y
OESTE...INCLUYENDO EL OESTE DE CUBA...LAS ISLAS CAYMAN...Y LA
PENINSULA DE YUCATAN DE MEXICO DEBEN SEGUIR DE CERCA EL PROGRESO DE
DEAN.

PARA INFORMACION ESPECIFICA A SU AREA...FAVOR DE REFERIRSE A LOS
PRODUCTOS EMITIDOS POR SU OFICINA LOCAL DE METEOROLOGIA.

A LAS 500 AM AST...0900Z...EL CENTRO DEL HURACAN DEAN ESTABA
LOCALIZADO CERCA DE LA LATITUD 15.1 NORTE...LONGITUD 67.3 OESTE O
COMO A 660 MILLAS...1065 KM...AL ESTE-SURESTE DE KINGSTON JAMAICA Y
COMO A 240 MILLAS...390 KM...AL SUR-SUROESTE DE SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO.

DEAN SE ESTA MOVIENDO HACIA EL OESTE A CERCA DE 17 MPH...28
KILOMETROS POR HORA...Y SE ESPERA UN MOVIMIENTO GENEERAL AL
OESTE-NOROESTE DURANTE LAS PROXIMAS 24 HORAS. EN ESTA TRAYECTORIA EL
CENTRO DEL HURACAN SE ESTARA MOVIENDO AL SUR DE LA REPUBLICA
DOMINICANA MAS TARDE HOY Y AL SUR DE HAITI ESTA NOCHE.

LOS VIENTOS MAXIMOS SOSTENIDOS ESTAN EN CERCA DE 150 MPH...240
KILOMETROS POR HORA...CON RAFAGAS MAS ALTAS. DEAN ES UN HURACAN
CATEGORIA CUATRO EN LA ESCALA SAFFIR-SIMPSON. ES POSIBLE QUE OCURRA
ALGUN FORTALECIMIENTO DURANTE LAS PROXIMAS 24 HORAS. UN AVION
CAZAHURACANES DE LA RESEERVA DE LA FUERZA AERA ESTA PROGRAMADO PARA
LLEGAR A DEAN EN ALGUNAS HORAS.

LOS VIENTOS HURACANADOS SE EXTIENDEN HACIA AFUERA HASTA 60
MILLAS...95 KM...DEL CENTRO...Y LOS VIENTOS DE FUERZA DE TORMENTA
TROPICAL SE EXTIENDEN HACIA AFUERA HASTA 205 MILLAS...335 KM. LA BOYA
DE LA NOAA 42059 RECIENTEMENTE INFORMO UN MINUTO DE VIENTO QUE
PROMEDIO 59 MPH.

LA PRESION MINIMA CENTRAL REPORTADA ES DE 930 MILIBARES...27.46
PULGADAS.

SE PUEDEN ESPERAR TOTALES DE LLUVIA DE LA TORMENTA DE 1 A 2 PULGADAS
DE DEAN SOBRE PUERTO RICO...LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA Y HAITI...CON
CANTIDADES MAXIMAS POSIBLES DE HASTA 5 PULGADAS. ESTAS LLUVIAS
PODRIAN OCASIONAR INUNDACIONES REPENTINAS Y DESLIZAMIENTOS DE LODO
QUE PUDIERAN REPRESENTAR AMENAZAS A VIDAS.

REPITIENDO LA POSICION A LAS 500 AM AST...15.1 NORTE...67.3 OESTE.
SE MUEVE HACIA...EL OESTE A CERCA DE 17 MPH. VIENTOS MAXIMOS
SOSTENIDOS...150 MPH. PRESION MINIMA CENTRAL...930 MB.

UNA ADVERTENCIA INTERMEDIA SERA EMITIDA POR EL CENTRO NACIONAL DE
HURACANES A LAS 800 AM AST SEGUIDA POR LA PROXIMA ADVERTENCIA MAS
COMPLETA A LAS 11 AM ASST.

$$

PRONOSTICADOR BEVEN

BULLETIN
HURRICANE DEAN ADVISORY NUMBER  21
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL042007
500 AM AST SAT AUG 18 2007

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR DEAN CONTINUES WESTWARD THROUGH
THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH COAST OF THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM BARAHONA WESTWARD TO THE HAITI-DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC BORDER.  A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24
HOURS.  PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED
TO COMPLETION.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR JAMAICA.  A HURRICANE WATCH
MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH
AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.  A HURRICANE WARNING WILL LIKELY
BE REQUIRED FOR JAMAICA LATER THIS MORNING.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE BRITISH VIRGIN
ISLANDS....U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO.  THESE WARNINGS
WILL LIKELY BE DISCONTINUED LATER TODAY.  A TROPICAL STORM
WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT ALONG THE SOUTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC FROM CABO ENGANO WESTWARD TO BARAHONA.   A TROPICAL STORM
WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN
THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CUBA...FROM THE
PROVINCE OF CAMAGUEY EASTWARD TO THE PROVINCE OF GUANTANAMO.  A
TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN CARIBBEAN...INCLUDING
WESTERN CUBA...THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...AND THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF
MEXICO...SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF DEAN.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DEAN WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 15.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 67.3 WEST OR ABOUT 660 MILES...
1065 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF KINGSTON JAMAICA AND ABOUT 240 MILES...
390 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO.

DEAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR.  A GENERAL
WESTWARD TO WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT
24 HOURS.  ON THIS TRACK...THE CORE OF THE HURRICANE WILL BE MOVING
SOUTH OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LATER TODAY AND SOUTH OF HAITI
TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 150 MPH...240 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  DEAN IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE.  SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  AN
AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO REACH
DEAN IN A FEW HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES...95 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205
MILES...335 KM.  NOAA BUOY 42059 RECENTLY REPORTED A 1-MINUTE
AVERAGE WIND OF 59 MPH.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 930 MB...27.46 INCHES.

STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED FROM
DEAN OVER PUERTO RICO...THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI WITH
MAXIMUM AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES POSSIBLE.  THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE
LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES.

REPEATING THE 500 AM AST POSITION...15.1 N...67.3 W.  MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST NEAR 17 MPH.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...150 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...930 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 800 AM AST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100
AM AST.

$$
FORECASTER BEVEN

The rain just woke me up, wide awake, like an alarm had gone off. My first thoughts were “Please don’t make me go to work!” until I realized it was 3:30 am and not 6:30. I am supposed to teach a five hour class today (kill me) but who is going to be able to concentrate? I suspect that I won’t have many (if any) students and that any attempt at teaching grammar and spelling will be lost in their distracted minds (and mine!). I’m also not looking forward to standing outside in the pouring down rain waiting to see if any taxis are running. One thing I have gotten used to is having a pair of rubber flip flops for a rainy commute. Even without a tropical storm the streets and sidewalks downtown get pretty flooded so many mornings are spent rolling up my pant legs, putting on my 22 peso flip flops and trudging through the giant puddles to get to work.

I was looking forward to my husband doing a lot of work this morning in preparation, we still need to clean up our yard from anything that might be a projectile, tape the windows, buy a few small items, etc., but he has been called in to work as well. Lucky him, he gets to take our two year old with him as we are stranded for child care on such late notice! Should prove to be an interesting day as the developments unfold. Not a fun day, but an interesting one. We don’t take the possibility of a hurricane lightly, but it sure can be an exciting time! The sense of anticipation is great, it feels like the first day of kindergarten is coming, roiling guts, frantic thoughts and the occasional goosebumps. Not full blown anxiety, but a nice little kick of adrenaline every once in a while. Like at 3:30 (oops, now 4:00) in the morning.

Here’s the song going through my head for the last few hours….

posted by CancunCanuck at at absurd hour

I just got a phone call from a gentleman in the U.S. who is flying in to Cancun tomorrow because he doesn’t want to leave his girlfriend (who is already here as a tourist) alone during the hurricane. So he seems to be flying down just to join her in a shelter. Tell me that’s not weird. That’s weird. It’s kind of sweet, but weird.

And when I suggested that staying in a shelter here might not be a completely comfortable and pleasant experience he seemed to want me to invite him to stay in my home. Now I don’t know this man, don’t even recall the name he told me when I answered the phone (in fact I’m not at all clear how he got my number). So I certainly wasn’t about to invite him to stay in my home. But tell me it’s not weird to practically invite yourself to stay in a stranger’s home during a potentially dangerous storm. That’s weird. People are weird.

I believe that major events like an impending hurricane can make one a little strange. But some people are strange anyway…even without the hurricane.

Posted by RiverGirl

RiverGirl’s Blog

Thought I would take a moment to talk about hurricanecancun.com, what our plans are and the people behind this site.

Our blog is just 24 hours old but since launch we have already received over 4,000 unique visitors, and almost 8,000 page loads. The intention is to provide up to date news, some humor and to relay the experiences of Cancun expats going through this experience, as long as that may last.

The current team, in no particular order is:
Rivergirl: From Colorado and owner of Magnolia webdesign and her own blog
CancunCanuck: From Canada and popular cancun message board poster
Steve: From the UK and owner of Cancuncare.com and associated Cancun message board.

We’ll all be posting several times a day to relay the latest info direct from Cancun, as we experience it. This blog moves very fast so please make sure you check back several times per day for the latest.

All three of us experienced Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. What happened though was that once the TV cameras left and moved on to the next story there were very few places on the internet to find out the latest on the shape Cancun was in. We all hope that by the middle of next week we can stop updating the blog because there will be nothing to say, and our lives will be back to normal.

If that isn’t the case then you can be sure that we will do our outmost to bring you the latest news direct from Cancun. Please spread the word about our blog and check back often.

Posted by Steve

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