AROUND MANZANILLO October 2020 An Unexpected Double Storm Disaster story by Suzanne A. Marshall
As the summer heat was upon us this season, we kept our eyes
rounded by the Sierra Madre mountain range. So, the rainwater
out to sea. This year, the weather experts are predicting more
pours down the mountain sides and hills, carrying earth and
than the usual number of tropical storms. On the Pacific side, I
sand and, thus, finds its way to the flood canals and hopefully
have found that this number is typically less than on the Atlan-
out to sea. Manzanillo had built these canals (arroyos) specifi-
tic and gulf sides of Mexico. This year is no different from what
cally to cope with rainy season flood waters.
we have experienced thus far over our time in Mexico. But, alas, it wouldn’t be that simple this time. The canals could In April, we watched hurricane Genevieve slowly move by our
not compete with the flowing tides pouring out of the moun-
bay, out at sea, with gusts that peaked at 130 mph and lots of
tains and ultimately overflowed by as much as six feet of water.
rain. As usual, the storms kicked up tremendous surfs and the
So, you might imagine the runoff pouring into the streets
windows of our condo rattled frequently as the huge surfs
mixed with mud and sand and filling entire neighbourhoods
crashed on shore. But overall, it was not the ‘stuff’ of a hurri-
with several feet of water. It undated homes and destroyed ve-
cane Patricia or other major storms of the past. Praise be for
hicles as it spread like a plague.
that!! As the days followed, after the storm, I read that some citizens had spoken to the municipal government about better systems for water drainage and the prevention of another such occurrence. Meanwhile, many people donated funds to help those in need. Some of our own condo staff were hit hard in the Santiago area. So, we all chipped in to assist with the purchase of household items, bedding, towels and auto repairs.
In the meantime, we have noticed, as we drove through some different areas, that backhoes are busy digging trenches and very large drainage piping lays in wait to be placed in the A flooded area near La Boquita, a very popular Mexican beach filled with open air beach restaurants topped with various palm palapas.
ground. One can only hope that this will be done in all needed areas and save the city all the terrible problems being experi-
So, of course, in late August, when Tropical Storm Hernan was
enced now as a result of this double storm assault on our be-
heading our way, out at sea, we weren’t too worried as it had
loved Manzanillo!
yet to be categorized as a hurricane. What we were unaware of was that another storm was coming our way, over the moun-
One only need watch the international news to see that the
tains, at the same time. When the two storms merged, you
worlds’ climate is giving many countries a taste of calamity; be
might say that ‘all hell broke loose’. In my thirteen years in
it wild fires in California, Oregon and even Canada; to hurri-
Manzanillo, I have never seen so much water inundating the
canes hitting the southern USA from the Gulf of Mexico. This,
city.
of course, is unfolding in the middle of a 100 year pandemic; cause I think for all of us to do some serious thinking about
The two systems ultimately dumped two feet of water in one
what has to change.
day! What needs to be remembered here, is that we are sur-
Coastal Mexico’s Lifestyle eMagazine
… more pics follow
manzanillosun.com
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