September 20th - Hurricane Odile Updates, Information, Photos

Cabo's airport


September 20th - Hurricane Odile slammed into the Baja Peninsula on September 14th at night. Significantly damaging Los Cabos, La Paz, Loreto and Mulege plus the smaller local communities. There are many reports, updates, photos and information out there so we decided to place some of the information in this blog post which we will update for the next few days.

We will keep contact information at the top followed by a chronological order of information. Most current information first.

Please SCROLL DOWN for all updates (Don't forget to read the other posts from yesterday. They are to the right)


INFORMATION

U.S. State Department’s Overseas Citizen Services at 1-888-407-4747

U.S. Consulate in Tijuana has an email for information/assistance; OdileEmergencyUSC@state.gov

Web: http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/citizen_services/hurricane-odile.html
U.S. Emergency tel: (619) 692-2154

Los Cabos Consular Agency (An extension of the Consulate in Tijuana)
Las Tiendas de Palmilla L-B221, Km. 27.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur C.P. 23406
Phone:(52)(624)143-3566
Fax: (52)(624)143-6750
E-mail:ConAgencyLosCabos@state.gov

Here is a link with the U.S. Embassy & U.S. Consulates in Mexico: http://www.mexonline.com/embassy.htm

Link to Mexican Embassies in U.S./Canada; http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm

Red Cross (Cruz Rojo Mexicana) Cabo; (624) 143-7869
Red Cross (Cruz Rojo Mexicana) La Paz; (612) 122-1222

Red Cross Mexico's website; http://www.cruzrojamexicana.org.mx/

General information on Mexico; http://www.mexonline.com/


UPDATES from Twitter, Facebook, Websites plus images
If you have some information you want us to post, email us at bajavisitor@yahoo.com or post to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/BajaVisitor/358106480904147) or our Twitter (https://twitter.com/baja_visitor). Or you can comment at the bottom of this long post.

NOTE: we can not verify everything on this blog, so please check all information, etc.

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DONATE! DONATE! DONATE!
Here's a fundraising campaign for helping the smaller communities in Baja outside the big resorts of Los Cabos, La Paz, Loreto. Help us, help them rebuild their homes & lives by putting money directly into their hands; http://www.youcaring.com/other/hurricane-odile-relief-for-the-poor/235896

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According to the National Hurricane Center;

"Since comprehensive weather records began in 1950, only one other hurricane in that part of the world has been this strong at landfall, 1967’s Hurricane Olivia."

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A harrowing 40-hour bus ride from hurricane-ravaged Mexico to O.C.; http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-bus-ride-hurricane-mexico-20140920-story.html

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Pool at La Concha Hotel
La Paz update from Jonathan Roldan's blog; http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

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Aerial view of Mulege


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"Drove yesterday from Mulege--which has gas at Pemex south of town but bank & ATM closed w/ power still out--to Guerrero Negro. Gas available all towns except San Ignacio, bank & ATM open Sta. Rosalia. The only treacherous water on road was vado at San Ignacio where stream ran over pickup's bumper on bed of rocks/boulders covering road; too deep for passenger cars. Major road repairs with wait times encountered only north of Vizcaino, where large chunks of NB lane broke away, one carrying Los Pinos semi now lodged drivers' side down in muck at the bottom. Huge soil-moving operation underway there, wait time an hour or so with muggy heat and abundant flies." Update from Linda Peters in Bahia Concepcion
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Photos and description of driving south down the peninsula
This is near San Ignacio - http://surfskibaja.blogspot.mx/
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Quite a feat....

"An airlift involving military transport planes and commercial airliners evacuated more than 18,000 tourists in the last two days, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, Mexican secretary of communications and transport, told the Associated Press."

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Facebook update from http://www.villadelpalmarloreto.com/

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Facebook post from http://www.cabowineclub.com

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Update from the Red Cross

"BACK FROM BAJA Thousands of U.S. tourists are coming back to the United States after dealing with the destruction Hurricane Odile did to the Baja Peninsula and Red Cross disaster workers are meeting their planes to offer support as they arrive back in the country.
In Houston, the Red Cross provided support to more than 360 passengers on one flight, making sure they had something to eat, comfort kits containing personal hygiene items, and health and mental health support. Another flight arrived late in the evening and the Red Cross provided meals to those on board.
The Red Cross is also supporting passengers on flights going into the airport in Phoenix, and is working with officials to support those returning to other locations if necessary.
MEXICO RESPONSE Odile hit the Baja Peninsula earlier this week, impacting those who live in its path and at least 15,000 tourists who were vacationing. Anyone trying to locate or check in on a U.S. citizen in Baja can contact the State Department’s Overseas Citizen Services at 1-888-407-4747.
The storm has left more than 80 percent of the population in Los Cabos and La Paz without electrical power, damaged roadways and closed ports. The Mexican Red Cross has opened collection centers in several states to help those affected and sent the first shipment of 2,000 food parcels to the city of Los Cabos to support people impacted by the storm.
There are about 500 disaster workers who have come from all over Mexico to help. The volunteers, 120 of whom are paramedics, are providing basic medical check-ups and delivering food to people housed in shelters.
The members of the Mexican Red Cross participating in the response are specialists in collapsed structures, damage evaluations, pre-hospital care, logistics support in shelters and collection centers. The Mexican Red Cross is working closely with federal authorities, Civil Protection, the Governors Secretariat, the Mexican Marines and Army, to deliver the aid to the people affected as quickly as possible. Another storm, Hurricane Polo, is threatening the Mexican state of Guerrero, where at least 120 Mexican Red Cross volunteers are prepositioned to act if needed. "

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Clean up in Loreto from https://www.radarpolitico.com.mx

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Hurricane in Cabo still has Bay Area families frantic
http://www.sfgate.com/world/article/With-Cabo-cut-off-by-hurricane-Bay-Area-families-5768007.php
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"no damage at all in Asuncion..just cleaning up the dust and sand that blew in and dead plants...the highway into here by all the ranchos outside of Vizcaino is in pieces as the water from la sierra made the whole valley a lake...never been so much water coming down...it was still running in some spots yesterday. No trucks can drive on it as the remaining bits of pavement look like they could fall in any time...very unstable in parts.

As I understand it, San Ignacio is very bad...the entrance underwater still and you have to cross in a panga to get to the village. The square is fine. I hear Ignacio Springs got it bad but it is hearsay from people here who have family in San Ignacio. The Oasis Hotel on the highway got very flooded."

Update from Shari at http://www.bahiaasuncion.com/php/

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"Drove to Guerrero Negro yesterday, kept a log (ask me if you want to see it) of road conditions and gas availability, but in summary: only place out of gas was San Ignacio; difficulty in getting thru water on road at San Ignacio only--stream running up to license plate over bed of rocks on roadway, hard to pass w/out 4-wheel drive and in high vehicle; major road repair work with long wait times north of Vizcaiino where chunks of highway broke away in northbound lane, one carrying a big Los Pinos truck with it, now drivers' side down in mud at bottom of cavity. The wait featured sticky heat and abundant flies."

Post from Baja Nomad

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Facebook update from https://www.facebook.com/piscessportfishingcabo

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Bridge at Caduaño in the East Cape
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Good news; Missing American Vanessa Ivy Perilman reported found by her sister.

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Tourists from Los Angeles tell their story; http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/SoCal-Residents-Return-Home-From-Storm-Ravaged-Baja-California-275849611.html

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130 tons of supplies being unloaded in La Paz
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According to the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana;

"U.S. citizens wishing to provide charitable assistance to victims in Baja Sur should note that complicated customs and clearance requirements govern such assistance if originating abroad.  The most efficient way to provide assistance and disaster relief is through cash combinations to the charity of your choice, earmarked for Hurricane Odile disaster relief."

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Facebook post from https://www.facebook.com/CaboCindy
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Update from Lopez Mateos;

"9 of the new wood electric poles are up.
Only 12 more to go. Then string the line after the carriers are put on.
So still no electricity.

Did get cell phones working about noon today.

Water was on for about 1/2 hour last night and off again and off all day today, so don't know what is going on there.

Gas station is shut down because the pump was destroyed by the wind so have to go to Insurgentes for purified water and fuel.

Infinitum TelMex internet started again yesterday and I was able to get my Hughes Net dish re-aligned yesterday, so am up and running with the generator.

A few of tthe side streets have dried up and off, but not many. Still a very muddy mess getting around and of course the lake is at the entrance to town. . .

Shrimp season is in full swing but Mag Bay is not fishable with all the arroyo run off and debris in the water. Probably another 5 days for that to clear up."

From Baja Nomad

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