September 16th - Hurricane Odile in Baja - Information, Updates & Photos

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



Hurricane Odile about to hit southern Baja


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

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


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.

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Bahia de Los Angeles - Odile update 9/16

 "I have info to pass on from Abraham. He is not there, just left yesterday. He communicated with two people in town via satellite phone/internet hooked up to generator power.

6:30pm - Rain has stopped, winds are slowing down. There is no access to town right now. The town is cut off. The main arroyo flooded (going to the dump), a few cars got taken away trying to cross.

No injuries, no fatalities.

Some houses north of town had to be evacuated. A river came down close to Daggetts.

Houses in town were flooded. Rayna's restaurant filled with water, waist deep.

There is no electricity, 30 posts are supposed to be down due to wind, "No electricity for a while. No refrigerators in town, no water makers. Depending on the access, it could get unpleasant. Lot's of people are worried."

He stated that the rain gauge in Gonzaga Bay, Punta Final is showing 20" already.

There are no propane fridges left in town, so that is not an option.

Sailboats went to Don Juan.

No news from the south end of the bay."

-Post from Baja Nomad

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Secretary of Tourism Claudia Ruiz Massieu at Los Cabos Airport from http://www.oem.com.mx/elsudcaliforniano/notas/n3539215.htm
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http://www.gofundme.com/elcowc is a fund set up by the Lyons, Colorado  Chamber of Commerce who last year went through a disaster too. The fund will go to the http://palapasociety.org/ for distribution in the Todos Santos area.

NOTE: Please research any entity that asks for donations. We believe they are legitimate, but you need to do your own homework. There are always scammers out there.

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Bisbee's Black & Blue Tournaments is already helping; https://bisbeesconservationfund.org/donate/CaboRelief

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Hurricane Odile Update 9/16 (from Welk Resorts)
Welk Resorts is moving forward with rescue and recovery plans for guests and associates at Sirena Del Mar, now in its second day without...... http://welkresorts.tumblr.com/post/97689086224/hurricane-odile-update-9-16

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Facebook update from Capella Pedregal; https://www.facebook.com/CapellaPedregal

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"Civil Protection, Division of Municipal Roads and Transportation states that San Pablo Arroyo, near Vizcaino is running and there is still no passage for trucks and buses, let alone passenger cars...likewise, they state that there are landslides on the Tres Virgenes and Infierno grades near Santa Rosalia and these will have to be removed in order to allow transit. We are waiting on a report from Mulege..." received from http://www.lasecomujeres.org/

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Facebook update for https://www.facebook.com/DiamanteHome

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

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Facebook post from Mexico's president on the evacuations of tourists from Los Cabos. Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/FBNewswire
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Special report from Latitude 38 magazine; http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2014-09-16#.VBjVNFeNG9w

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"There is no passage through Vizcaino. San Pablo arroyo has 2 meters of water. And one of the bridges near Palo Verde collapsed. Therefor, a change in plans until further news from the Federal Police in Guerrero Negro." post from Baja Nomad forum.

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Airport evacuations at Los Cabos Airport from http://instagram.com/telemundonews
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Photo near Todos Santos - BCS Noticias
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http://bajabushpilots.com/
 
From Baja Bush Pilots
 
Hurricane Odile
All airspace and airports in mid to south Baja are closed.
Claudia is in continual contact with SENAM regarding the status of airports in Baja.  All airspace in the affected area of the hurricane as well as the following airports are closed to civilian traffic via a Presidential mandated International NOTAM through September 22.  This closure may be extended without notice.
 

-Los Cabos (San Jose del Cabo)           -Cabo San Lucas          -La Paz           -Loreto

Mexico’s Military has taken control of the above airports and only Mexican military aircraft will be allowed to land/depart from those airports.  Any aircraft violating the airspace or attempting to land at any of the above airports will be grounded at that airport until the national emergency is over.
This emergency is so extreme that the military has taken control of all phases of the situation and at this time, has not called in any of its resources including the Mexican Red Cross. Claudia and I are in the process of ramping up in anticipation of a call from the Mexican Red Cross.  At that time we will be asking for medical support, relief items, as well as aircraft/helicopters and pilots.
 

With the Cabo, LaPaz, and Guerrero Negro having airports, we anticipate that our needs will be in mid Baja where there is little transportation. We anticipate that we will be requested to obtain and deliver supplies as well as do search & rescue from the Mulege area.  Last year the BBP had to hire a loader, grader, and a dump truck to get the strip at Mulege usable.  I have to assume it will be the same this year.  Punta Chivato and Palo Verde should be open however, the roads to both will be impassable.
 

Once our help is requested, I plan to drive to Guaymas where I will take the ferry to Santa Rosalia.  There I will assess the damage and either drive (questionable) or hitch a ride in a military aircraft to Mulege where I will start the process of determining where a landing area should be set up.  At that point, I will put out a call for people to bring down relief items.
This will be another long and complicated mission however it is something that we just have to do.
We believe our needs will be for:
*Pilots w/aircraft to solicit relief goods and supplies and to bring these goods to either Loreto or the landing area at Mulege when called for
*Pilots w/helicopters to work the back areas
Regarding money, in the past I was able to get Mexico to pay for some fuel and landing fees however, that happened about three weeks into the operation.  At this point, all will have to pay their own expenses.
 

That being said, anticipating another national emergency, we set up the Bush Pilot Foundation two years ago.  It is a tax deductible 501 (c) (3) corporation and is dedicated to, among other things, general aviation including search and rescue, evacuation, and disaster relief through the transport and distribution of food and supplies in the United States and countries in the western hemisphere to provide humanitarian services in time of need.  At this time it has a little over $5,000
We are looking for donations for this cause.  The BBP has contributed over $10,000 for relief efforts in the past.  The BBP does not have that kind of money now.  Your help in funding our efforts is critical. Please send an email to the BBP office if you can help out regarding our aircraft/relief needs.
If you can help out with money, our attorney indicates that you can use your credit card to contribute and we will move that deposit into the Foundation account.

Our hearts go out to the people of Baja and how they must be suffering.  The BBP is stepping up to the plate and hopeful that all who enjoy the pleasure, people, and friendship that we gain in Mexico will also step up and donate to this critical cause.
Jack
www.bajabushpilots.com
jack@bajabushpilots.com
claudia@bajabushpilots.com
v: 480 730 3250
f: 480 730 3251
Bush Pilot Foundation
149 W Boston Street
Chandler, AZ, 85225

http://bajabushpilots.com/

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The International Community Fund has set up a page for the Baja California Disaster Relief Fund; http://www.icfdn.org

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Cruisers & boaters, you can see updates on Charlie's Charts Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/CharliesCharts 
 
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVNvYEO_DlA
Incredible video of Hurricane Odile taking over Cabo
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Alaska Airlines update page; http://blog.alaskaair.com/2014/09/16/hurricane-odile/

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Facebook about East Cape/Cabo Pulmo post from Vagabundos del Mar

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Mexican military evacauting tourists from Cabo to Tijuana and Mazatlan - http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Mexican-Military-Flies-Tourists-Trapped-by-Hurricane-Odile-to-Tijuana--275343971.html

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Facebook update from Sandos Finisterra Cabo
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From Facebook page of Tailhunter International in La Paz
 
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From Grind TV blog (click here)
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Photos of Todos Santos from Mariela Gutierrez Facebook page (click on link for more photos)
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Facebook post from Gina Bolanos with photos of Cabo; https://www.facebook.com/georgina.bolanos/media_set?set=a.10204860290252144.1073741826.1385983383&type=1

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Photos & information from blogger RebelHeart; http://www.therebelheart.com/blog/2014/9/15/hurricane-odile-slams-into-la-paz-baja-sur.html

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Screen save showing Loreto malecon - Jim Ammann Facebook
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Images of La Paz from BCS Noticias (in Spanish); http://www.bcsnoticias.mx/huracan-odile-causa-un-sinnumero-de-destrozos-en-la-paz/

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Update from RIU Hotels & Resorts; http://www.riu.com/en/Paises/mexico/los-cabos/hurricane-odile.jsp

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Video of La Paz damage from RuptlyTV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPThzmV2Ads&feature=youtube_gdata

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Comments

Hazel said…
Thank you for this - my amiga in Mulege hasn't been able to send us info yet.
September 17, 2014 at 8:01 AM
Post a Comment

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