September 21st - Hurricane Odile Updates, Information, Photos

Power lines down in La Paz


September 21st - 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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From http://ifrc.org/

"México D.F. 17 September, 2014.- The Mexican Red Cross has announced the opening of its donation collection centres in the states of Baja California, Sinaloa, Sonora, Nayarit, and Jalisco, as well as at Wal Mart department stores to help those affected in the state of Southern, Baja California, following the path of Hurricane Odile.

The Mexican Red Cross sent a first shipment of 2,000 food parcels to the city of Los Cabos to support those affected. There are around 500 volunteers working in the area who have come from the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Jalisco, Sonora, Nayarit as well as National Headquarters to help.

Additionally volunteers are working to complete damage evaluations in Southern Baja California and if necessary further donation collection centres will be open at Mexican Red Cross headquarters and in the rest of the states of the country in order to reinforce the humanitarian aid being delivered.

The members of the Mexican Red Cross participating in the response to support the civilian population are specialist in collapsed structures, damage evaluations, pre-hospital care, logistics support in shelters and collection centres. 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.

The above mentioned states that have opened donation collection centres in the Pacific zone of the country will be receiving the following articles: canned tuna and sardines, rice, beans, sugar, salt, coffee , noodle soup, lentils, canned vegetables, mayonnaise, cooking oil, cookies, powdered chocolate and powdered milk.

Mexican Red Cross will also be receiving cleaning articles such as soap, buckets, brushes, dusters, brooms, towels, detergent, and personal hygiene items among them, toilet paper, feminine towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, hand soap, shaving razors.

Mexican Red Cross calls on the civil society to help “our brothers in misfortune” from any part of the country through the bank account in Bancomer 0404040406 and through the Clave Interbancaria 1218000404040406-2. In this way ensure assistance for those who need it the most as quickly as possible."


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Facebook update about San Juanico from https://www.facebook.com/scorpionbayhotel
 
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Facebook post about Cabo Surf Hotel from http://mikedoylesurfschool.com/
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Amessage from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico;

"Message from the US Embassy in Mexico....U.S. citizens considering departing from the Los Cabos area should do so as soon as possible. Evacuation operations from the Los Cabos area of Baja California Sur continue. A limited number of flights are expected to leave on Sunday, September 21. Officials at Los Cabos airport report that commercial flight operations may be suspended in the next few days to give priority to humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. Anyone considering departing from the Los Cabos airport should do so as soon as possible or be prepared to travel to the airport in La Paz... The road between Los Cabos and La Paz is open and fuel is available but cash is required for purchases and few ATM machines are working....Flights are leaving from the La Paz airport and additional flights are being added as demand rises. Local infrastructure in La Paz including roads and restaurants are in good condition. U.S. citizens in La Paz should remain there and not travel to Los Cabos due to functioning infrastructure and good flight options....Flights from both the Los Cabos and La Paz airports are primarily to other cities in Mexico, where travelers can book flights to the United States. U.S. Consular officers are available in these Mexican airports to assist U.S. travelers with the rest of their journey back to the United States.

 U.S. citizens are strongly discouraged from taking Highway One north from Los Cabos to Tijuana for the time-being; while the road is technically open, numerous wash-outs, a gasoline shortage, and other obstacles make the journey on this highway dangerous and arduous. Cash is required for purchase and few ATM machines are working.

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 contributions to the charity of your choice, earmarked for Hurricane Odile disaster relief."

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Firsthand account; https://medium.com/@lolovanhorn/hurricane-odile-hits-cabo-with-me-in-it-2a76bbc79624

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White House petition to help Baja; https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/help-mexico-after-its-most-recent-catastrophe-especially-those-us-citizens-who-are-there-and/Mq15sPK2

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Tropical Storm Polo turning away from Baja

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