The Space for Expatriates

Living in Los Cabos: Hurricanes, Part 2

Seems almost like yesterday I blogged Part 1, and it’s been two weeks. Yikes! Time does fly here in paradise. I’d almost forgotten I needed to finish when yesterday one of my radio partners was in the office proclaiming that we weren’t going to have a hurricane this year. Yep. Today the National Hurricane Center is tracking a developing system 600 miles south of us. So, time to finish!

This time of year it’s a good idea to check the National Hurricane Center’s website, the url is: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov. Click on Eastern Pacific and you’ll get the news of any storm. One of the maps is the “Warnings/Cone”, which will show you if the storm is heading toward Cabo. Hurricanes are very polite; they almost always give you at least three days advance notice of their arrival. But best to start preparing before they even form.

Summer is stock-up time in the Billups household. Starting in July I’ll buy a few extra cans of something to have on hand in the event of a hurricane. I get extra canned meats (or the packaged Chata brand dinners that don’t require refrigeration), canned vegetables, any non-perishable food item that could be used if supplies are cut off. This is also a good time of year to be sure you always have an extra package of any medication you require on hand. Be sure your first aid kit is stocked and ready. Just as with house preparations, the more you do in advance the better. My other radio partner, Jennifer, keeps suitcases packed, what she calls “Bail Bags”. These have changes of clothing, plus medications, to grab if you have to evacuate quickly. A great idea if you’re in a location that might flood. And please don’t forget to make preparations for any four-legged or feathered family members!

Although this may sound extreme, remember that Cabo is almost an island. If the one road leading here floods or a bridge goes out our supply line is cut; it may be at least a week until the stores can re-stock.

When a storm is approaching you’ll only need to do a few things if you’ve got these supplies on hand. You’ll want to stock up on perishables like fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread, tortillas and eggs. Remember that you might lose refrigeration, so plan accordingly. On the other hand, the restaurants will be closed so you’ll be eating at home. If you haven’t already, get lots of bottled water. Speaking of fluids please note that if Cabo is hit by a storm the town will be declared dry for a period of time, so make plans accordingly.

During the storm try to stay warm and dry, don’t take any unnecessary risks. Try to have some sort of activity, maybe a game or good book, to keep your mind occupied. If it’s really, really bad try to stay away from windows and sky lights Of course, usually it’s just a rainstorm with an attitude. In fact, we slept through Marty a few years back.

After the storm there are a few things to keep in mind. The main drag will flood. Always does. Try to avoid going out unnecessarily and don’t drive through the flooding until you’ve seen someone else do it successfully. Try to follow their path, since you can’t see the potholes under the water. Also remember that the flood waters are, ahem, not specifically clean. Try to avoid contact with them if at all possible. And afterwards, when they dry up and become airborne dust, try not to breathe them. For this reason eating in outdoor cafes is not encouraged after a storm. The city is pretty great about getting things cleaned up, at least in the tourist zone.

So, that’s almost all I can think of. Remember that here in the desert rain is a reason to celebrate, even if it comes in the form of a storm. So here’s a little recipe to get you started:

http://healthy.food.com/recipe/hurricane-64725\

Provecho!

Carol Billups is Broker/Owner of REALTY EXECUTIVES Los Cabos. A Certified Home Marketing Specialist, she has enjoyed working with both buyers and sellers for over ten years and still thinks hers is the best job on earth. She is also the real estate columnist for Los Cabos Magazine and Chairman of the AMPI Los Cabos Board of Realtors. You can read more of her articles on www.reloscabos.com. You can reach her from the U.S. or Canada at 1-760-481-7694, or in Cabo at 044-624-147-7541. You can listen to our 24/7 broadcast on http://www.livecabo.net.