BajaNomad

Preliminary Marty Report

Tucker - 9-22-2003 at 08:47 AM

Trying to post with laptop battery, phone line still up!

I went to bed Sunday night about 9 o?clock anticipating an early wake-up. About half-past midnight I heard the rain starting to fall outside, a couple hours later the wind started blowing at about 50 mph sustained speed. Not really an earthshaking event especially when the electricity was still on at 5:30. I posted the conditions on the Baja Travelers Board. Had a cup of coffee, then the lights went out and all hell broke loose. Wind speed increased to probably 80 miles per hour with heavy rain. My newly acquired Dachshund friend just kinda kept it cool until the windows started rattling pretty heavily, this is her second hurricane with me, or anyone, for that matter.

What some folks may not realize is that in BCS it only rains sideways, so my sleeping quarters being on the second floor were of no advantage. After a few minutes I had an average of about one-half inch of water on the floor. The winds subsided to a point to where I could open a window to look out. About one-quarter of my palapa roof on my outhouse had been peeled off by the wind. The Ficus Benjamina that Ignacio laid on the ground was once again a victim, this time to Marty, it too is becoming quite a little veteran of hurricanes. Regular ol? cumulative damage to the palapa roof on my house. During the lull, I went upstairs to get the push-broom to sweep the water out. I happened to glance at the property on the next street. All new buildings, three houses and a shop, all had heavy roof damage. The shop roof, corrugated metal with a steel frame was completely ripped from the building, later when the winds shifted from NNE to NNW it flipped over the block wall and disappeared to the next lot.

When the lull was over the winds blowing from the NNW seemed to exceed 100 mph, I could keep my door open with the wind blowing from that direction, the dog even thought it was cool. Then I heard my large double gate (metal) come unlatched. It is swinging in the wind, I,m not going to touch it until the wind subsides completely.

So at about 9 am on Monday everything is copesthetic with me, but It?s my understanding that we have a few more days of Marty.

The attached photo depicts the damage to neighboring roofs. What looks like piles of red roofing material is!

Bajabus - 9-22-2003 at 09:01 AM

Tucker that was a great post please keep the info coming. I hope the phone line satys up. You and the doggie stay safe. Particulary interested in knowing if all the beautiful recent work on the Malecon survive. I hope so La Paz has been looking so good lately.

cheers,
Max

Thanks Max............

Tucker - 9-22-2003 at 09:50 AM

A few more shots suring the lull. The phone will be OK, but I think my laptop battery is about gone!

Multiple Images?

Tucker - 9-22-2003 at 10:00 AM

I only know how to post single imges, I guess!

Bajabus - 9-22-2003 at 10:08 AM

oh boy. Those are sad pictures. it's terrible to see folks get hurt like that. my heart goes out to those people in that house.

Stay safe , Tucker

Stephanie Jackter - 9-22-2003 at 10:24 AM

I just hope Lorraine evacuated. Sounds like it could be real nasty on the beach right now.

Good to hear you got a pooch! Has it eaten that little bugger of a kitten yet?

Let us know how it's going as soon as you get back up. You got me worried now. - Stephanie