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Author: Subject: Mulege Flash Flood 8/25/08
EngineerMike
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 07:53 AM
Mulege Flash Flood 8/25/08


Report from Mulege 07:00 local time today:


Per telecon w/Saul Davis of Saul's Tienda:
Water yesterday 10 a.m. reached the floor of the river-side upstream house at La Fortuna & the surrounding ground for maybe 30 meters north. Hard rain washed a lot of dirt off local hillsides into the streets; otherwise no big deal other than power out.
High tide was reported to be ~noon, at plus 3.5 feet.

Flash flood hit hard in afternoon. River flooded in front of Saul"s till there was water in the road at entrance to La Fortuna. That would put crest level at about a meter below flood from Hurricane John.

One soldier died during rescue operations up Icehouse Road. Apparently he got swept into the current. The soldiers now garrisoned at the airport (since the armed heist of a Cessna (206 IIRC)) had their HMMWV & were pulling residents to high ground.

Power is out; water is out probably due to no power. Phones are working in town at least, but only if you have an old Western Electric type phone or generator. Anyone w/a fridge or freezer- your stuff is going bad. I haven't raised anyone on the south side of the river, so phone may be out there for now (I get ring tones but no answers, and no recordings from phone co.), or maybe everybody scrambled, or everybody has a 110V phone.

Based on the reports, I surmise the following:
Jorge's Park- hammered, again. Good place for a trailer or motorhome that leaves during chubasco season.
Orchard Village- 7 feet pus or minus your location.
Oasis- 1-5 feet depending on location (me probably 4, I hope).
Jungle- I'm guessing now- 0-3 feet, hopefully less
Maribel's- probably minimal cleanup in homes, streets a mess
La Fortuna- 0-8 feet depending.
Upstream from bridge-
High School- guessing 4-5 feet, probably killed the library again, and the computers.

Due to improvements to power lines after H.John, I expect power to be back up late today or tomorrow; that assumes the govt can mobilize. After John there were surplus workers which had been moved to Baja Sur, so getting power back up was about 5 days (2 in town); this time the south side of river & Loma Azul should follow more quickly due to improvements. All depends on mobilization. Water will come back on/off/on/off till major leaks are repaired; hopefully there will be fewer of those this time.

There will be a swath of Mexican families in the arroyo upstream of the bridge that are flooded out. We have rich, fairly recent experience w/relief efforts, so:
bring clothing, all ages; leave it at the Mission & Padre will handle handouts. After H.John there was a good size pile of clothing donations left, but those were mostly rags that had been donated by Mexican families further south. All the gringo clothing donations found homes. Kids will need new school supplies; backpack, 8.5x11 spiral notebook, pens, pencils.
Linens. Pillows. Soft goods should come wrapped well in plastic with a label as to contents as conditions will be muddy for a week, then dusty for, well, a long time. Mosquito repellent w/DEET, don't fool around w/the kid stuff; after H.Marty came the dengue fever, so please take that seriously. Sponges, brushes, cleaning supplies. Plastic snow shovels will be a great help for the first week if you are leaving today or tomorrow; after that flat nose & regular shovels; if you are thinking of upgrading tools, donate the old ones now, and thanks in advance. Rubber deck shoes will also be good for a week or ten days.

Thanks for all the help I'm sure will come. I'm in Sacramento now, packing the trailer & pickup. Once more into the breach!!




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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 08:07 AM


Engineermike, Thanks for the info.
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 08:50 AM


Hi,
This is Sharon Ferrelli, Tom and Patti Higginbotham's daughter. I don't know if you know them. They live in the Jungle. Any more information about that area? They are in San Diego and computerless. I am trying to get information for them. Thanks for any help you can give.
Sharon Ferrelli
My e-mail is sferrelli@dc.rr.com
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 09:07 AM


Thinking and praying for all our Mulege Amigo's



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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 09:07 AM


I've heard that those along the river had to vacate up the hillside again. Any update on that?
Bob H
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 09:25 AM


Sharon- you have all I know above except one new data point: our phone machine now appears to be answering (not properly but it connects sort of); that means electricity is on at the Oasis (so probably Jungle also) and that phone didn't spend too much time underwater- its about 18" off the floor. I'm guessing T&P's house has mud on the floor (they are not as elevated off the river as we are, but are downstream 7-800 feet) and will require a good cleaning but not too much more.

Bob- Yes, anybody from a mile upstream of the big bridge (or more) down to the Jungle more or less woulda had to scramble. E.g. Tussy's in the Oasis by Leon's office got out as the flash flood hit, they are on the last row away from the river & floor elevated coupla feet off the road. Its basically Hurricane John minus 3-3.5 feet.

I forgot to mention bring clorox, shop towels, new washing machine... and that indispensable Baja sense of humor.




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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 09:26 AM


http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.as...

5.94" of rain on Monday. Yikes!




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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 09:38 AM


Thanks for the info Mike
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 10:02 AM
More news of Mulege


I talked to a mexican friend in Mulege last night. He indicated that the level of "disaster" was not at all like with John. Pretty much everyone had evacuated beforehand with their stuff to higher ground or to relative's houses. Nobody was staying in the kindergarden like last year. CECyT (high school) was apparently able to evacuate the computers. Don't know about their library, but the grounds did fill up with water.
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 10:26 AM


According to a knowledgeable source who just motorcycled thru the Oasis:
#56 Oasis got about 4.5' in the house (on the river, more or less middle lengthwise of the Oasis park), just shy of my air conditioners (hallelujah!!). Power still out as of 9:30 am. Water was not as muddy as with John so the filth factor will be less ghastly. Since the flood came on a ebb tide, it must have receded to the river channel faster than John so not as much time for junque to settle out of the flood water.

A lot of folks know Jimmy Christopher's house- I'd estimate 24" in his house (just downstream of mine #56).




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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 12:27 PM
sharron i know Tom and Patty well


Quote:
Originally posted by joshgesa
Hi,
This is Sharon Ferrelli, Tom and Patti Higginbotham's daughter. I don't know if you know them. They live in the Jungle. Any more information about that area? They are in San Diego and computerless. I am trying to get information for them. Thanks for any help you can give.
Sharon Ferrelli
My e-mail is sferrelli@dc.rr.com


i hope they had minimal damage.
if water was that high at Jim's place- not good to hear.




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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 01:08 PM
All very accurate info posted so far....


Just did a town loop this morning and seems everything said so far is as I saw it as well. The town itself is a mess and still no power or gasoline as of 1PM. The road from El Burro/Posada to town has many road blockages-




and just as you get to the PEMEX on Mex1, there is a little missing section-



As stated earlier, water was not as high as with John. In the Orchard most water marks were at the door tops-






[IMG]

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m208/casamanzana/Julio6.jpg[/IMG]



One has to wonder what this will do to the Mulege river housing market. One lady said "Hard to believe...two One Hundred Year Storms just two years apart".




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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 01:41 PM


CasaManzana, Thanks for the update on the situation in Mulege.
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 02:48 PM


Mike and anyone in Need in Mulege.
I will be coming down in a Pickup the first week of October. Will come across on the Ferry if there is no storm at that time, if there is, will go thru Tecate.
Please let me know if there is anything I can bring.

My friends in Constitution have been hit Hard and I will be bringing as many Suitcases of Clothes that I can get in a Ford 150.
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 02:58 PM


Thanks for the pics Jim,

Looks like the Orchard took it on the chin again. I do not envy those folks but it does look like less mud this time.
Any reports on the downtown. ?




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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 04:01 PM
add small downtown report


Main downtown was saved from river flooding this time, but lots of mud on streets. There were tons of army guys pushing shovels around and big graders and dump trucks. Mud was so deep at the west end of town, I could not get to Saul's place. It was a very busy place. Without gasoline, a lot of trucks/cars were waiting around for power to get some. A couple of grocery stores were open but not much to sell. Bank closed as were most businesses, but you could see the hurry going on to get back open. And the road from Loreto is now open as I see 30-40 trucks in a row going north.



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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 04:23 PM


We are seeing a lot of posts with details about the Orchard. Does anyone have anymore detailed information about the Jungle. We are trying to get information on Tom and Patti, John Dinning, and Pam and Randy.

Details would be sooooo great.
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[*] posted on 8-26-2008 at 05:35 PM


i just got back from town

the streets are already being cleaned

the river is down to normal

the houses on the river ALL got hit HARD
lots of mud and debris

that boat in the picture is the boat we caught ALL those dorado on a few weeks ago
WOW!!!

i went to sauls tienda
he's open
no damage in the store
he said he was without electricty for 24 hours
i might have to bring back the milk

the gas station in town was open
the one on the road was closed
no electricty there

the ice house road and the places there got hit hard
rays turn off sign is GONE!!!

lots of mud

if you have a place on the river anywhere...it's time to come down!!!

[Edited on 8-27-2008 by Bob and Susan]




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[*] posted on 8-27-2008 at 06:48 AM
Electricty yet????


Anyone know if power is back on in Mulege?:?:



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[*] posted on 8-27-2008 at 07:53 AM
flooding in guaymas


from the san carlos board

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