What did happen in 98 in the bay islands.... I can't seem to remeber any of the AI resorts ever having damage past loosing anything other then some docks, here and there....Can't remeber a CAT 5 storm ever actually hitting the Bay Islands... and that includes Mitch......Not trying to be tacky but 96 - 97 was when I started spending at least 4 weeks a year on the island...I am getting old so maybe I need to up the dose on my alheizmer's meds....
No, no need for meds, it's just that Mitch was so localized on the Island of Guanaja, if your were sitting on Roatan, it had little effect. We stopped by IoLR and saw that it appeared curiously as low spots were awash and flooded, but no real damage. AKR's docks got rearranged and quickly rebuilt. But one of the
brightest new shining stars of Roatan, "Ben's Dive Shop" in Punta Gorda was obliterated. That was a really tragic loss, it was destined to be a step forward for the garifuna community. Punta Gorda got washed over pretty good, but many employees of Mr. Bill got substantial assistance in rebuilding homes and businesses. Most of the Northern coast got really soaked, but even on the South side, the storm surge was 5-7 feet over high tide. Even CCV, on that well protected South side, lost it's Gazebo and seaward jetty.
A week before Mitch, the new development near Parrot Tree had erected a Gazebo and jetty. If you know where to look at the coastline of this upscale development, you can see the posts and pillars that
never served interested land buyers.
Mitch hit Guanaja, One of the Bay Islands 30 miles to the East of Roatan with 180 mph winds that denuded the trees of leaves- it stripped the island bare of vegetation.
In
Nov 1998 I helped deliver Tom (the below author) and supplies to his former home a few days after Mich cleared out, hit the mainland coast and weakened.
From: TOM AND LINDA FOUKE (owners of Bayman Bay Club)
Date: 10/30/1998
By now you have undoubtedly heard about the devastating Category 5 Hurricane Mitch (1998) and the island of Guanaja off the coast of Honduras. The island has been devastated. The residents, some 8,000 people, are without food, water, and shelter. It is an unprecedented catastrophe.
We have not been able to assess the full extent of damage to the resort, since today is the first day people are able to get out of their shelters and move around. We are in communication only by satellite phone with those managing our resort. The resort is in fair shape and we thank God that our managers, guests and the staff are safe. Others on the island were not so fortunate. All of the villages were literally blown away. Evacuation was impossible because the hurricane literally dropped on top of them without warning. No sea or air rescue has been possible because the hurricane with 180 MPH winds literally lashed at us for days....
Again, Mitch 1998? it really didn't affect Roatan at all. The largest number of residences affected were in a little settlement just East of Oak Ridge in a place called Pandy Town. It's an area that looks like typical squatters homes built on poles over the water. Way off the radar screen to most- you can't even see the place unless you're on a boat. Guanaja's Bayman Bay and Posada del Sol were profoundly affected. PdS came back to life quite quickly, BBC seems to be struggling with a rebirth... ten years later.
Storms will do what they do, no mater what we try and build. "Man proposes, God disposes" (People can make plans; God determines how things will turn out.)
