The Wilma situation

[Divedoggie]

Wilma made landfall between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos more than 24 hours ago, and has barely moved. The area has been hammered with 40 inches of rain, 140 mph winds, 11 foot storm surge, 20 to 40 foot waves on top of that, and then the wind coming from the other direction, in a reverse hammer blow, as the storm slowly moves north. They are still being pelted as this is written.
For those of you who keep talking about vacation, hotels, and diving.....would you prefer to vacation in New Orleans right now? It will be in better shape!!
There will severe damage to all of the resorts in that area. Beaches will be eroded if not gone completely. Sewage treatment, fresh water, fuel, food, all will be limited.
They will be getting people out of there for a long time before they start getting people back in to rebuild, and eventually invite tourists and divers into the area.

Nothing North of Puerto Aventuras will be the same for a long time.

 

[O'Malley]

From the Associated Press 32 minutes ago:

On the island of Cozumel, which has been isolated since the then Category 4 storm roared through Friday, fruit and vegetable salesman Jorge Ham, 26, told The Associated Press by phone that winds had dropped significantly. He saw no catastrophic damage during a brief tour of downtown Saturday.

"There are broken windows, downed trees, fallen power lines, but nothing else," he said. "People have taken shelter."

Gives me hope that life and property have faired well as can be expected...Godspeed!