In 1988 after being thrashed by hurricane Gilberto in Yucatan, the marinas showed up in the morning with a DUKW like amphibious vehicle and asked both rigs if there were any "herridos" (injured) then tossed a 2 Kg sack of generic black beans to both of us. There was still more than a foot deep of water, and at dawn with a pair of binoculars I saw from 20' distance a 2 to 3 foot Fer de Lance swimming. Their coloration looks like a rattlesnake minus the rattles. This occurred in the outskirts of Escarcega. We rode to town in the other fellow's older Jeep and across from the gasolinera a woman snagged the four of and marched us into her restaurant. She was desperate to use up all the perishables and we had a fine breakfast of quail, scrambled eggs, venison, and rice. While we were eating she pointed to her eye then left to snag more customers. This still brings a smile to my face.
I had been parked near Xcalak, and when I had awoken to a blood red sky I visited my mile distant neighbor with a satellite dish and the Weather Channel tropical update made waking up with morning coffee totally unnecessary.
Today in tourist boondock areas a policia municipal is very likely to circulate tapping a buzzer noise on his siren to get people to listen up.
At least one gasolinera in a large town will have a diesel generator but long long lines and a threat of water contamination makes fueling up risky after a major storm.
Before a storm tap your credit card for a wad of extra cash. I've seen it where the internet was agonizingly slow and ATMs swear up and down you are bankrupt.
Keep your wits about you during hurricane season and in low lying areas have a route picked out where you can climb at least 80 feet above high tide, or like from Tenacatita to Barra de Navidad you can get a few miles inland. Mex 80 seems to close with the first rockfall and it's a stretch to make the city of Colima.
We have had the fringe of a category III hurricane hit us here. One or two Class II, and I and innumerable tropical storms. Barn burner hurricane eyes suck down seventy degree air from the stratosphere but after the storm passes the hot sun turns the air sauna-like. Remember that four or five showers a day will flush off body oil that acts sorta like insulation. This is when coconut water is a lot tastier than just about anything else.
I hope this continues to be a mild season, fingers crossed for the kids.
