Uncovering Mexico
Jeremy Schwartz is the Mexico correspondent for Cox Newspapers. He is based in Mexico City.What's on this page?
The entry titled "Hunkering down for hurricane Dean."
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Home > Uncovering Mexico > Archives > 2007 > August > 21 > Entry
Hunkering down for hurricane Dean
We awoke this morning to the howling wind, but also to great relief. Category 5 hurricane Dean passed far to the south of Cancun, sparing this resort the brunt of its wrath.
We had been here a few months ago to do a story about beach erosion following 2005’s hurricane Wilma and at the time officials were very nervous about another hurricane hitting the fragile beach. Even direct hit from a Category 3 could spell doom, let alone the 160 m.p.h. winds of Dean. It will be very interesting to see what the beach looks like in a few hours.
We’re about to venture out to the south, to Tulum, and, if the roads are open, toward Chetumal, the nearest city to the eye. Tulum is one Mexico’s truly magical places: you can body surf waves at the edge of Mayan ruins. Hopefully the damage is not too terrible. There haven’t been reports of deaths or injuries yet, but this was a massive and violent storm.
Our hotel in Cancun is an unofficial shelter: its thick walls have acted as a safe haven in many past hurricanes as well. Last night the place was full: relief officials, stranded tourists, and workers with the Mexican power company all crowded the small restaurant. It was an almost festive vibe: we felt very safe here.
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