As of right now, it's unknown how much damage the town of Puerto Escondido and its neighbors have sustained. Photo: Edwin Morales

This was the worst hurricane to hit here since Pauline in 1997, which saw winds of 109 mph, killing at least 230 people along the Pacific coast. Photo: André Portugal

By Sunday morning, the beach clean up was well underway. Photo: Edwin Morales

"Winds lasted until 10pm, I think, and then the rain came," explained local photo Edwin Morales. The rains proceeded to flood local rivers and create mudslides in the area, killing three people. Photo: Edwin Morales

Hurricane Carlotta hit Puerto on Friday night with winds in the 90mph+ range. Photo: André Portugal

Hurricane Carlotta Hits Puerto Escondido! Posted on June 20, 2012

← Wave of the Day – Sasha Donnanno

Hurricane Carlotta Hits Puerto Escondido!

Posted on June 20, 2012 | 2 Comments

Video from Hurricane @ Puerto

Hurricane Carlotta was very intense. Lots of damage was done to the community of Puerto Escondido and its neighbors. Everyone is slowly recovering. Federal Resources will be coming in shortly and in a few months we will be back up again.

If there’s anyone out there who’s able to support the community, please contact us for more information. The Puerto Escondido lifeguards are in need of help due to all damage cause by the hurricane. They used to have 8 towers along the beach at playa Zicatela and now there’s not a single one of them.

Here’s a video recap filmed during the storm and the aftermath.

Edwin Morales – www.moralesedwin.com

Surfline Report…

Hurricane Carlotta, the third named Pacific storm of the season, briefly saw Category 2 status on Friday before weakening to Cat 1 and plowing almost directly into Puerto Escondido on Friday night with 90mph+ winds.

Local photographer Edwin Morales was in Puerto as the storm hit. Here is his firsthand account:

For starters the whole population of Puerto and the towns nearby were definitely NOT ready for this. The authorities were saying on the local radio it was a tropical storm and not a Category 2 hurricane. So lots of people were not prepared for what we all felt.

I was tracking the storm for about two days before it hit us. A couple of hours before it started, I was able to warn my family and all of our friends. (People here generally don’t take things seriously and therefore, no one had the essentials.)

The storm started hitting us around 7pm with strong winds, about 50mph. The winds increased slowly until the eye of the storm was right on top of us and everything stopped. Lots of people thought it was over, but it was far from over.

That was around 8pm. As soon as the eye moved on, the winds finally came on strong, around 90mph, with gusts up to around 120mph. The darkness made things a lot worse, I think. No one could actually see what was going on.

Lots of houses lost their roofs and those inside had to run to find shelter somewhere else. I gave shelter to a family of 10 — all in one room, hiding till next morning. The windows were whistling like crazy. It was scary. Lots of windows split apart.

Winds lasted until 10pm, I think, and then the rain came. It was maybe not as strong as Hurricane Pauline in ’97, but some people think the winds were stronger this time due to the wind direction.

Only a little part of the harbor area has electricity as of Monday morning. Slowly, it’s getting fixed and power’s being turned on in other areas of town. The area by the Point still has no power or running water. I don’t even want to imagine how it is for the little communities far from here where the hurricane blasted them as well.

(Note: two children died when their house was taken by a mudslide nearby, and one 56-year-old woman passed away when the wind flipped her car.)

Saturday morning was really sad and awful to see all kinds of people who had lost everything the night before. Hundreds of trees had fallen all over the town. Dogs were running like crazy, as if they were wild dogs on the streets. All streets were still flooded. I can’t even imagine how they were when the rain was at its strongest point on Friday night.

Lifeguards were the first to evaluate all the damage by the beach. All eight towers were completely smashed. At the harbor, there was not a single boat in the water. All boats had to be taken out. Ironically, a restaurant called the Split Coconut was split in half by the only palm tree that fell down in the entire area.

Now there’s been lots of helicopters flying the area trying to evaluate all damage in the region and federal resources should be coming in shortly. I feel really bad for the people that lost everything.

The last big hurricane to make landfall here was Pauline in 1997, with winds of 109 mph, killing at least 230 people along the Pacific coast.

Luckily, other surf areas in southern Mexico fared better than Puerto. “In Salina Cruz, so far everything is good,” says local surf tour operator Cesar Ramierez. “Lots of rain for five hours on Friday and showers on Saturday and Sunday, but everything is OK.”

Hurricane Carlotta strikes with awesome power By Tony Richards on 16 June, 2012

Hurricane Carlotta strikes with awesome power

By Tony Richards on 16 June, 2012

32

The twisted remains of the roof of the secondary school near Puerto Angelito

In the wake of a hurricane that left few people unawed by the incredible power that nature can wield, Puerto Escondido awoke this morning to begin cleaning up. Hurricane Carlotta struck with fury about 7:30 pm Friday evening, intensifying over the next hour before settling into a terrifying onslaught of steady winds approaching 200 km/h.
The city hunkered down: there was no other choice. To venture outside was to invite serious injury or death. In Zicatela, hotel owner Dan Clemens reported pieces of lamina roofing striking his building with the force of small and deadly rockets. Clemens said storm damage was major and all his palapa roofs had been destroyed. Indeed, palaperos will be kept busy for some time.
But apart from the damage caused by hundreds, if not thousands, of uprooted or sheared-off trees and limbs, and some roads eaten away in places by heavy runoff, the city escaped lightly considering the deadly force with which Carlotta attacked. There were no deaths here, though two children died in Pluma Hidalgo. However, the roughly-built homes with makeshift roofs of tin suffered the most. Some were utterly destroyed, many others severely damaged.
One notable scene today was the front of Super Che. One of the huge windows that looks out over the ocean was gone; the others had been extensively taped to keep them intact.
The storm brought heavy rain, which continued to fall the rest of the night. But the rain didn't come in the quantities forecast, and the wind didn't rage as long as might have been expected. At its worst the onslaught lasted not much more than half an hour, but during the two hours leading up to the peak the wind was still strong enough, and steady enough, to put fear in the heart of any man.
It was that unrelenting pounding that Dan Clemens, who was here for Paulina in 1997, described as a major difference between the two storms. That and the rain: Paulina, which was the last hurricane to strike Puerto Escondido, brought huge rainfall. There was comparatively little last night.
And the whole thing was pretty well over by about 10:30, when the storm made landfall just northwest of Puerto and the Level 2 Hurricane was soon downgraded to a tropical storm.
Today there is a light drizzle falling as residents of the city are busy with the massive clean-up. They were at it first thing this morning, and in a fashion typical of the atitutude and outlook of local citizens, quick to joke with their neighbors as they set about their work. Much of the city is still without power this afternoon, but that hasn't stopped some businesses from opening. Cafecito in Rinconada was serving breakfasts to a typically large crowd, despite the lack of electricity.
Meanwhile, the sun will come out shortly and life in Puerto Escondido goes on.

[Show picture list]

This post is also available in: Spanish

mariachi bodas huatulco by Dixcine Producciones 2 days 17 hours ago

Huracan Carlota golpeando a Huatulco june 15 2012

JUNE 16, 2012

tags: Huracan Carlota golpeando a Huatulco june 15 2012

Huracan Carlota golpeando a Huatulco june 15 2012

Hracan Carlota golpeando costa de bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca. 15/06/2012

Hurricane Carlota from Casa Sol Zipolite.wmv

Uploader Comments ( Joe Martin )

• Hi Guys thanks for all the good thoughts! Luckily there was no deaths on the coast, although the damage has been substantial; especially for the people with lamina roofs, palapa roofs or teja roofs. We still do not have electric but cellular service does come and go. Thanks again for your support and well wishes!

  Joe Martin 2 days ago

see all

All Comments (9)

Respond to this video...

• i hope u guys be good. yo soy de puerto escondido y estoy en florida y no me puedo comunicar con mi familia espero y esten todo bien.

  D3M3TRIOAKACALI 2 days ago
• Thanks for posting this Joe - we understand there is no electricity or telephone yet in Zipolite but that everyone is ok. The older, adobe and wood/palm palapas came down but not as much damage as with Paulina in '97. Any news from you down there would be greatly appreciated by all of us out here. Be safe (and remember the sand will be full of glass and nails for weeks to come - wear shoes !) - after Pauline we pulled a fridge full of beer out of the sea 10 days after the wind !

  sahajasam 3 days ago
• my mother and father and many great friends are living in San Agustinillo, Melissa and James, if you have any info on them please reply to me here thank you so much, hope you are all safe joe !

  randyjibbs123 3 days ago
• Anyone saw Alain Gutknecht or Magda his wife from Zipo?? May you all in Oaxaca be safe!!!

  lopterr 3 days ago
• Hey!!! Thanks for the video! PLEASE if you have more info, please post it here... lots of people have friends and relatives down there... bye!

  lopterr 3 days ago
• Shit

  SlickNickDaRula 3 days ago
• Hey Joe.. I have good friends right beneath you at Shambhala. How are things on your end of the beach? Any way you can upload video of the storm damage around there? Thanks a ton...

  p0gue 3 days ago
• how is it now? my home is in a low lying area of Puerto Escondido (actually Chila) 1km from the ocean beside a river...kinda worried about the flooding!

  Karen090807 4 days ago

Castillo Oasis Calle del Amor 97, Zipolite, Mexico

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• Photos

Property Information:

You will find the Castillo on the southern pacific coast of Mexico. It is located at the entrance of playa del amor, 80 meters away from the main beach of Zipolite.

Like the name lets you know, you find the Castillo Oasis in the middle of a tropical Palm- and Plantoasis with the benefit of having shade all year long with our" natural" airconditioning system (the oasis).

All rooms have fans, mosquitonets and safe- boxes. There are beautiful quarz- stones in the walls. It makes for a good atmosphere and magical energy.

There are little stores and public transportation nearby.

Last but not least, we hope you will enjoy your stay!

Please note:

Cancellation policy: 72 hours
Minimum Stay: 2 nights

Check in: 14:00
Check out: 12:00.

Breakfast not included.
Credit cards payment accepted upon arrival.
Taxes included.

Property Information:

You will find the Castillo on the southern pacific coast of Mexico. It is located at the entrance of playa del amor, 80 meters away from the main beach of Zipolite.

Like the name lets you know, you find the Castillo Oasis in the middle of a tropical Palm- and Plantoasis with the benefit of having shade all year long with our" natural" airconditioning system (the oasis).

All rooms have fans, mosquitonets and safe- boxes. There are beautiful quarz- stones in the walls. It makes for a good atmosphere and magical energy.

There are little stores and public transportation nearby.

Last but not least, we hope you will enjoy your stay!

Please note:

Cancellation policy: 72 hours
Minimum Stay: 2 nights

Check in: 14:00
Check out: 12:00.

Breakfast not included.
Credit cards payment accepted upon arrival.
Taxes included. 

 

What to Do if You Lose Your Photo ID Posted by Cathleen McCarthy on June 13, 2012 at 11:07:45 AM EDT

Travel Blog 

What to Do if You Lose Your Photo ID

Posted by Cathleen McCarthy on June 13, 2012 at 11:07:45 AM EDT
Posted in Practical Travel Tips Tagged: Credit Cards, Passports and Visas, Tips

By Cathleen McCarthy
Fodor's Contributor

• 

Even if you're extra careful, wallets and passports can get lost or stolen when you're traveling. So, what should you do if your ID goes missing? Act fast. Allow time to get the replacement process rolling, but not for stolen information to be used against you. There are a handful of things you can do ahead of time to make the process (somewhat) less stressful.

Here are the steps you should take—before and after your trip, should you need to.

If You Lose Your ID in the U.S.

If you're an American citizen and your driver's license or photo ID card is lost or stolen while you're in the US:

File a local police report immediately. This creates a paper trail and pinpoints the loss at a specific time and place.

Get to the airport early. Airlines handle lost IDs on a case-by-case basis when it comes to issuing boarding passes to someone without proper identification. Show up early to allow a security interview and, hopefully, avoid having to pay extra for a later flight.

Purchase round-trip airfare with a credit card. Credit card charges can be easily traced by the airline and a boarding pass for your return flight is often enough to convince security agents that you had your ID when you flew out. One-way tickets may prove more of a problem.

Show any unofficial ID. If you're traveling with family who share your last name, their presence is a form of proof, along with credit cards, business cards, family photos. The Transportation Security Administration website states that passengers are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to pass through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

The TSA adds this qualifier: "We understand passengers occasionally arrive at the airport without an ID, due to lost items or inadvertently leaving them at home. Not having an ID does not necessarily mean a passenger won't be allowed to fly. If passengers are willing to provide additional information, we have other means of substantiating someone's identity, like using publicly available databases."

If You Lose Your ID Abroad

Losing your ID (passport, photo ID) outside the US complicates the process a bit, but most countries have a system in place to help tourists with this common problem.

Bring proof of identity. A major problem caused by losing your ID is proving who you are. Make copies of your passport and birth certificate before you take off and leave them with someone you trust. Pack another copy separate from your passport, along with the address of consulates where you'll be traveling. Keep this information stored in the cloud as well, so you can access it via computer or mobile device. Emailing it to yourself is the easiest way to do that.

Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. It is a free online service offered on the website for the U.S. Department of Statethat will make it easier to get help during a crisis while traveling.

Contact the nearest US consulate or embassy. A hotel's front desk or the local visitors center should be able to help with this. If you have access to the Internet, the Department of State (DOS) website listscontact information for consulates around the world. You can also call the DOS Overseas Citizens Service (202-501-4444 from overseas). Be prepared to supply contacts for folks back home who can identify you and provide a copy of your passport and birth certificate.

Replace your passport. Once your identity has been verified, you'll have to fill out a new passport application and file an affidavit. If you believe your passport was stolen, file a local police report. Replacing a passport costs at least $85 but will be valid for the usual 10 years. If there's no time to wait, the DOS will likely issue a conditional passport to get you back into the U.S., where you can provide proper documentation.

If You Lose a Credit Card

Don't panic. I've had credit cards stolen or hacked while traveling abroad, and in more than once instance, card issuers noticed suspicious activity before I did. They often even rescinded all bogus charges after they checked to make sure I hadn't made them myself. However, if you notice a credit or ATM card is missing, and especially if you know it was stolen, be prepared to notify the bank or card issuer quickly to nip disaster in the bud.

Look into your credit card's travel insurance. You'll want to do this before you leave home. Visa Signature, World MasterCard, and American Express offer traveler's insurance as a free member benefit, including help with identity theft.

Report a lost or stolen card. The moment you realize it's missing is the time to notify your card issuer or bank. Your credit card has a special contact number for reporting lost or stolen cards. It's easy to find online but not a bad idea to bring a copy and email another to yourself along with your passport info.

Research your card's replacement policy. Before you go, find out what the policies are if you were to need a replacement card. If it was issued by American Express or a major bank like Citi or Chase, they may have branches where you're traveling. Just in case, bring contact information with you. All banks will allow you to call collect from abroad and provide a replacement card if yours is lost or stolen.

Fodors.com contributor Cathleen McCarthy is the rewards expert forCreditCards.com and covers entertainment and travel deals on her own network, Save on Cities. Her stories have appeared in The Washington Post, WSJ, Amtrak ARRIVE, Town & Country, and inflight magazines.

Photo credits: Airport check-in via Shutterstock; Passports via Shutterstock; Credit Cards via Shutterstock