Blown Away

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Summer months are fast approaching. Flowers blooming, grass coming to life and the sun heating up the atmosphere, most are excited for these next few months.  With schools on vacation, many families head out to the ocean for relaxation and fun. The beach is a perfect place to cool down on those excruciatingly hot days. However, with these summer days comes an increase in violent weather as well. Tornados and thunderstorms are some examples that we see in Colorado. For those in coastal areas, hurricanes are more of a concern.

Beach vacations can soon turn to a disaster if a hurricane hits. When I was 16 years old, I had the privilege of experiencing this.

My family decided to take a vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico in 2005. We were all very excited to get away from the hustle and bustle of our daily routines. The resort was booked for seven days and my suitcase was stuffed with swimsuits.

The first four days were great. We swam, slept, sun-bathed, and drank our way to relaxation. The weather was nothing to complain about. It was about 85 degrees Fahrenheit every day and sun beaming in the sky. It was the perfect trip until we all took a taxi into town to shop.

As we walked around town we noticed people frantically boarding up homes, shops, and restaurants. The town was slowly becoming deserted. Something was going on.

When we returned to the resort, a letter had been slipped under the door of our room.

“Hurricane Emily is approaching the coast of Playa del Carmen. It is scheduled to hit land tomorrow night at approximately 5 P.M. We will not be evacuating the resort,” the letter said. “You will be locked in your rooms after the lunch is served at 2 P.M.  Please stay calm during the storm and do not leave your rooms.”

With that our vacation had taken a drastic turn.  This is why I must encourage many of those planning vacations to be aware of hurricane season. For many countries June through November are the prime months for large storms to make impact on shores. Some storms vanish before hitting land but some make impact with full force. Staying informed and aware of possible threats can help these summer months remain fun and exciting.

Though Hurricane Emily came through Playa del Carmen with extreme force, we were all unharmed. Many belongings had been displaced however. Roofs and doors scattered the land. Some were to the point of destruction while others could be salvaged.  Palm trees had been uprooted and fish had been thrown on the land and left to die. It was a sight that still rings clear in my mind.

Be safe in these coming summer months.

Hurricane Season

Areas and Months

Atlantic                                                                 June-November

Caribbean                                                           June-November

Gulf of Mexico                                                  June-November

Eastern Pacific                                                   May 15-Nov.30

Central Pacific                                                    June 1-Nov.30

(Associated Press Stylebook)