Update On A Horrible Flood In Mexico

I published a diary Monday night after experiencing a flood in my village of Melaque.  I didn't even know what had happened that day, and I thought it was the tail of tropical storm Henrette.  Our village was flooded within fifteen minutes.  I had water to my hips in my living room.  My dogs had to swim through the house to reach the stairs.  I am staying with a friend for a couple of weeks until my house is livable again.  I am very lucky that I survived and didn't lose much.
This diary is dedicated to those who were not so lucky!

This is day three and each day it gets sadder.  We found out that when they built a new bridge over the river, they diverted the course of the river.  It went through the wall and down to our little town.  We had experienced heavy rain for more than twenty four hours and the river just couldn't take all the water.
Each day when I walk to my house to clean up the mud and water I cry.  People are shoveling mud out of their homes, and their entire household is sitting on the sidewalk to be taken to the dump. They have lost everything that they owned, yet are still cheerful and willing to help others.  I see children of about three years old shoveling mud with their toy shovels.  I checked on a friend who owns a laundry and she lost it all.  Her two babies were in the car in front of the house cause there is nowhere for them to go.  A man who used to work for me came by my house to make sure that I was ok and I wasn't there.  He showed up here where I am staying and wanted to help me.  His own place was chin high in muddy water.  The spirit and resilence of these people are just amazing.  
We know that people died but we have no newspaper or tv station.  When things calm down then we will hear horror stories!
Right now I am so sad and still in a bit of shock.  I have never seen anything like this except on tv.  I know the diary is choppy but people asked me for an update.
If anyone wants to view the most amazing photos, please email me at sheila.oxford at.gmail.com.  A friend took some photos and sent them to me but I don't know how to post and I am using my friends computer.
Thanks for reading.  

•  if you find out about a reputable local

  relief fund that we can donate too please post it, we'll do a search amongst the stories and see if we can find it.

  Hang in there mango.  One day at a time.

  by lightnessofbeing on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:03:03 PM PDT

•  so glad that you are ok...

  the people down there are amazing

  I wish you all well and let us know
  if there is someplace we can send
  stuff and money when everyone gets dried out.

  take care - via con dios

  by Statusquomustgo on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:14:22 PM PDT

  •  Runs with scissors and I

    are discussing a paypal account.  Thanks a lot.

    by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:20:53 PM PDT

    •  Do it, Mango

      If nothing else, Kossacks are very supportive of their own. Blessings.....

      by Auntie Neo Kawn on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:31:26 PM PDT

    •  i'm conjuring up a plan

      but it's going to take me a couple of days.

      it definitely involves a paypal account but that's as far as i've gotten, although, i'm thinking about setting up a separate blog - not on Blogspot because they like sooo suck, but something free - where your photos can be permanently displayed.

      then post a diary here and get the link to the Paypal account and the blog with your photos in sigs here!

      but i can't do much til Saturday morning.

      if someone else wants to jump on it, tell them to! otherwise, come Saturday, I'll be on it!

      by Runs With Scissors on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:38:21 PM PDT

      •  Thanks

        we have plenty of time.  Not much is open for shopping right now.  Saturday is fine.  Love ya.

        by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:40:43 PM PDT

        •  anything for you, mango

          at the very least, we can get a few mattresses in there for the community. and maybe we can do even more.

          by Runs With Scissors on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:42:55 PM PDT

          •  Ok

            they are still in a cleanup mode and in shock.   To start giving them help at this point would be useless.

            by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:46:29 PM PDT

      •  Runs With Scissors

        I'm hoping we can have at least one alternative to PayPal.  I don't/won't use it for lots of reasons, but definitely will want to contribute.  

        by vigilant meerkat on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 06:54:23 PM PDT

    •  mango, email me the pics

      I'll put them on photobucket and email you the links. Then you can cut and paste them into your diary, and voila! You've got pictures.

      send them to tim at timroff dot com

      peace!

      by Timroff on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:39:36 PM PDT

      •  And I was thinkin'

        ePluribusmedia - the scoop site.  Tim we could do something there couldn't we?  Though - quite frankly, Dkos gets a whole bunch more traffic.

        Bottom line to mango, you ain't alone as long as you got ussens.

        by kfred on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:48:28 PM PDT

        •  we could...

          but we wouldn't be able to post the pics here, unless you know something I don't...

          by Timroff on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 09:08:57 PM PDT

      •  Timroff

        Pacific John has posted the photos. Thanks so much.

        by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 06:38:50 PM PDT

        •  that's cool...

          just thought I'd offer.

          by Timroff on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 09:09:16 PM PDT

    •  Holy cow!

      I am glad you are safe, but what a disaster.  Do you own the house or rent it?  Is Mexico any help with disaster relief or are they more like Katrina and "doing a heck of a job brownie" ?  

      by dkmich on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 05:45:37 PM PDT

      •  Hi

        I rent and the owner is doing what they can.  They are very overwhelmed.  The military comes and makes sure that you are alive and there are refugee centers at the school.  They are very good with disaster relief.  We had no time.  It happened within fifteen minutes.

        by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 06:31:18 PM PDT

        •  Where will you live

          while the house gets put back together?  Will you move?  Is there any place left to move to?  I'm so sorry.

          by dkmich on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 02:09:56 AM PDT

    •  please do!

      I would like to help in my own little way.

      by kainah on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 05:51:33 PM PDT

    •  I'm glad something is being put in place

      to provide some assistance.  The pictures show the extent of the devastation and I know it all must be so heartbreaking, although it appears that your neighbors are taking things in stride, which is amazing under the circumstances.  I hope you remain strong and healthy Mango.  It looks like it's going to be a long haul.  My thoughts are with you and I will be looking for a way to send assistance.  

      by vigilant meerkat on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 06:25:03 PM PDT

      •  Did you

        check out the faces on the people.  Nothing gets them down!

        by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 07:04:46 PM PDT

        •  I did

          They are truly amazing.  I wish I had that kind of resiliance.

          by vigilant meerkat on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 07:44:37 PM PDT

•  Dear Mango

  sorry to hear of your troubles. Please keep us posted as all of us are concerned about your situation.
  Much love and concern

  by TexMex on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:15:25 PM PDT

•  Melaque, Jalisco?

  That's so sad.  I stayed in Barra de Navidad long ago and have dreamed of the area ever since.
  The awful things we do to our beautiful coastal lands.

  by sayitaintso on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:19:47 PM PDT

  •  The old Club Med near there.

    That's where my wife went on our honeymoon; the old Club Med near Barra de Navidad.

    It's beautiful there.  And the people there did not laugh at me when I tried to speak Spanish.

    Here's what Expats in Quintana Roo are doing for Dean victims.

    You gotta love the name of the place where they are holding this fundraiser..........

    by Utahrd on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:39:13 PM PDT

    •  And where did YOU go on your honeymoon?

      Sorry, I laughed when I read your post, even though I knew what you meant. A little levity in a serious diary?

      by pucklady on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:13:43 PM PDT

      •  Hee hee!

        My morning coffee wore off.

        It was a great place with lots of activities.  

        Believe it or not, we actually spent a some of the time apart.  So your comment is not that far off.

        For example, I skipped the Margarita Horse Ride.  But I should scan pictures of my wife listing at a 45 degree angle on top of the horse after a whole bunch of margaritas.

        She skipped the excursion into Barra de Navidad to look for soccer gear.

        by Utahrd on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:54:08 PM PDT

        •  oh, do!

          by pucklady on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 05:20:17 PM PDT

•  Oh Mango!

  I'm so sorry. I didn't see your first diary and had no idea. Please let us know how we can help.

  by casperr on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:21:20 PM PDT

•  Mango:

  Please feel free to email the pictures to me at pacific_john at yahoo dot com.

  by Pacific John on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:23:19 PM PDT

  •  I will

    do that

    by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:27:58 PM PDT

    •  I dropped you an email

      so you can easily reply to it.

      I'll be happy to add them to a Flickr set so they can be easily posted, and you can either add them to the body of this dairy, or in your next one.

      So much of the coast below PV is so beautiful, it breaks my heart that it has been thrashed like this.

      But as you point out, this also brings to light the incredible beauty of the Mexican people who handle these things with such good nature.

      by Pacific John on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:32:10 PM PDT

    •  Got 'em.

      It's a public folder, so here is the address:

      Link to Henriette album

      by Pacific John on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:58:21 PM PDT

      •  Thanks John

        I am barely able to comment.  Not a geek.

        by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:11:28 PM PDT

        •  No prob.

          I'll have the clean-up pictures up in a few minutes. They'll all be in the same big Flickr folder.

          by Pacific John on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:39:46 PM PDT

    •  Here's the highway:

      

      I'll add the balance to this set, so you can post them in dKos diaries:

      Flickr photo set.

      by Pacific John on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:10:54 PM PDT

      •  Thanks for posting those John

        I just viewed all the photos and to say I'm shocked would be an understatement! I spent a fair amount of time in Melaque and I can truly not believe what I am seeing! Incredible!

        by reflectionsv37 on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:34:57 PM PDT

        •  Yes

          the photos say it all don't they.

          by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:38:51 PM PDT

          •  And this was only a weak category 1 storm

            ... not one of those big honkers.  :(

            Mango, if for some reason you don't have certifiable clean water at any time and it's an emergency, and you can't boil it, you can filter water thru several thicknesses of cotton type cloth and then add a very small amount of bleach to it and let it sit to aerate for several minutes.  It's one quarter teaspoon of bleach to one gallon of water.  A teaspoon is 5 ml, so a quarter teaspoon would be 1/4 that, or 1.24 ml.  A tiny amount.
            Get a bleach jug and stash it in your attic or second floor and write this on the bottle. This could provide pet or washing water if you have to conserve bottled water in the future. A human can go a long time without food but we need water.  

            You can also rinse your hands with a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part bleach, or use it to help sanitize suspected nasty surfaces, if you don't have something like iodine around. If you have iodine, you can add a splash of it to basic dish soap to wash things like your hands or dishes. (DONT MIX IODINE AND BLEACH, HOWEVER!!!)  Don't let that nasty mud cleanup make you sick !

            by AmericanRiverCanyon on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:55:20 PM PDT

            •  Thanks for the tips

              We bleached the cabinets in the kitchen yesterday and washed all the dishes with dishsoap and bleach.

              by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:58:38 PM PDT

              •  Oh I am so sorry.

                I am glad to hear though that you are in a spot where people are pulling together - that is 9/10ths of the battle really in these natural disaster situations.  You will pull through this as will your friends and neighbors.  Try to keep a sense of humor because that really helps offset the stress of the losses.  Let us know what we can help you and your neighbors with.  Once you get through your house, you'll be able to think about the long-term help that you all will need and we will be here to listen, research and find ways of helping.  Until then, I'll be thinking of you as I know everyone else in this community will be too.

                BTW - I have plenty of extra "unnecessary plastic objects" like tupperware containers, toys and clothes that I'd be really pleased to ship down to you all if there is a need.  Keep us posted.

                hugs

                by inclusiveheart on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:25:50 PM PDT

                •  Thanks

                  for that.  I cannot help but think of all the muddy toys that I've seen on the curbs today.

                  by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:52:21 PM PDT

          •  The rain was especially bad in your area

            because the storm stopped to do a few cartwheels, but it also dumped heavy rain on Baja Sur and along the coast between Navojoa and Mazatlan. I'm betting they are in fair condition, but I was there a couple of weeks after Lane last fall, an the mosquitos from the standing water were as thick as fog... and that was after the heat spell broke. I can't imagine what it's like for you, and for those to the north right now. Get out the Off!

            by Pacific John on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:21:31 PM PDT

      •  There we go!

        The first set, from during the hurricane, is loaded in Flickr. Now, we have dKos-friendly addresses. Mango's second set of the clean up will be up in about 20 minutes.

        Mango's Henriette Pictures

        by Pacific John on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:36:46 PM PDT

•  Right now

  I am just shocked but my friend and I are talking about doing something.  I just wanted to share this with all of you.

  by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:25:34 PM PDT

•  Querida Mango...

  ..I am so sorry you are going through this...and that your town and its people are suffering so.
   Mexicans are amazing people, aren't they?  Good-spirited, generous, kind to a fault.  I'm glad that they are there to take care of you.
   Please keep us updated, Mango...

  by drchelo on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:25:46 PM PDT

  •  Que Dios Te Bendiga, Mango!!!

    So Sorry you're going thru this, and hope things improve.  You're always a strong, helpful voice here.  

    Mil gracias por los cuentos of the amazing people around you--truly amazing!!!  That is the incredibly generous spirit of the Mexican People that I know, far from the mean-spirited caricatures we're exposed to every day.  

    Estas en nuestros pensamientos y oraciones!!!

    by serrano on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:11:35 PM PDT

•  Hi Mango! I am so thankful to hear that

  you are alright, you have been in my thoughts.  And so very sorry to hear of the devastation and the sorrow that you have been experiencing.

  Keep us posted, let us know what we can do to help, and stay strong, we are, after all, born fighters!

  Love to ya!

  panicbean

  by panicbean on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:26:52 PM PDT

•  God luv ya, Mango.

  I'm so sorry you're having to go through all this. Better to count on the wonderful people of Mexico, though, than FEMA. Hope you'll do the Paypal account. Together, we could  help you and your neighbors.

  by cotterperson on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:29:34 PM PDT

  •  I am fine

    and financially stable.  I would like to help these people somehow.

    by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 01:34:26 PM PDT

•  Oh, dear.

  My heart goes out to you, mango. Keep up your spirits.

  by highfive on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:06:26 PM PDT

•  (((((((mango)))))))))

  So sad to hear all you're going through out there.

  We're in the Chapala area and our street has been two feet deep in water today.  Part of that is because mountain runoff engorged drainage systems and eventually somehow broke a water main above us, but it knocked the cobblestones out of the street.  Of course now that it is sunny, the children are having fun with all their new ponds...

  Let us know if there's anything we can do.  

  Blessings,

  Mr. & Mrs. Stonemason

  by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:07:56 PM PDT

  •  btw we are real stonemasons, if you need that.n/t

    by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:10:19 PM PDT

    •  I lived in Ajijic

      for two years before coming to the beach.

      by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:53:42 PM PDT

      •  Ajijic?

        I need to get all the information I can from you! We drove down to PV last year, then again back down to the beach near Navojoa for Christmas, but I definitely wan to do a better job planning my next trip. Next time, I want to skip the big resort towns, and find the quieter places with less taxis and cruise ships. You know what I mean ;)

        I haven't been to Chapala since I was a teenager, but would really like to go back, hit Guad., see the nearby colonial towns.

        You don't know how envious you've made me!

        Good luck with the clean-up.

        John

        by Pacific John on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:09:09 PM PDT

        •  if you become THAT envious

          drop by here!  email's on our page.  It would be such a refreshment to visit live with anyone from DKos.  Glad to help anyone who wants to come this way either for short term medical/dental needs or to check out life on the lake.

          by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:35:48 PM PDT

          •  I tried to email

            you a while back and it was returned as undeliverable.

            by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:39:33 PM PDT

            •  try

              again... please!  It has worked recently for others here...  ??? If it doesn't function for you I need to look into why.

              by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 05:08:19 PM PDT

              •  also

                hubby has 40 years doing block/brick work... like most, I imagine your home is masonry construction?  Is the town fixing the problem with the bridge and wall?  

                by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 05:12:44 PM PDT

                •  I don't know

                  what is going on.  We cannot  get into that area.  I am terrified that it will rain before they figure out what to do.

                  by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 06:45:22 PM PDT

                  •  my guess and hope

                    is that with all the infinate sand you have on the beach, they will do some sandbagging???

                    Are you referring to the new coastal highway project from there down towards Manzanillo?  Man they have spared no expense on the engineering, you would think drainage would have come to mind...

                    by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 07:17:30 PM PDT

              •  I never knew why

                people spelled out their email addies like this:  'somebody at aol dot commie' but now that's how I've listed mine... don't know if the page is thwarting email.  I have a hunch something's up with the system here because I can never get emails through to tech support.  Might be something about my page setup?  Please do try again, Mango.

                by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 06:13:37 PM PDT

                •  Please mail me and I will reply. Thanks

                  by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 06:48:00 PM PDT

                  •  done n/t

                    by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 07:17:48 PM PDT

          •  We could have

            a meetup!

            by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 07:10:10 PM PDT

            •  and gravity

              is in our favor...  we got down there many times since last November.  Had we known...

              Que digale hola a nuestro amigo Flavio quien vende los mejores tacos en el zocalo !

              by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 07:21:48 PM PDT

      •  It's a beautiful area

        however the influx from the US now is off the charts.  Everywhere you look there's more construction.  Normally the snowbirds would have left during the summer but the carraterra is crowded like a 4th of July parade with expats' vehicles.  Our realtor friend seems to go to a closing a day.  Is it like that in Melaque now?

        by stonemason on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:38:08 PM PDT

        •  No

          We have about 20 fulltimers here and not much room to grow.  A lot of Canadians here in the winter. Not hardly any construction.  La Manzanilla is another story.  A lot of growth there.

          by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 06:52:23 PM PDT

•  Mango

  I am so sorry hear about this! I missed your first diary and hadn't heard anything about this flood! Was this a result of Henrietta? Was the damage confined to Melaque or was Barra flooded also?

  I have been wondering what is happening further north in San Carlos, Guamas and Los Mochis. During this time of the year most cruisers are up in the Sea of Cortez and many are likely in the Marinas at San Carlos.

  I'll be thinking of you and if there is anything we can do to help, you know we will!

  by reflectionsv37 on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:13:14 PM PDT

  •  We had the rain

    from the storm and the river overflowed.  It was local, just a freak accident.

    by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:19:24 PM PDT

    •  Hang in there!

      The people of Mexico are very resilient and helpful and they take care of those around them. I was in Cabo San Lucas about a month after a huge flood that washed out most of the bridges there about 15 years ago. A month after the flood, everything was cleaned up and aside from the bridges still being out, you wouldn't have known it ever happened. Take care of yourself and let us know if there is anything we can do to help!

      by reflectionsv37 on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:39:49 PM PDT

•  Whoah. Photos were unbelievable.

  This is a lot like my visit from Wilma.  It's a mess, but everyone will do what they can for each other.

  If there were someplace we could send a few dollars, that would be good.  It would be great to help out.

  by davidseth on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:14:35 PM PDT

•  You are on the Rec List.

  You might want to change your email so it's less harvestable, like replacing the @ with at.

  I'm so sorry for you and hope you recover soon.

  by ek hornbeck on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:23:48 PM PDT

  •  Thanks Ek

    a little short in the brain department.

    by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:33:56 PM PDT

•  oh mango

  thank you for the update. I am so sorry you (and all there) are going through this.

  by OLinda on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:30:34 PM PDT

•  Hang in there, dear mango.

  Each day what you can, then let yourself eat, laugh, cry, rest.

  Lord, I know how you feel.  Just each day what you can.

  by Crashing Vor on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:31:31 PM PDT

  •  I am doing that

    my friend says that she would have fallen apart.  I couldn't have dealt with losing my pets.  This is just stuff that can be replaced.

    by mango on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:36:16 PM PDT

•  Hang in there, mango.

  You're right, the spirit and resilience of the Mexican people is amazing.

  Do you know Sparks? He has several blogs covering the Costa Alegre. This one has a number of his photos of the storm.

  Take care.

  by Blue Boy Red State on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 02:36:12 PM PDT

  •  Yes we know Sparks