viernes, 30 de abril de 2010

A history brief about hurricanes at Quintana Roo



Every year, during the hurricane season Quintana Roo is always prone to be stricken by a cyclone. From 1950 to 2009, our state has been affected by tropical systems approximately 120 occasions. The most destructives have been:

Janet (category 5 hurricane), which was least 687 deaths in the Lesser Antilles, Yucatán Peninsula and mainland Mexico, struck Chetumal on September 28, 1955. Our small city was destroyed and many houses too because majority of them were built of wood. Every year, our government organizes a ceremony in memory for those who died during the hurricane at Fiscal Dock. Besides, it built the monument “El Renacimiento”.

Carmen (category 4 hurricane) was the most intense tropical cyclone of the 1974 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The storm's center passed a few miles north of Chetumal, which was likely under its eyewall.

Gilbert (category 5 hurricane) struck Cozumel and Cancun on September 14, 1988. It wreaked havoc in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico for nearly 9 days. In total, it killed 341 people and caused about $5.5 billion (1988 USD, $9.4 billion 2006 USD) in damages over the course of its path.

Emily was the fifth named storm, second hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It struck Los Chunes and affected Xel-Ha, Tulum and Punta Allen on July 16, 2005.

Wilma was the third hurricane of the Atlantic 2005 season to reach category 5 status, setting a new record for the seasonal number of category 5 storms. It struck Cozumel and Cancún on October 21st. During its path over our State left a lot rain.

Dean (category 5 hurricane). After of several years Chetumal City was affected by a hurricane on 21st August 2007. During its path destroyed tourist zone as Mahahual and Bacalar. Its winds were as strong that brought down trees and houses which were near to the beach.

It is important to mention that while stronger is a hurricane less rain left.

Every season is different; however in last years, the hurricanes have been intensified and have caused more damage.

"Two factors that contribute to more intense tropical cyclones-ocean heat content and water vapor-have both increased over the past several decades. This is primarily due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the clearing of forests, which have significantly elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere." (1)


(1) Union of Concerned Scientists (2006). Global Warning. Hurricanes and Climate Change. Obtained on May 18, 2010. Retrieved from

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/science/hurricanes-and-climate-change.html

jueves, 29 de abril de 2010

Be already prepared



The government of Quintana Roo through of the Dirección Estatal de Protección Civil implement preventive mechanisms for protecting to population and the tourists that visit us. For that reason, every year it distributes 120000 leaflet and 60000 posters about the recommendations that people can do before, after and during a hurricane; and of Early Warning System. Besides, the mass media transmit recommendations too.

When a hurricane develops over Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Protección Civil monitors it, keeps informing the people and start working the Consejo Estatal de Protección Civil and the Comité Operativo Especializado en Fenoménos Hidrometeorológicos.


Recommendations:

Before a hurricane
• Buy non-perishable or canned food.
• You should have to first aid kit.
• Get a battery operated radio, hand flashlights, candles, batteries and matches.
• Protect your official documents.
• If your house is not secure, you should go a shelter. Close to your home, there is a shelter that has been assigned for your area.
• Store drinking water for several days.
• Have what necessary at transportation, food and medicines.
• If the authorities recommend you to evacuate, Do it!...Don’t think it twice!

After a hurricane
• When a hurricane comes in to affectation radio for the State, every three hours the route and path of tropical system will be issued.
• Disconnect the electricity energy, gas cylinder and make sure that there isn’t leaking.
• Move away from the sea side and protect yourself of the wind.
• Don’t go out from your house or shelter until the authorities indicate you.

Pay attention to eye of hurricane
• If the eye of hurricane passes over your city, it will have calm. During this time, you must not go out of your shelter because after the wins acquire force again and blow at opposite direction.

After a hurricane
• Return to devastated zone until the authorities say that there is not danger.
• Don’t move injured people, report them to the authorities.
• Don’t touch fallen cables.
• Be careful with walls, houses and buildings that are in danger of collapsing.

Quintana Roo has won the prize “Good neighbor Arward” in two occasion in 2006 and 2008 because after of the hurricanes Emily, Wilma and Dean didn´t have injured or died people. The actions that the government took to protect to population were the best.

Remember, don’t pay attention to rumors.

miércoles, 28 de abril de 2010