Isla Mujeres Hurricane Risks

Isla Mujeres is no more at risk from hurricanes as anywhere else in the Caribbean. Indeed it appears less so than other regions, over the years, Hurricanes have been very kind to Isla Mujeres. There was major hurricane Gilberto in 1988 and then again seventeen years later there was Wilmer in 2005. Both were quite damaging to the island. With Gilberto the island was effectively cut in two due to flooding.

Wilmer did a lot of damage to the infrastructure, mainly because it was slow moving so it was over the island for a long time. When the eye of the storm was over the island there was a strange calm, people came out of the homes and walked round, some people set up stalls and shared the food they had, it was almost as though the hurricane had gone, but inevitably the eye passed and the hurricane recommenced.

Once Wilmer had passed it was difficult to recognize Isla Mujeres, it was like winter in a European country, the trees that remained has lost all their leaves. There wasn’t a lamppost or electricity post left standing, the island was in pitch darkness. There was little food available and the government imposed a curfew, between seven PM and seven AM, of which nobody took any notice. Although everything was back to normal very quickly.

The hurricane season is in theory between April and November, although it is rare for there to be a hurricane as early or as late as that, the high risk months are September and October, Wilmer was in late October that was considered to be a late hurricane. A hurricane occurs when the sea reaches a temperature of 28 degrees. A hurricane is then guaranteed then it’s just a question of where it goes, mostly its gone elsewhere. 

Whilst Isla Mujeres has been lucky with Hurricanes, it has now been twenty year since Wilmer. Cuba is probably the most unfortunate, seeming to bear the brunt of many hurricanes. Towards the end of the summer people hope for rain, as rain cools the sea down. When a hurricane is on the way, those on Isla Mujeres are praying that it goes elsewhere, as is everyone  elsewhere. The properties that are most vulnerable when there is a hurricane, are those on the Caribbean side of Isla Mujeres this is where a hurricane hits first, properties on the other side of the island, overlooking the bay to Cancun, are relatively well protected.

Interestingly the person, who many consider the best and most experienced doctor on Isla Mujeres, is Dr Greta Shorey, is an English doctor came to the island in 1988 as a voluntary worker after the hurricane Gilberto. She is very popular with the local people, of whom she treats many free of charge, but also treats visitors inexpensively, which is useful as many Americans are not too comfortable with Mexican doctors, they feel that they are not sufficiently well qualified,  a belief which is not entirely without justification. Dr Greta 0052 998 402 6874.