[playabum17]

Originally Posted by Page

Folks, this is a note from someone on the ground here at about 5:45 p.m. EST, 4:45 p.m. Playa time. Right now we're seeing increasing winds, the sky is grey (not black yet), and we've had a few showers. Nothing major as yet.

Speaking for the folks on Calle 26 (J&A, Heather and Mike and my husband Bill and me, plus lots of other neighbours), we're as hunkered down as we can get. A lot of the houses are boarded up - ours was finished just two hours ago, if you can believe it. We thought we had a crew set up to do four houses, but they didn't show up this morning as they said they would.

However, our dear friend Martin (some know him as Chivo - sp? often at Java Joe's in the mornings) came through with a crew of two. They had already boarded up Java Joe's, Zocalo, several homes in Playacar. Basically, he was going around town doing everything he could to help his friends. Before he left, I hugged him and told him he was such a special friend to us (this is NOT the first time he's helped us out big time). Kudos, Martin - and I'm glad your family is safe in Amsterdam right now.

The school across the street - Yitsatil - is safe haven for all the guests from Coco Reef Club hotel. There are shelters all over town and I'm just glad we don't need one right now.

Our fellas have gone over to one of the homes a couple of blocks away with lots of wood to board up a few crucial windows (decided by the occupants, of course). Once everyone is back home, we'll all just close the front door (only one that isn't boarded up), tape it and wait it out.

From the last word I had, the power will be shut off at 6:00 p.m. our time. We've all got all the food and supplies we will need. Every large container is filled with tap water and we've all got lots of purified water for the next few days.

Our situation is no doubt much better than many of the local people and my heart aches for them. So if you're praying for someone, make it the poor people who don't have the choices and opportunities to prepare that we do.

I send many thanks to all of you who are thinking of us during this time. It helps more than you'll ever know. God bless us all, and I know He will. Catch ya on the other side!

As much in knots as I am feeling, I can't even image what those are feeling that are actually there and dealing with this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.