Listenng to a "on site witness" to the mess in Mexicalli and Calexico

[nadinbrzezinski]

Phone system was down

Electrical system was down.

And as I said, the border was closed for all vehicular traffic, remained until at least 11:00 this morning when he left Mexicali

No Vandalism or stealing, and stores and banks had all broken. People did behave, as usual...

Now you get it why there is no story for the US News Models?

Nobody went on a "stealing spree" and there was no way to physically get from the US to Mexico (they take vans you know), and there are no images of desperate people.

That is what you get, and why our news press models are so damn stuck with a certain golfer. Oh and there are places that are still closed today.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Reporter from the field

At 0:00 they had both media and emergency services already in place. They also had electrical workers trying to reestablish power, with few business with electrical services. There was no light, and all was dark except hotels with their own power.

They evacuated hospitals, including the General Hospital in Mexicali and there had significant damages and that is a priority right now for restoring. They were not allowed entry to media. And they had quite a bit of damage, and it is the civic zone (downtown). The Federal Electric Commission had quite a bit of damage, and they had workers trying to reestablish power.

They also had the parking lot from the Civic Center that collapsed and it was finished. The bus station was also affected. The buss station (Think Grayhound) was severely damaged, near structural failure. And that station was closed for service until 18:00, and at that time they resumed service but selling outside, not inside. (Her description to me at least tells me that the building itself will have to be rebuilt)

The Social Service Hospital was also damaged, quite badly in fact. She is describing that they had to evac the Emergency Room, also the Iztecalli (ISSSTE)

People also slept in the open as well. People improvised. People were afraid of going into their homes.

Well there you have it folks.

And I think it is time for me to get some work done...

Oh and the parking lot will have to be rebuilt.

To add the Colonia Agua Lenguas is the worst affected as the road split, and homes collapsed because of that. But there was PLENTY of Mexican Media.

[Dreamer Tatum]

2. Yeah, that peaceful, bucolic Mexico...

...no one ever gets dismembered and tossed in a garbage bag THERE!

:eyes:

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I am sure you mean well

[Bluebear]

4. lol

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. I'll be here all week

:-)

[Bobbieo]

7. Nadin - Know you are not a geologist but I have question maybe you can answer.

Yuma is about 40 some miles NE from the epicenter of the Mexico quake - according to news reports, Mexicali is also about the same distance slightly NW from the epicenter.

Mexicali was hit pretty hard as a result with a great deal of property damage and two lives were lost while residents in Yuma south country lost electricity for a while and a few cans toppled off grocery shelves. througout the area but no major damage. It shook hard here, too and I was afraid my ancient adobe brick wall would collapse but it didn't.

I am wondering, if Mexicali and Yuma are about the same distance from the epicenter, how come Yuma did not suffer more damage.Is it because the Mexicali area is enlaced in fault lines that go to the Cal coast and northward while Yuma is on the outskirts of earthquake faults?

Just wondering as the Yuma area could have been hit very badly and still can be if more quakes follow.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. The best I can tell the shaking serious shaking map

actually left Yuma pretty in the open while Mexicali was still caught in some of it. (So was the other side of the border)

So my best guess is... the subtrate, the ground.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Oh and one more thing according to the Governor

they are sending Field Facilities for to help the medical services.

Oh and water they have water pressure issues (this usually is a mess) and this may even hurt Tecate.

The Electrical Company reports they are at 75% of service (as of 09:00)

They have reestablished transmission lines from TJ and Rosarito, while Sierro Prieto is partially back on line

The roads have fissures that they need specialists. And the Km 21 of the Mexicali Tijuana road was the worst damaged. They have 11 fissures at Km 21, but circulation is still going with temp work, and they had a landslide on the Rumorosa but they have opened this. And of course the Army (think NG) and they are paroling all areas affected with federal and local police departments.

And of course he also reports that the President is coming (I am sorry VIPS always get in the way)... but they are asking for help.

Well NOW I should do some work. I know... but scooping the "real news" is so much damn fun!

(Oh and I will probably say it, damage is probably going on for close to Billion)

Oh and here is the zinger. I am making news. They are actually going to coordinate with the US (the damage on the US is there) so they are looking at coordinated response.

[spanone]

9. this story isn't even a blip on the 'news' services

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. They will, ONCE the coordination between the US and Mexico start

You know how our media is. Not until WE play a role or we can show how much better we are. And sadly I am not kidding.

[Bobbieo]

11. This story was No 11 on the Yuma Sun's headline list today. Wonder why I no longer subscribe to the

paper? I get better news, faster on DU.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. And you were IN THE AFFECTED area

this is why I wonder about US News, at all levels.

I did find out why the Mexicali stations were quiet. They were located at the civil center, the antenas that is. I am willing to bet, educated guess here, that those antennas were off line. The same happened in Mexico City... but the difference is that Mexico City used the mobile units to keep people informed.

Some ahem problem are emerging and my hope is that they learn from them. Chiefly the Civilian Radio Communications system, and state coordination for state services. (And having worked with the Red Cross in Tijuana I have stories that are legion on why this will be a problem, but damn it, I THOUGHT when I left the system was in-place)