by Tim Wood
Last updated: 6:18 PM ET, Sat September 27, 2014
An all-hands-on-deck effort have led to the extraordinary fast cleanup of downtown Cabo San Lucas. (courtesy Los Cabos Guide/Johnny Corona)
Here's the latest news out of Los Cabos on the recovery efforts:
Airlines booking flights into Los Cabos starting Oct. 8
Pete Thomas Outdoors has been providing regular updates on the ground. The latest post on Sept. 27 reports that both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are accepting flights into Los Cabos International Airport beginning Oct. 8.
Also from the PTO report: Tourism Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu said power has been restored to nearly 100% of the northern part of the state, 80% in Los Cabos, 98% in La Paz, 70% in Mulegé, 75% in Comondú and 95% in Loreto. And more than 70% of gas stations in BCS are back in operation.
Read the full story here.
Officials: More than 5,400 hotel rooms affected
Cabo Living Magazine is another strong source of on-the-ground information from Los Cabos.
They posted this update on their Facebook page, in junction with the Gringo Gazette:
"The Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) said today that all hotels in Baja California Sur should be fully operational in the second half of November. In the area overseen by Fonatur, the tourism development fund, 55 of the 59 hotels sustained varying degrees of damage, with 5,474 rooms having been affected. The remaining 4,312 are ready for guests.
Twenty-five of the damaged hotels will resume normal operations in the first half of October and four more in the second half. Tourism Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu said one of the principal objectives right now in the state is to be in a condition to receive international visitors by the middle of next month.
Temporary employment is being offered to many residents of Los Cabos through clean-up work, said Ruiz Massieu. She also reported that power has been restored to nearly 100% of the nothern part of the state, 80% in Los Cabos, 98% in La Paz, 70% in Mulegé, 75% in Comondú and 95% in Loreto.
More than 70% of the states gas stations are back in operation, said the minister during an interview with El Universal, moments before the arrival in Cabo yesterday of President Peña Nieto to review progress. He arrived here on his white stallion, OK, white helicopter, and met with local officials as well as others, at the Solmar. It was his third trip here since the storm.
The Los Cabos airport will reopen to commercial traffic October 8, promised the Communications and Transportation Secretariat on Tuesday, after it sustained severe damages.
Insurance companies have been busy in Los Cabos this week, dealing with the damage claims. The Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS) reports that 2,330 claims have been made as of today for damages totaling 3 billion pesos.
However, paying the claims is one thing; getting the repairs done is another, as demand is high for labor and supplies, said AMIS director Recaredo Arias Jiménez.
We still have about 8,000 federal security forces are still here."
Help coming in from all over to help the recovery
Cabo Living Magazine also posted these updates on companies helping with the rebuilding efforts:
Also, this news that Alaska Airlines has donated to the Mexican Red Cross to help rebuild Los Cabos:
Business getting back to normal
Los Cabos Guide reports that many of the businesses are starting to reopen their doors, especially around Wyndham, Marina Fiesta and in Plaza Gali.
LCG's Chris Sands also offered this first-hand report of the area starting to look and feel lively again:
"A great example is downtown Cabo San Lucas. I was on Marina Boulevard when the storm blew through, and I saw the destruction first-hand: roofs blown off, trees uprooted, cars flipped over, glass blown out everywhere … The next day, the place looked like a post-apocalyptic tableau, reminiscent of old Mad Max movies. Twelve days later, however, Marina Boulevard, and indeed much of the downtown area, looks much as it did before the storm. Yes, there are a few missing signs and other lingering scars, but the major streets have been cleaned, power has been restored, and buses are running once again."
Read the full story here.
And finally, there's this from Solmar Resorts' Facebook page:
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
