But, will it stop a hurricane?Back in 2005, our condo was hit directly by 2 huge storms, Emily and Wilma. Emily moved over fairly quickly but Wilma's eye wall sat over Akumal for 48 hours. The storm surge did enormous damage including to the retention wall of the building. It was broken in pieces but most remained in place.
Then, last year the northern surge from Dean came through and popped those pieces out and obliterated the wall.
This is the wall that is supposed to keep the storm surge from underwashing the foundation, tipping or perhaps collapsing the building. Important stuff. Also, required for hurricane insurance. A key point.
The building is closed in September along with our sister building next door.
All that means is that there are supposed to be no rentals and no hotel services for the tourists. Owners are unaffected, at least we are.
In fact, Sept has become my favorite month in Akumal, even with all this construction going on. The whole town is almost empty, there is no traffic, lots of places are closed, it has the feel that perhaps it had long before we came. Almost everyone you see, you know. There's a peace and long exhale happening. Even though most have one eye on brewing storms in the east Atlantic, it is calm and relaxed. The ocean is flat and warm, everything seems to be taking a deep breathe and waiting for the oncoming season.But, back to our new wall. It has been interesting watching them build it. There is a base of concrete about 5' wide at the bottom and then the forms and wall rise from that. They even have an air tamper device that presses the wet concrete into the forms eliminating bubbles, the walls when they pull the frames away are not pitted but very smooth.
Everything has been dug out by hand, by shovel and pick. The only 2 machines used are the air tamper and a small electric concrete mixer off to the side of the building. Ramps of plywood let the wheelbarrows get over the sand in a zig zag path. Once complete and cured for a couple days, they backfill with the sand and coral. Then a mason comes and covers the top with coral.
You'd hardly notice it. But... will it stop a hurricane?
posted by Jonna at 7:37 PM
8 Comments:
Like most engineering projects, I fear there is only one way to know.
It doesn't look tall enough to stop any surge. At least not a big one.
Fingers crossed, we won't have to test it this year!!
It isn't designed to actually stop the surge, I probably should have used other words. It is supposed to push the waves up and over instead of eroding the foundation. In every hurricane and in quite a few near misses (like Dean) the waves roll right through the first floor condos here. It's one reason I'm glad I'm on the 3rd floor.
I hope we never find out whether it can or can't.
After Wilma and Dean we are glad to be on the 3rd floor also! Wilma literally washed into the first floor units, grabbed appliances and sucked them out...then deposited them on the street. I can only imagine what it would've been like to watch that.
Thanks Jonna for the very interesting fotos. We too have been contemplating a retaining wall at PB. Don't know if it will stop a hurricane...but at least if it doesn't, the insurance will pay. ;)
September sounds splendid...wish I was there already!
Cheryl
You've got the biggest point Cheryl, the insurance will be valid.
During Wilma they told us that the waves were actually cresting and breaking on the back side of our building, in the road. This after rolling right through the first floor. One unit had a chunk of coral about 6' across that they had to break up to get back out, they couldn't figure out how it got in since the sliding door frames were not broken. It had to have hit the doors at just the right angle to slide through.
You can all relax about hurricanes now because we have spent the money for the retaining wall and the curtains - not a chance we will get one! (((bows))) "You're welcome"
As you said, the wall is designed to save the foundation of the building and keep you insurance company happy. I would have loved to see a picture of that big piece of coral inside the condo. Isn't nature an amazing thing?
I sure hope you all are hurricane proof now, and with spending the money, have kept them at bay!!
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