At this point in time, it looks as if Isidore is on track to head into northeastern Mexico (good for us, not so good for them, I suppose). If what happened to Cuba is any indication of what's to come, we should all be thankful that Isidore looks to be headed somewhere else. And we should all be hoping for the best for those in her path.
Its projected path showed it pointing straight at Mexico's east coast after skirting the northern coast of Yucatan. On that track, Isidore was no threat to the United States, but forecasters said it was possible it could turn toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Local Mexican authorities closed 27 ports for small vessels along the northern and eastern coasts of the Yucatan, although Mexico's three key oil ports further south and west in the Gulf of Mexico remained open for tankers.
As Isidore swirled into the Gulf of Mexico, heavy rainfall from its tail continued to pound western Cuba, where 292,000 people had been evacuated before the storm, along with hundreds of tourists from outlying keys and beaches.
Isidore dumped about 25 inches of rain in 24 hours on Guane in Cuba's tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio.
Strong winds uprooted trees and downed telephone lines. Gales ripped off rooftops of homes, but no casualties were reported. Streets were flooded in Pinar del Rio, 90 miles west of Havana.
Isidore first hit the small Isle of Youth off Cuba's southern coast late Thursday. Officials said the storm damaged 881 houses and destroyed 16,000 metric tons of grapefruit on the isle known for its citrus orchards.
This is the price you pay for living on the Gulf Coast- the fear, the uncertainty, the heavy wind and rain, and the knowledge that one good blow could uproot virtually everything. The Gulf of Mexico is a fickle bitch, and not easily given to coddling those who choose to snuggle up next to her. Living here means adopting something along the lines of the Muslim concept of Inshallah- the idea the whatever happens, happens, God willing. That's why hurricane parties are such blowouts- it's a surrender to the inevitable.
We'll sit here for the next few days, one eye glued to the Weather Channel. The other part will be trying to live as if nothing untoward is happening. That's right; denial really IS more than just a river in Egypt. What else can you do??
