Sun tanning in Mexico was the relaxation Dianna Skinner needed.
She had recently endured several family deaths and needed some rest.
But 220 mph winds turned her family vacation into a nightmare.
Skinner, her husband Terry and daughters Danielle and Christina took a trip to the Mayan Riviera 80 miles south of Cancun, Mexico. This was their first venture outside the U.S.
The weather at the Bahia Principe Akumal Resort appeared clear, Skinner said.
“We charted the weather and saw no sign of a hurricane,” Skinner said.
“We thought hurricanes were in the later part of the summer.”
While the family spent Sunday touring the Mayan ruins, the tour guide announced a hurricane was headed for Cancun later in the evening.
“When we returned to the resort there were candles in the room,” Skinner said. “There were even metal bindings nailed to the sliding glass doors.”
Surrounding the TV for hours, the Skinners educated themselves and prepared for Hurricane Emily.
The storm was expected to hit Cancun between 7-9 p.m., Skinner said.
“We stayed in our rooms the entire afternoon,” she said. “We couldn't even leave for dinner. The resort employees had to bring us dinner.”
Securing themselves in their rooms, the Skinners were shocked when the hurricane hit just after 10:30 p.m.
“We left the girls alone in their rooms and figured nothing was going to happen,” Skinner said. “The wind started blowing and hit incredibly fast. The wind was clocked up to 220 mph.
“Cancun wasn't even hit. The hurricane turned south and hit us instead.”
Within 10 minutes the power went out and water was seeping through the roof and walls.
“I kept thinking, "Is this ever going to end?"” Skinner said.
After nearly a half-hour the hurricane stopped and “you could hear a pin drop.”
“Terry and I grabbed the girls and brought them back to our room,” she said. “Seconds later it started up again.”
The ocean water and smell of salt began to fill the room again.
“We just didn't realize at the time what can happen until it did,” Skinner said.
The hurricane ended around 3:30 p.m. Monday.
“I honestly didn't think hurricanes lasted that long,” Skinner said.
Damage from the hurricane was evident. Sliding glass doors went through rooms, power was knocked out, concrete utility poles were snapped and palm trees were ripped out of the ground, Skinner said.
“Tourists were becoming irate because of the humidity and not having any power,” Skinner said, “People were drinking excessively and getting violent.”
The Skinners were bussed to Cancun on Tuesday and booked a flight home as soon as possible.
“We were unfortunate again and lost our luggage when we transferred to Cancun,” Skinner said. “But we were just lucky to be alive.”
Skinner never thought a relaxing vacation could become so stressful.
“We have just been counting our blessings,” Skinner said. “We're glad that everything turned out the way it did.”
