Preparations, luck helped deal with Dean

Storm moves into the Pacific
Mexican officials said Thursday that eight people died after the storm struck the central Mexican coast. In Veracruz state, a man drowned trying to cross a swollen river and another was crushed to death by a rain-soaked wall. In neighboring Hidalgo state, a woman and her 14-year-old son were killed when their shack collapsed on them in a mountain village.

Jamaica also reported another death, bringing the hurricane's toll on the Caribbean to 25.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami downgraded Dean to a tropical depression late Wednesday but was keeping close watch Thursday to see whether it would re-form over the Pacific Ocean. With up to 20 inches of rain expected, authorities worried there could still be floods or mudslides.

"We're going to monitor it during the day," said Richard Pasch, senior hurricane specialist. "Perhaps it's emerging into the Pacific."

Even if the system does slowly regain tropical storm force, it would carry another name because Dean weakened below tropical cyclone status over Mexico's mountains.

Calderon praises nation's efforts
President Felipe Calderon said in Veracruz on Thursday that “we Mexicans can feel — if not satisfied — motivated” because the response by officials and residents saved lives and minimized damage.

Outsiders are taking interest in Mexico’s hurricane preparations and reconstruction efforts.

State Treasurer John Kennedy of Louisiana, a state devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, flew to Mexico in January to study how Cancun bounced back so quickly as a top resort. The city of 526,000 completed 90 percent of its rebirth only a year after Wilma destroyed it and caused $3 billion in losses.

“More than anything else, it’s about being prepared,” said Jorge Acevedo, a spokesman for Quintana Roo state, where Cancun is located. He noted that the state governor had ordered the evacuation of some islands and hotels while Dean was still days away in the Caribbean.

Thousands of Maya Indians lost their thatch-roofed homes as Dean blew through their isolated communities, far south of the glitzy tourist resorts. These Maya also lost the innumerable fruit trees they depend on to live. Some said no other hurricane had hit them so hard.

But overall, Mexico fared well.

Alvaro Sosa, a resident of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, said as “frequent customers of the hurricanes,” Mexico is quickly becoming an expert nation.

Others credited a higher power.

“God is great and spared us,” said Jorge Armando Ramirez, 28, an elementary school teacher. “But horrible things could have happened.”

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