Historical perspective : Hurricane Rick

As the wife of a local, I echo Rob’s response.. I have been here almost 30 years, and I remember all the storms and close hurricanes he mentioned. Like Rob, my spouse is from one of the oldest families here, and they have stories to tell! My husband remembers that far worse hurricane that almost destroyed their house in Centro. As he is in his late 50s, it is possible that the other locals that have been asked are either much younger or were born elsewhere.

Over the years, I have noted that many locals refer to any tropical storm or depression that has hit anywhere near us as a hurricane (the grammar geek in me has to bite her tongue to not correct them each time)- so I find it strange that any local would say that no “hurricane” has hit here before. For example: In the early ‘90s, I recall overhearing a tour guide talk about the hurricane that hit the previous year that caused mudslides that blocked the road to La Ropa. I scratched my head, as I lived here year-round and wondered what hurricane I had slept through.

I don’t mean to sound like I am knocking your sources. Perhaps they were not here during the other storms Rob mentioned. One certainly cannot remember something they didn’t experience. In my case, I was out of town 10 years ago when those 2 storms collided here (10 years ago??), so it doesn’t always come to mind unless someone else brings it up.
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I recall the storm that closed La Ropa's road but not its name. Helmut of Villa del Sol was pissed because the city had turned down his offer to build a culvert under the road at the curve uphill from the Delfines (they weren't there yet) so that the water from heavy rains didn't fill his place with mud. Of course since there was no grift for local politicians in his offer they refused, it rained hard, and not only did the road wash out at the curve where the driveway to El Partenón is, a natural arroyo, but huge boulders and mud came crashing down into VDS. The road to La Ropa was closed for about 3 days.

He offered again the next year and they again refused, but by then other property owners stepped up the pressure so the city finally built a culvert under the road. Not sure what the Embarq has done with the water from that arroyo.