
There are natural disasters in the Yucatan Peninsula, and that gets a little complicated. You’re going to see hurricanes on the Mayan Riviera- there have been several. It’s unusual to see hurricanes in the Merida area or north of the peninsula, because once the hurricanes get into the gulf, they tend to go northwest to the south, but it can’t happen.
There was a hurricane here in Yucatan 15 years ago that caused problems. On the other hand, I have not heard of earthquakes in Yucatan. Fire is unusual in that there’s a lot of concrete here, and there’s not a huge amount of forests.
Natural disasters like minor flooding after a very strong rainstorm in the wet season can occur. In downtown Merida and other towns where there is a lot of stagnant water, and sometimes the water gets into houses. I know people who have houses that get flooded a couple of times a year, but the flood ends up dissipating. It’s not life-altering, but it’s a pain.
The hurricanes are a lot worse in the Quintana Roo area. Hurricanes start in Africa, and come across the ocean which is their engine, and that’s how they gain speed and power. But there’s a few things in the way of these hurricanes. For example, the windward islands in the eastern Caribbean. There’s also Jamaica. There are a number of natural barriers to Quintana Roo being hit by hurricanes, but having said that, it does get hit. Mahahual has been beaten up a few times and so have so many other cities, so definitely these disasters can happen. They’re not as common as in certain other places I have lived, but these disasters can absolutely happen.
Living in Merida, I don’t carry hurricane insurance. If I lived in the Mayan Riviera, I would seriously consider hurricane insurance, which I understand is not cheap because every 10-20 years, they know they’re going to get hit.
(Hurricane Dean in 2007 over the Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)