I’m getting tired of the rain.
The rainy season here in Mexico City runs from June until September. July is the wettest month with an average precipitation of 6.3 inches (160mm), so we’re in the thick of it now. It rains almost every day, but it’s at least somewhat predictable with the usual deluge coming in the late afternoon/early evening.
The rain has been near constant, but we still have a way to go before we approach breaking the record set in 2005. That year, the record was 119 liters of rainwater per square meter, this year the highest recorded was 98.5 liters. Still, they say the heaviest rainfall will come in August or September. So we could see a record breaking year after all.
Hope For The Best
In the drier months (May is probably the best), one of our favorite things to do is bring the dog and go find a patio in the evening for dinner or a drink. Last week we attempted to recreate those lovely nights out but found ourselves caught in a downpour an hour’s walk from home, dog in tow, and no way to get a ride.
We ended up finding a delicious vegan pizza restaurant to hole up in while the storm passed before making our way home to hot toddies and a classic movie, so the night wasn’t a total bust. But the lesson was clear: always prepare for rain.
Prepare For The Worst
The people here are more adept at preparation than the city itself. While streets flood and electrical capacitors crackle overhead, pedestrians are gracefully jumping over puddles in rain ponchos or somehow floating above the new urban streams with umbrellas like Mary Poppins.
The infrastructure here is often pushed to the limits by rising waters. Less than a month ago, heavy rains caused flash floods that left drivers stranded and closed important roadways around the city. It’s enough to make you want to stay inside most nights. But at any given time you’ll still find people on the move, rain or shine. In fact, it can be a good business strategy as people are driven into whatever shelter they can find when the rain gets too heavy. Provide them with a place to stay dry and a warm drink and you’ll be able to earn a couple extra pesos.
Just Buy An Umbrella
It’s the same idea behind the blossoming Disaster Recovery/Backup industry. Even if the sun is out, carrying an umbrella is a good idea. As my dad always told me “better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”
Companies invest millions in infrastructure to prepare for disasters, but it’s all for naught if you’re caught without a backup plan. So take a little time to think about how you want to protect the data that’s important to you. Because otherwise you could be caught in a storm without an umbrella.
And I’m getting tired of the rain.
Ty Trumbull, from his base in Mexico City, covers the entrepreneur’s journey and business continuity for ChannelE2E. Each Tuesday, he offers views about his new hometown.
