MEXICO
Mexico managed to avoid major damage from Hurricane Patricia, which at its height produced winds in excess of 200 mph and gusts of up to 250 mph (the strongest recorded in the Western Hemisphere).
Hurricane Patricia started out as a Category 5 hurricane that was downgraded to a tropical storm on Saturday, after hitting Mexico’s southwestern coast on Friday with winds around 165 mph.
Puerto Vallarta and other major meeting hubs in the area were largely spared from damage.
Authorities continue to advise caution, with heavy rain still possible across Mexico. President Enrique Peña Nieto released a public message that said while the damage had been less severe than expected, the “phenomenon is continuing its course,” and the Mexican people “cannot let [their] guard down.”
While irreparable damages were avoided, the Mexican states of Colima, Nayarit, Jalisco and others, are still dealing with blocked roads, flooding, and damaged buildings, hotels and homes.
Smaller coastal and mountain communities were hit particularly hard by the storm with several reporting a lack of electricity and running water, alongside major destruction of property.
As of Monday morning, no deaths were reported as a direct result of the hurricane/tropical storm. Government authorities credited a quick response time in warning and evacuation efforts as saving lives.
The last storm to hit a Mexican tourist destination was Hurricane Odile, which struck Baja California in September 2014, causing extensive damage and resulting in the airlifting of 27,000 tourists.
