The director of Civil Protection and Firefighters of Puerto Vallarta, Gerardo Alonso Castillón Andrade, reported that this year, CONAGUA has forecast 19 tropical storms, of which five could become category 1 and 2 hurricanes, and four level 3 and 4 hurricanes.
The rainy season and tropical cyclones began for the Mexican Pacific on May 15, for which the Municipal Civil Protection Council of Puerto Vallarta was declared in permanent session on Tuesday, with representatives of the three levels of government and private sector, to prevent and attend to any contingency due to these meteorological phenomena.
Castillón said, “We are prepared. We already have 90% progress in desilting rivers, streams, canals, and storm drains here in the municipality. We are also informing people who are in risk areas through a warning, to be prepared for any situation.”
He said that 19 temporary shelters are planned in the municipality, properties that meet the requirements to be enabled in the event of a disaster. Among them are the two CONALEP campuses in Ixtapa and Gaviotas, DIF Day House in El Tecnológico, CECITEJ, the secondary schools of Mismaloya and Bobadilla, the Regional High School, the Ejidal Houses of Las Palmas, Ixtapa, and Puerto Vallarta.
“We started prevention tours. Boca de Tomatlán, Mismaloya, El Caloso, and the areas near the Cuale, Pitillal, and Mascota rivers are the most vulnerable areas.”