Puerto Vallarta, Jalsco, Mexico - Last week, the director of Social Development, Víctor Bernal Vargas, led Puerto Vallarta municipal authorities on an inspection tour of the buildings that, if required, will be used as temporary shelters during the 2019 Mexican Pacific hurricane season.

Brenda González Cárdenas, the director of the DIF System; Arturo García Pulido, first regional commander of the UEPCyBJ; Alejandro Torres Magaña, manager of the Puerto Vallarta Hotel and Motel Association; and city councilor Alicia Briones Mercado, who is the president of the Civil Protection, Risk Management and Fire building commission, were among the municipal authorities who participated in the inspection tour, along with representatives of the Army and other institutions.

Looking out over La Palapa Restaurant's rooftop at the waves crashing over Los Muertos Beach Pier during Hurricane Kenna on October 25th, 2002. (Banderas News)

According to a report by the deputy director of the Puerto Vallarta Civil Protection and Fire Department, Adrian Bobadilla García, there are 21 installations scattered throughout the municipality, each selected for its location, services and physical condition, that can provide temporary shelter to as many as 4,400 people, if necessary.

The official explained that when a preventive evacuation is necessary, many of the people in at risk areas prefer to take shelter with a relative, however, Puerto Vallarta always has temporary shelters for those who have no other place to go.

The school buildings that were qualified to serve as temporary shelters during the 2019 hurricane season include Secondary School No. 29, Technical Secondary School 132, Cecytej Pitillal, Niños Heroes School, 81 Secondary School, Nueva Galicia School, 24 de Febrero Elementary School and Adolfo Ruiz Cortines Telesecundaria in El Colorado; Manuel López Cotilla Elementary School in Mismaloya; José María Morelos and Pavón School of Boca de Tomatlán and the Regional Preparatory School of Puerto Vallarta.

Other approved temporary shelter locations include the CTM Auditorium in Los Sauces, Conalep Puerto Vallarta, Conalep Ixtapa, Univa Vallarta, the Lions Club in Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Sports Center in Bobadilla, the ejidal houses of Las Palmas and Puerto Vallarta, as well as the ejido halls in Ixtapa and Las Juntas.

"Although we always inspect the shelters ahead of the rainy season, they are always ready for any contingency we may have in any month of the year. In coordination with the Municipal DIF, which is in charge of managing materials such as mats and food for those who may need to be housed here, we ensure that the shelters are ready year round," Bobadilla García said.

"The readiness of these shelters could result in lives saved, not only residents of Puerto Vallarta but our visitors as well. That is why the city is prepared with the logistics and the infrastructure necessary in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster," the Civil Protection director added.