WINNIPEG — A Manitoba family is thankful mega-storm Patricia missed Puerto Vallarta as it made landfall Friday evening.
It was the strongest hurricane ever recorded; a category five with whipping winds of more than 320 km/hr.
As the storm hit the coast of Mexico, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. It dealt the most damage to a sparsely populated stretch of coastline, as opposed to hitting massive resort towns as expected.
It was welcome news for Gail David whose daughter and grandchildren live in Puerto Vallarta.
“I’m feeling so much relief knowing that the worst of the storm is done and that there were no surges,” said David. “It’s just so much relief knowing that everyone is safe. My family is safe.”
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David’s daughter, Chauneece David-Moran, was directed to take shelter in her home or head to high ground by officials before the storm hit on Friday evening.
The normally busy resort city was like a ghost town as people braced for the storm and in the immediate aftermath on Saturday.
No serious damage was reported in Puerto Vallarta; although there is still a chance of flooding and landslides. However, there were some very tense moments for David-Moran and her family in the hours before the storm hit.
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“She was screaming and crying and panicking,” said her mother. “She didn’t know what to do and her husband in the background was saying you have to calm down the kids can see it.
As the storm hit, David helped her daughter remain calm by messaging back and forth on Facebook.
She is planning to head down to Puerto Vallarta on Monday for her annual visit and said it will be special to see her family after such a close call.
“I already told them that all they’re going to get is hugs and really long hard hugs for a long time,” she said.
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