Tourists, locals take shelter, wait out Hurricane Patricia

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (WPVI) -- The Pennsylvania Department of State said tens of thousands of Americans couldn't or chose not to leave in the wake of Hurricane Patricia, deemed a Category 5 storm when it hit the Pacific coast of Mexico Friday evening.

Photos on Twitter showed coastal resorts in the hurricane's path preparing for landfall.

Those guests who weren't evacuated inland stayed at makeshift shelters including a hotel ballroom in Puerto Vallarta.

Resort staff filled sandbags to prevent flooding, and submerged pool furniture to keep them from blowing away.

Philadelphia Inquirer photographer Clem Murray snapped a photo while vacationing at the Grand Mayan in Nueva Vallarta.

He and other guests were moved to a cement-walled building to wait out the storm.

Murray spoke to Action News on the phone Friday night.

"They sealed off all the entrances with plywood and stuff like that so we can't get out," said Murray. "It's a fairly light, jovial crowd. People are playing cards, reading books, taking naps, playing with their kids, trying to keep the kids entertained."

But as vacations were cut short, a letter from a hotel that was shared on Twitter warned guests they are now considered refugees and services will be very basic.

Carlos Giralt-Cabrales, the Consulate of Mexico, is keeping close tabs on the storm from his office in Center City.

He tells Action News Mexican government agencies are mobilizing to step in when Patricia passes.

"We do have the resources. It's going to be a major challenge to confront the consequences of this hurricane because it's a big one," said Giralt-Cabrales.

"I'm not very concerned... I think we'll survive the initial hit." said Murray. "My concern is how long it's going to take for the infrastructure, the electrical grid, the roads and all that sort of stuff to get back to normal so we can get to the airport and get out of here."

Action News has been informed there are U.S. Disaster Relief officials on the ground working with the Mexican government to assess the humanitarian needs.