As part of the preventive actions that have been taken in Puerto Vallarta for the 2019 hurricane season, authorities of the three levels of government, led by the director of Social Development, Víctor Bernal Vargas, representing Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña , made an inspection tour of buildings, that if required, would be enabled as temporary shelters during storms.
According to what was reported by the deputy director of Civil Protection and Municipal Fire, Adrián Bobadilla García, there are 21 spaces available as temporary shelters, distributed in different parts of the municipality, with a capacity for 4,400 people.
He indicated that these spaces are selected for their location, services, installation, and physical condition, and although an inspection is done ahead of the rainy season, “they are ready all year round for any contingency we may have in any month of the year”. The habilitation of these spaces is done in coordination with the Municipal DIF, which is in charge of managing materials such as mats and food to those who are housed here.
The official explained that when presenting a preventive evacuation, many of the people at risk prefer to take shelter with a relative, however, Puerto Vallarta always has temporary shelters for those people who have no other place to go.
Brenda González Cárdenas, director of the DIF System, also participated in the tour; Arturo García Pulido, first regional commander of the UEPCyBJ; Alejandro Torres Magaña, manager of the Hotel and Motel Association; the councilor Alicia Briones Mercado, president of the building commission of Civil Protection, Risk Management and Fire, as well as representatives of the Army and other instances.
The properties that would be qualified as temporary shelters, if necessary, are: Multipurpose room of the CTM in the Los Sauces neighborhood; 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 Regional Preparatory School of Puerto Vallarta.
Also, Conalep Puerto Vallarta, Conalep Ixtapa, Univa Vallarta, Lions Club Center, Sports Center in Bobadilla, the ejidal houses of Las Palmas and Puerto Vallarta, as well as the ejido halls of Ixtapa and Las Juntas.