PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - Hurricane Beatriz, a Category 1 hurricane, is looming over the Pacific coast of Mexico, prompting an orange alert for 33 municipalities across Michoacán, Guerrero, Colima, and Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, Cabo Corrientes, Mascota, and San Sebastián del Oeste.
Currently situated 70 kilometers southwest of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, and 110 kilometers west-southwest of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Hurricane Beatriz is traveling parallel to the coast with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour.
What is Orange Alert?
As tropical cyclones threaten various regions around the globe, it's crucial to understand what different alert levels mean and what actions they necessitate. An Orange Alert, signifying a high level of danger, is typically issued when a tropical cyclone has drawn close enough to suggest an imminent impact of 34-knot wind lines within 36 to 6 hours, depending on the storm's intensity.
During an Orange Alert, bulletins are released at a minimum frequency of every three hours, keeping the populace updated about the cyclone's progression and expected impacts. But beyond timely information dissemination, what else does this stage entail?
When an Orange Alert is issued, members of the National Civil Protection System across federal, state, and municipal levels are notified. This leads to the installation of State and Municipal Civil Protection Councils and the initiation of coordination and communication centers, which operate continuously throughout the alert phase.
One of the most significant actions undertaken during this period is the commissioning and operation of temporary shelters. These shelters are supplied adequately to host evacuees from areas of high risk. The evacuation of such danger zones is initiated promptly to ensure the safety of residents.
A tactical deployment of personnel and material resources also takes place across federal, state, and municipal jurisdictions. This deployment is complemented by heightened public security actions to maintain law and order during the stressful period.
The mass media plays a critical role during an Orange Alert, providing continuous updates about the specific phenomenon and its potential impacts. Efforts are also made to safeguard material resources that will aid in rehabilitating the affected systems post-cyclone.
In preparation for potential disruptions to essential services, programs are implemented to ensure the availability of drinking water, food, fuel, and electricity. School activities in risk areas are suspended to keep children safe.
For the general population, an Orange Alert calls for strict adherence to instructions from authorities. Residents in risk areas are expected to evacuate promptly. Maritime navigation activities and coastal recreational activities are suspended, and everyone is encouraged to stay vigilant and alert.
An Orange Alert represents a critical phase during a tropical cyclone, necessitating comprehensive measures to safeguard lives and infrastructure. Understanding the meaning and implications of this alert level can better prepare communities for the challenges posed by tropical cyclones.
What is forecasted for Hurricane Beatriz?
The National Civil Protection Coordination forecasts heavy to torrential rains in Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, and Guerrero in the next 24 hours, with strong to intense rains expected in Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Nayarit. The anticipated severe weather conditions have spurred the orange alert, the second-highest on the four-color scale, indicating a high risk.
In Jalisco, 22 municipalities are on orange alert, including the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta. The other affected municipalities are Atengo, Atenguillo, Autlán de Navarro, Ayutla, Cabo Corrientes, Casimiro Castillo, Cihuatlán, Cuautitlán de García Barragán, Cuautla, El Grullo, Guachinango, La Huerta, El Limón, Mascota, Mixtlán, Villa Purificación, San Sebastián del Oeste, Talpa de Allende, Tolimán, Tomatlán, Tuxcacuesco.
Michoacán's six alerted municipalities include Aquila, Arteaga, Coahuayana, Chinicuila, Lázaro Cárdenas, Tumbiscatío, while Armería, Ixtlahuacán, Manzanillo, Minatitlán, and Tecomán in Colima are also on high alert.
According to the National Water Commission (Conagua), Hurricane Beatriz is set to cause 4 to 6-meter-high waves on the coasts of Jalisco, Colima, and Michoacán, alongside wind gusts of 60 to 80 km/h and waves of 2 to 4 meters on the shores of Guerrero.
The populations in the affected states are urged to take extreme precautions due to potential wind, rain, and wave impacts, including risks to maritime navigation. They are also advised to follow the recommendations issued by the authorities of the National Civil Protection System and local government agencies in each entity. The situation is being monitored closely, and further updates will be provided as developments unfold.
