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Category 2 John soaks Mexico; no threat to U.S.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 1, 2006

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico - Tourists fled hotels and desperately sought flights home, while at least 15,000 residents were ordered to higher ground Thursday as a slightly weakened Hurricane John bore down on the resort of Cabo San Lucas.

The storm soaked beaches on the mainland's Pacific coast before turning toward Baja California, where its eye was on course to hit the peninsula's southern tip early this afternoon. It was downgraded to Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. John wasn't likely to affect the United States.

Officials were preparing to evacuate 10,000 people in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo and at least 5,000 in La Paz, the capital of the state of Baja California del Sur. Shelters were set up in 131 schools.

State Gov. Narciso Agundez said residents who refuse to head for higher ground will be forcibly removed.

"Where there are areas that are highly vulnerable, we will have to do things forcibly," he said.

Shop owners boarded up windows and hotel workers stripped rooms of light fixtures and furniture, in case plate-glass windows were shattered.

John was moving northwest at 13 mph. Its outer bands were expected to begin affecting Cabo San Lucas early today, and a hurricane warning was issued for the peninsula's southern tip, also home to the resort of San Jose del Cabo.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami warned John could drop up to 18 inches of rain in some places and create up to a 5-foot storm surge.

The weather center warned of "life-threatening flash floods and mudslides" in mountain areas.

State tourism authorities said late Thursday that hotel occupancy rates were 40 to 50 percent, as most visitors had been advised to return home.

But it appeared that guests at most hotels and resorts, including the Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort, were staying put.

"Until the government tells us something, we aren't evacuating anyone," said Mario Martinez, the Hilton's director of security.

Residents emptied grocery shelves and endured long waits for gasoline. At the airport, tourists battled for seats on the few planes heading out. Driving wasn't an alternative - there's only one narrow road, 400 miles long, leading to Tijuana.

[Last modified September 1, 2006, 01:26:22]