Hurricane Patricia Sends Tourists Fleeing As Massive Storm Weakens After Landfall

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Tourists in Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo are seeking shelter from Hurricane Patricia as the powerful storm bears down on much of Mexico.

More than 15,000 American tourists were forced to evacuate. Thousands were forced to take cover at makeshift hotel shelters, warned by hotel management that they were no longer guests in the hotel.

Sacramento sisters Chelsea and Kristi Randel landed in Puerto Vallarta for a vacation a couple of days ago and spent every minute Friday trying to flee.

"Roads are crazy," Kristi said. "They opened up all the toll booths and are just shuffling people through to prevent traffic."

They're now in Guadalajara

A Chico couple was trapped at an evacuation shelter in Puerto Vallarta. The Bristows weren't staying in a hotel—they live on a boat.

Mexican officials boarded up windows and doors, but say they've never prepared for anything of this magnitude.