Here in San Pedro Sula, citizens are scurrying about purchasing provisions. The supermarkets, bakeries, etc are all jam-packed with people stocking up with emergency supplies. The scarcest items include bottled water, batteries, candles, canned goods and any other bare necessities that can be used to combat energy blackouts. Local police, firefighters and other emergency personnel are on Alert status. Hurricane Mitch has been upgraded to a category 5 Sustained winds of 175 MPH have been reported Category 5 is the most dangerous of all hurricanes and may be expected to cause severe damage upon contact with land.
Reports indicate that damage in Honduras has begun.
All tourists on Roatan and neighboring islands have been flown to La Ceiba, and will continue on to San Pedro Sula where effects of Mitch are expected to be minimal. Emergency Command has closed all businesses in San Pedro Sula, and the capital city of Tegucigalpa. Only hotels are to remain open. All grocery stores are empty and closed, and all gasoline has been bought up by the people in San Pedro. The mainland is expected to have only high winds and river damage.