Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - As the May 15th official beginning of the 2011 hurricane season approaches, the Municipal Civil Protection Unit has conducted preventive tours of major rivers, streams, canals, drains, storm drains and other areas of the city, identifying the work needed in order to ensure the safety and security of Puerto Vallarta.

These inspections have verified the presence of weeds, trash, debris, settlements and invasion of the causeways, and for some weeks the work required by the Department of Public Works and Municipal Utility has been performed, including the cleaning and desilting of various tributaries.

In addition, through the Social Development Division, cleaning crews have been enacted by neighborhood committees, and those crews will also work during the storms.

Among the points visited by Civil Protection are the following streams: El Contentillo, La Virgen, La Posta, El Nogalito, El Camaron, Santo Domingo and El Zarco. The status of storm drains, gutters and areas of natural runoff have been checked, in order to prevent flooding and water logging and to mitigate any risk to the public.

It is important to remember that the official tropical hurricane season for our region of the Western Pacific begins May 15 and ends on November 30, and that this work must be carried out before the close of the first rains.

It is also crucial to make the public aware of the importance of keeping these channels free of litter, debris and other materials, so as not to obstruct the passage of water and endanger the lives and properties of the citizens of Puerto Vallarta.