In light of the recent news about Hurricane Patricia, I would first like to begin by sending well wishes over to Mexico, as well as parts of Texas, etc. I can’t imagine the fear everyone near Patricia’s path is experiencing at this time. Living in the Midwest, I’ve never had to worry about preparations or severe damage for a storm of that size. Thus, I can only hope that people were able to evacuate in time and withstand the powers of mother nature. I sincerely pray that everyone is safe and out of harm's way.

According to Weather.com, prior to the storm, Mexican authorities were said to have declared a state of emergency for about 56 municipalities. With winds estimated to reach 200 mph, it’s no wonder Patricia is considered a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest storm ever measured in the Western Hemisphere. It’s also incredibly scary to think about the fact that Patricia’s winds were compared to that of an EF5-rated tornado (for those of us that need a better comparison and live near tornado alley), which is absolutely crazy. I can’t help but think about the movie, "The Day After Tomorrow," whenever I hear about storms similar to this, but I truly hope it doesn’t become that bad.

Patricia made landfall Friday night along Mexico’s Pacific Coast with recorded high winds and gusts ranging from 165 to 235 mph. These fierce winds and rain continued through the night, striking small fishing villages, luxury resorts, etc., while residents and tourists sought shelter from the monster storm. The National Hurricane Center even noted that the damages from flooding, winds, mudslides, etc. are estimated to produce “potentially catastrophic” destruction. This, in turn, may lead possible flooding threats in south central areas of the United States. However, earlier this morning, I heard that Patricia had weakened late Friday night and has dropped down to a Category 4 storm, which I’m thankful for. Patricia still remains extremely dangerous, but learning that it is slowly degenerating is always good to find out.

All in all, Hurricane Patricia is simply devastating to hear about, and as news reports continue to roll in, I hope to learn more information about the storm (preferably good news). I will continue to pray for all of those affected by it, and hope you will too. Stay strong.