on July 15: Grand'Anse, Ouest, Sud, and Sud-Est. In neighboring Dominican Republic, storm alerts were issued for the towns of Baní and Pedernales. Mexico On July 15, the Mexican Red Cross began preparations for potential impact from Emily. The agency transported of supplies, rescue vehicles, communication teams, and pantry trailers to the Yucatán Peninsula. Preparations to evacuate thousands of residents from coastal communities (up to inland) in the eastern Yucatán Peninsula began on July 16, including the islands of Cozumel, Holbox, and Mujeres. Supermarkets in Mérida were packed with residents stocking up on supplies. Officials in the state of Yucatán opened 1,118 shelters. Emergency services prepped response units for medical needs. State authorities in Campeche prepared 624 shelters with a collective capacity of 85,000 persons. A state of alert was raised for Veracruz, prompting the readying of shelters. Considered an "extremely dangerous" storm, with a trajectory mirroring Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, the highest level of alert was issued for the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo on July 17. Residents in these areas were advised to stockpile supplies, board up their homes, and shelter in sturdy structures; travel during the storm was advised against. In response to this, "massive" evacuations began that day. With the region being a tourist destination, an estimated 120,000 people were visiting at the time of Emily's approach. Local officials ordered the evacuation of 85,000 people, and the complete relocation of guests at beach hotels in Cancún. An estimated 60,000 people were relocated to gymnasiums, hotels, and schools farther inland. Some hotels packed 15 people into a single room. Approximately 2,000 tourists from three hotels locked inside a gymnasium without air conditioning or fans by soldiers. On July 16, Cancún International Airport saw 340 departing flights, 100 more than normal. The Mexican military mobilized in preparation for rescue operations. Numerous oil platforms owned by Pemex in the Gulf of Mexico were evacuated—approximately 15,800 workers—and two ports used for crude oil exports were closed. Two pilots died during the evacuation process when their helicopter crashed amid high winds. Hotel guests were evacuated on Saturday afternoon, and staff on Sunday afternoon. Though some hotel guests in second floor rooms and above were given the option to be bussed into the center of Cancún to safe houses and shelters or to stay and wait out the storm in only the modern built hotels and resorts. Most of the remaining