SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) – A new wave of tourists who were trapped in Mexico after riding out Hurricane Odile arrived in San Diego Thursday night.
Tourists on Alaska Airlines say they are grateful to be home.
“We are all just thankful to God that we are all safe and that we are back home,” said Leti Maldonado from Rancho Cucamonga.
An emotional Encinitas couple is home after celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary.
“Just happiness…happy to be here. It was getting rough. It's been a rough week,” said Jen Ryan.
On Sunday, Hurricane Odile blew through the Baja Peninsula Sur carrying wind speeds up to 125 miles per hour, damaging homes and shutting down the Los Cabos Airport.
Tourists were stranded with very little food, water and power.
One tourists showed CBS News 8 his feet covered in dirt and wrapped in medical tape, “That is four days of having to use dirty water to fill up your toilet."
Many of the resorts were turned into makeshift shelters. The employees coordinated with the Mexican government officials on getting home either by plane, ferry or bus.
However, the frustrations grew when tourists arrived at the Los Cabos Airport for the special flights.
“We have had to stand in a line out in the hot sun, and I want our government to know this--they didn't even try and come and get us,” said Alabama resident, Belinda Sledge.
Some were in line waiting for a plane for at least five hours.
Passengers say Canada swooped in and picked up their citizens, “A complete nightmare there are thousands of American's still left and not enough being done,” said Ron Shabout.
Thousands of American tourists are still stranded in the Baja Peninsula Sur, include in La Paz.
The brother of a CBS News 8 assignment editor, well known musician Alejandro Escovedo and his bride are on their honeymoon and get home from La Paz. A plea for help has been posted on Escovedo's Facebook page.
“Please get the word out that the people back there need help,” said Shabout. “There are a lot of people back there that need help."
Once the tourists are gone so will jobs for many locals who already lost their home in the hurricane.
“I feel for the people that live down there they are having a tough time. They really are,” said James Ryan.
Alaska Airlines is schedule to make another humanitarian flight on Friday from the Los Cabos Airport to Lindbergh Field. Flight 233 is delayed and showing a 5:33 p.m. PT arrival time.
Other commercial flights are making humanitarian flights and arriving in cities across the U.S.A.
The Mexican government is also flying, ferrying and busing tourists.
Commercial flights to Los Cabos have been suspended.
Relief items are stocking returning humanitarian flights to Cabo.
Holding Hands, an Encinitas non-profit, started a relief Facebook page. Also the San Diego bachelorette CBS News 8 has been covering when stranded and now home started a GoFundMe to raise money for relief in the Baja Peninsula Sur.