SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - San Diegans stranded in Los Cabos San Lucas after Hurricane Newton slammed into the resort city Tuesday have finally returned home.
Arriving in San Diego a day later than planned, San Diegans visiting Los Cabos were relieved to be home and away from the rain and the 90-miles-per-hour winds.
Hurricane Newton shattered windows, downed trees and knocked out power in parts of the twin resorts of Los Cabos on Tuesday, but residents were spared the kind of extensive damage seen two years ago when they were walloped by a stronger storm.
"I had a full blown panic attack because I was in the last hurricane [Hurricane Odile]. I just had really bad anxiety because the last hurricane was the worst thing I have ever gone through in my whole life," said Keri Wilson, a tourist from San Diego.
In 2014, Los Cabos suffered heavy damage to homes, shops and hotels when it was hammered by Hurricane Odile, which hit land as a Category 3 storm.
This time around, Keri and P.J. Had their emotional support dog, Betty, to get them through Hurricane Newton.
"It was pretty bad, but I think Betty got us through it," said P.J.
Newton made landfall at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula in the morning as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph (150 kph), pelting the area with torrential rain as residents hunkered down in their homes and tourists huddled in hotels.
"They told us while it was happening not to leave our rooms, not to go outside and stay way from the windows," said Dawn Rove, a tourist from Fallbrook.
Tourist officials estimated about 14,000 tourists had remained in Los Cabos as the storm approached, but visitors began venturing out some after Newton passed or returned home.