How Did Mexico Escape the Strongest Hurricane in Recorded History with No Deaths?

As Hurricane Patricia drew within miles of the western Mexico coastline, weather forecasters around the world shuddered as they tried to imagine the devastation that was about to take place.

The strongest hurricane ever observed in either the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins was barreling toward a coastline that has struggled with intense storms in the past. Warnings were sent and the coastline was evacuated, but experts still feared a high death toll was inevitable.

But after the storm passed and officials were able to survey the damage, the Mexican government released its official death toll from Patricia: zero. How were they able to achieve such a massive success in the face of the strongest storm North America has seen since meteorologists began studying hurricanes?

(MORE: Damage, but No Deaths Reported in Mexico)

There were two factors at play: preparedness and luck.

It was their only hope to survive: hunker down in the best-built structures along the coast and wait for the beast to pass. Their preparedness was rewarded.

There was also an element of luck at play. According to Michael Lowry, hurricane specialist at The Weather Channel, the core of Patricia hit a sparsely populated area of the Mexican coastline, not far from several larger cities. Had the storm wobbled a little south or further north, we could be telling a much different story about Patricia right now.

Patricia also had a small core of strong winds, Lowry added. It mostly passed over an area that had a population of only about 28 people per square mile. The small size and steep ocean floor limited the storm surge, which is the biggest killer in tropical systems, Lowry also said.

All too often, when strong hurricanes pass over Caribbean islands or slam into Mexico, hundreds or even thousands are killed. In the wake of Patricia, there will be no funerals. There will only be cleaning up and moving on.