"We could be two or three days without water or electricity," said Italian vacationer Emanuela Beriola, 41, who stockpiled tinned meat, energy drinks and cans of tuna fish.
CURFEW
Category 5 hurricanes -- the strongest possible -- are rare but there were four in 2005, including Katrina, which devastated New Orleans.
The higher number of powerful storms in recent years has reinforced research that suggests global warming may increase the strength of tropical cyclones.
Troops and police patrolled the area hit hardest by Dean to enforce a curfew declared by the state government.
Store windows were boarded up along the strip of "Mayan Riviera" beach resorts on the Yucatan Peninsula's east coast.
Cancun and other resorts were devastated in 2005 by Hurricane Wilma. It washed away whole beaches, killed seven people and caused $2.6 billion in damages.
Dean swiped Jamaica at the weekend with roaring winds and pelting rain. Roads were blocked by toppled trees and power poles and police said two people were killed.
That took the death toll from Dean to eleven. Haiti was worst hit with four people dead there.
Poor local residents with badly built homes are often the worst hit by hurricanes.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon planned to cut short a visit to Canada, where he met President George W Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to oversee the emergency effort.
