Puerto Rico may not have power for 6 months. That will change the way

[applegrove]

people work, live and go to school. Vibes to the island.

[applegrove]

4. Their wind farms had the blades torn off the wind turbines I saw on CNN. I would guess

that debris would have damaged many solar panels but I'm guessing on that.

[applegrove]

9. Oh yes. There are probably lots of stuff one could buy online and don't use electricity. Hand crank

radios, solar panels on back packs that recharge their phones, hand warmth coffee cups that keep liquids warm. I hope they have a lot of that stuff because they won't be able to go online and buy it in the next few weeks or months.

[Warpy]

2. Cities will have it first. Rural areas will likely wait forever

I hope some of the power crews that are finishing up in Florida head down that way.

[Weekend Warrior]

3. This is where a smart government needs to protect the people.

Completely rethink the grid from the bottom up. Corporate entities will look at the bottom line while the government can look at the whole picture.

Vibes their way.

[SHRED]

6. Hurricane proof buildings and solar

[roamer65]

7. American citizens of Puerto Rico.

You are welcome to come to the mainland!

You are citizens.

[Hortensis]

35. They know. :) Going home someday will be a dream for a great number, but

that will depend on whether Democrat or Republican policies prevail in future. Do we tackle climate change? Do we rebuild better? Do we make another, better try at developing economic and environmental sustainability for PR?

Under Republicans, PR could end up a resort for the wealthy, with profits flowing out to investors and most of its remaining residents shunted into a serving class, or as one of those dollar- and soul-sucking cheap gambling resorts for working classes, again with profits flowing out and most jobs low-pay service. Or a big slum.

[WinkyDink]

37. PR isn't Cuba.

[Hortensis]

40. No idea what that means, but fwiw it invites the comparison that

a centralized authoritarian government can be very useful in emergencies and is likely to benefit Cuba right now.

PR has its local governments and bankrupt government-owned corporations, all ultimately under the control and "mercy" of Rump and a congress controlled by a badly corrupted and broken Republican Party. And, of course, free enterprises, which are all no doubt currently recalculating their projected profits and losses from investments in PR. A perfect storm, and I'm not referring to Maria.

[Sancho]

8. Florida may get 100,000 new citizens this year...

moving here in droves already.

[roamer65]

10. Good. More Democratic VOTERS!

[sheshe2]

11. Hey Sancho!

How did you and yours make out in Florida with Irma. I thought about you.

[Sancho]

14. we left in the middle of the night when the lights went out...

and are back. Little damage here, but lots of problems in South Fl.

[sheshe2]

17. Good to hear.

Glad to know you are safe. The islands are devastated after Marie coming as a second hit. Understandably people are moving onto the mainland.

Bill checked in once after it passed. He was staying. after riding out the storm at his place, at his brothers. Sounds like he will have no electricity for awhile.

Be well

[left-of-center2012]

33. For some reason ...

... many Puerto Ricans live in Hartford, CT.

[RandiFan1290]

36. So? nt

[malaise]

12. Well we can list folks who no longer have any form of employment

because electricity is required. This is frightening and life-changing.

[applegrove]

13. Or even those jobs that still have to be done only without power. How does a teacher

photocopy a test for their students? I guess they go back to the blackboard. Things like that.

[malaise]

15. I experienced that after Gilbert

All the copy rooms on our campus had generators. The problem was the hot lecture rooms.

[applegrove]

16. Oh the heat...with no fans...poor people. Where was Gilbert?

[malaise]

18. Gilbert was a major hurricane - went from Morant Point to Negril in 1988

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/1988/Major-Hurricane-Gilbert

[applegrove]

20. Yes a friend was in that one. Said she never wants to be in another Hurricane

again.

[malaise]

26. You only need one major hurricane in your lifetime

The wind howling for hours is unbearable and the inconvenience and discomfort that follows is worse. Sure we adjust and we survive but it's no fun. Now imagine if on top of that your home has been destroyed, and you have no employment.

They say life is what happens after your make plans.

[applegrove]

27. I was in Hurricane Juan in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was only a 2. But I'm done.

Next time a 3 or stronger heads my way I'm leaving.

[TexasProgresive]

19. Most important are hospitals and nursing homes.

[applegrove]

24. Yes. Vibes especially to the small and weak.

[Flaleftist]

30. Surely the government has the resources

to get the necessary generators these facilities and keep them running to help these American citizens. But will they?

[TexasProgresive]

34. The hospitals are running on generator power now.

These generators are large stationary machines that are enormous, capable of producing 500 kilowatts to a megawatt. Replacement units would have to be trucked in on 18 wheelers.

In any case, this is not sustainable over long term. Equipment breaks down and there is the problem with fuel. What is needed now is the evacuation of patients to the mainland.

It is a sad reality that Puerto Rico is going to be an ongoing catastrophe.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. Imagine that happening in Nebraska, West Virginia or any other state with a smaller population

than Puerto Rico. Colonization is an ugly thing.

[DBoon]

25. Colonialism is the mother load of evil

NT

[WinkyDink]

38. Hello, New Orleans.

[Not Ruth]

22. Consider going there for vacation and spending money in the local economy

I will be

[WinkyDink]

39. And you will stay where? And visit where? And disembark where?

[Not Ruth]

41. Where there is a will, there is a way

[grantcart]

23. I have a lot of clients from PR and called about a dozen of them and none of them have been able to

contact family members there.

Some are taking time off to get to the island so they can bring their family members back.

[NickB79]

28. Gonna be a lot of standing water for breeding mosquitos

And no A/C, so you'll have to leave windows and doors open to catch a breeze (it's hot and humid as hell there a good portion of the year from my experience).

Get ready for massive malaria, dengue and Zika outbreaks

[applegrove]

29. .

[NickB79]

31. We were going to go in March to visit family

Now, I'm not sure it's where I want to bring a 7 yr old. But the way things are going, it might be the last chance she gets to see her great-grandma.

[applegrove]

32. Oh no. Stay safe.

[AngryAmish]

42. Orlando will get even more crowded

[Vinca]

43. Wouldn't it make sense for hurricane-prone areas to have underground power?

Maybe the main power station would be destroyed, but it would be one thing to rebuild rather than a million.