UPDATED: Heavy Rain, 185-MPH Winds From Hurricane Irma Hit Puerto Rico
Last edited Wed Sep 6, 2017, 05:41 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Associated Press
By DANICA COTO Published SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 2:10 PM
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Heavy rain and 185-mph winds lashed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico’s northeast coast Wednesday as Hurricane Irma roared through Caribbean islands on its way to a possible hit on South Florida.
The strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever measured destroyed homes and flooded streets across a chain of small islands in the northern Caribbean, passing directly over Barbuda and leaving the island of some 1,700 people incommunicado.
France sent emergency food and water rations to the French islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy, where Irma ripped off roofs and knocked out all electricity. Dutch marines who flew to three Dutch islands hammered by Irma reported extensive damage but no deaths or injuries.
While France received no immediate reports of casualties, the minister for French overseas territories, Annick Girardin, said: “We have a lot to fear for a certain number of our compatriots who unfortunately didn’t want to listen to the protection measures and go to more secure sites … We’re preparing for the worst.”
Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/hurricane-irma-rains-hit-puerto-rico
UPDATE:
Puerto Rico Losing Power—Right As Hurricane Irma Is About To Hit
During Hurricane Harvey, much of Texas’ power grid stayed up—and helped saved countless lives. Twenty percent of Puerto Rico’s power is already out.
OLIVIA MESSER
PABLO VENES
09.06.17 3:22 PM ET
ARECIBO, Puerto Rico—Hurricane Irma, the most powerful hurricane to originate from the Atlantic Ocean in recorded history, is expected to hit Puerto Rico in full around 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening. But the commonwealth—and its “vulnerable and fragile” power grid—are already buckling under the strain.
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) had already suffered problems as of early Wednesday afternoon, leaving thousands without electricity. “We have reports that 20 percent of the island is already without electricity,” Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said at a news conference. (That translates to nearly 300,000 residents without power.)
The power outages don’t just mean that Puerto Ricans will be forced to brave the storm in the dark. For locals, no electricity means no water—the system depends entirely on electricity to supply it.
Without cell service or power, folks in need of help won’t be able to call emergency services, let alone civilian heroes.
And if all the power goes out, officials say the island could be without it for four to six months.
more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/puerto-rico-losing-powerright-as-hurricane-irma-is-about-to-hit
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