This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico.html
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 21 | Version 22 |
|---|---|
| Puerto Rico Loses Power and Sets a Curfew | Puerto Rico Loses Power and Sets a Curfew |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| SAN JUAN, P.R. — Read the latest with Thursday’s live updates on Hurricane Maria. | |
| Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico with a one-two punch of high winds and driving rain before beginning its deliberate march toward the Dominican Republic. Early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said the storm had regained “major hurricane status,” upgrading it to Category 3. | Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico with a one-two punch of high winds and driving rain before beginning its deliberate march toward the Dominican Republic. Early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said the storm had regained “major hurricane status,” upgrading it to Category 3. |
| The center said at 2 a.m. that Maria’s maximum sustained winds had risen to almost 115 miles per hour, and that the storm could get stronger still over the next day or so. It was expected to pass offshore of the Dominican Republic’s northeastern coast early Thursday, before moving near the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas on Thursday night and Friday. | The center said at 2 a.m. that Maria’s maximum sustained winds had risen to almost 115 miles per hour, and that the storm could get stronger still over the next day or so. It was expected to pass offshore of the Dominican Republic’s northeastern coast early Thursday, before moving near the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas on Thursday night and Friday. |
| Maria had weakened to Category 2 after taking “quite a hit” from the high mountains of Puerto Rico, where at least one death had been reported. Officials expected the strong winds and storm surge flooding in Puerto Rico to subside by early Thursday, and they canceled its hurricane warning. Heavy rain, however, was expected to continue. | Maria had weakened to Category 2 after taking “quite a hit” from the high mountains of Puerto Rico, where at least one death had been reported. Officials expected the strong winds and storm surge flooding in Puerto Rico to subside by early Thursday, and they canceled its hurricane warning. Heavy rain, however, was expected to continue. |
| In the meantime, the countries already battered by Maria were scrambling on Wednesday to recover. And weather officials said “catastrophic” flash flooding was still occurring on Puerto Rico as of 8 p.m. Wednesday. | In the meantime, the countries already battered by Maria were scrambling on Wednesday to recover. And weather officials said “catastrophic” flash flooding was still occurring on Puerto Rico as of 8 p.m. Wednesday. |
| Electricity was knocked out across all of the island, a spokeswoman for the Puerto Rico State Agency for Emergency and Disaster Management said, and officials said it could take months to fully restore power. | Electricity was knocked out across all of the island, a spokeswoman for the Puerto Rico State Agency for Emergency and Disaster Management said, and officials said it could take months to fully restore power. |
| The authorities warned weary residents not to let down their guard, because flash flooding and mudslides could prove more deadly than the initial winds from the storm. | The authorities warned weary residents not to let down their guard, because flash flooding and mudslides could prove more deadly than the initial winds from the storm. |
| The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, announced a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew effective Wednesday until Saturday. Thousands of people there were scrambling to hundreds of shelters, some of which Mr. Rosselló acknowledged might not be storm-worthy. The roads, he said in a radio interview later on Wednesday, were “practically undrivable.” | The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, announced a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew effective Wednesday until Saturday. Thousands of people there were scrambling to hundreds of shelters, some of which Mr. Rosselló acknowledged might not be storm-worthy. The roads, he said in a radio interview later on Wednesday, were “practically undrivable.” |
| “The damage is very extensive,” he said Wednesday night in an interview on CNN. “It is nothing short of a major disaster.” | “The damage is very extensive,” he said Wednesday night in an interview on CNN. “It is nothing short of a major disaster.” |
| Here’s the latest: | Here’s the latest: |
| • The storm made landfall at Yabucoa in Puerto Rico’s southeast shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday, as a Category 4 storm with winds as strong as 155 miles per hour. It had crossed the United States Virgin Islands as a Category 5 storm, then weakened. Its winds were blowing about 110 miles per hour on Wednesday evening. | • The storm made landfall at Yabucoa in Puerto Rico’s southeast shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday, as a Category 4 storm with winds as strong as 155 miles per hour. It had crossed the United States Virgin Islands as a Category 5 storm, then weakened. Its winds were blowing about 110 miles per hour on Wednesday evening. |
| • Forecasters say Puerto Rico will see about two feet of rain by Friday. Storm surges are expected to raise water levels by as much as six feet in the Dominican Republic. | • Forecasters say Puerto Rico will see about two feet of rain by Friday. Storm surges are expected to raise water levels by as much as six feet in the Dominican Republic. |
| • Governor Rosselló told CNN late Wednesday that officials knew of only one fatality in Puerto Rico, but noted that they still could not communicate with the southeastern part of the island, which was hit earliest and hardest by the storm. “We still don’t have a lot of information,” he said. | • Governor Rosselló told CNN late Wednesday that officials knew of only one fatality in Puerto Rico, but noted that they still could not communicate with the southeastern part of the island, which was hit earliest and hardest by the storm. “We still don’t have a lot of information,” he said. |
| • President Trump late Wednesday designated the U.S. Virgin Islands a disaster area to make federal funds available to people on St. Croix who were affected by the storm. | • President Trump late Wednesday designated the U.S. Virgin Islands a disaster area to make federal funds available to people on St. Croix who were affected by the storm. |
| • Hartley Henry, an adviser to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that there had been seven confirmed deaths from Hurricane Maria on that island. Two people were also killed on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, officials said. | • Hartley Henry, an adviser to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that there had been seven confirmed deaths from Hurricane Maria on that island. Two people were also killed on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, officials said. |
| • Officials at Ross University Medical School on Dominica said they planned to evacuate students and others by boat to St. Lucia. | • Officials at Ross University Medical School on Dominica said they planned to evacuate students and others by boat to St. Lucia. |
| • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for hurricane news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. Follow the storm’s path with our maps. | • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for hurricane news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. Follow the storm’s path with our maps. |
| “This is just the beginning,” Mr. Rosselló said in an interview with El Nuevo Dia, the largest daily newspaper in Puerto Rico. “We know there are severe damages along different rivers and reservoirs, and water has overflowed from riverbanks, causing flooding,” he added. | “This is just the beginning,” Mr. Rosselló said in an interview with El Nuevo Dia, the largest daily newspaper in Puerto Rico. “We know there are severe damages along different rivers and reservoirs, and water has overflowed from riverbanks, causing flooding,” he added. |
| The island had not seen a Category 4 storm since 1932. | The island had not seen a Category 4 storm since 1932. |
| Carlos Anselmi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Puerto Rico, said there had been “record-breaking” amounts of rain, with as much as 35 inches expected in some places. “There have been reports — multiple reports — of coastal flooding along the south, north and east of Puerto Rico,” he said. “We expect this to continue throughout Puerto Rico.” | Carlos Anselmi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Puerto Rico, said there had been “record-breaking” amounts of rain, with as much as 35 inches expected in some places. “There have been reports — multiple reports — of coastal flooding along the south, north and east of Puerto Rico,” he said. “We expect this to continue throughout Puerto Rico.” |
| “Don’t leave your house, that’s the message,” he added. “Nobody in Puerto Rico should be on the street.” | “Don’t leave your house, that’s the message,” he added. “Nobody in Puerto Rico should be on the street.” |
| Local radio stations were reporting widespread devastation in coastal areas, but Ricardo Castrodad, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman in Puerto Rico, said officials had not yet been able to make assessments. | Local radio stations were reporting widespread devastation in coastal areas, but Ricardo Castrodad, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman in Puerto Rico, said officials had not yet been able to make assessments. |
| “I’m hunkered down weathering the storm in Guaynabo,” he said on Wednesday, adding that the winds were still blowing, “so we still can’t get out.” | “I’m hunkered down weathering the storm in Guaynabo,” he said on Wednesday, adding that the winds were still blowing, “so we still can’t get out.” |
| Residents of Puerto Rico braced for a more direct hit from Maria than it had from Irma, which killed three people there and knocked out power to many. | Residents of Puerto Rico braced for a more direct hit from Maria than it had from Irma, which killed three people there and knocked out power to many. |
| As the storm moved in, Jerika Llano, 27, took refuge with three family members in her concrete home in Bayamón, a town near the island’s capital. She said the wind was “blowing hard and screaming.” | As the storm moved in, Jerika Llano, 27, took refuge with three family members in her concrete home in Bayamón, a town near the island’s capital. She said the wind was “blowing hard and screaming.” |
| “Almost all the trees have fallen, and I can see aluminum roofs flying,” she said. “The doors and gates vibrate because of the power of the gusts.” | “Almost all the trees have fallen, and I can see aluminum roofs flying,” she said. “The doors and gates vibrate because of the power of the gusts.” |
| As locals peeked out from their shelters to survey the damage on Wednesday evening, some were incredulous. | As locals peeked out from their shelters to survey the damage on Wednesday evening, some were incredulous. |
| Utility poles had snapped like twigs, blocking what seemed like all the roads that weren’t flooded; metal gates that once enclosed affluent neighborhoods were crumpled beyond recognition; gas station pumps were tipped over like domino tiles. Entire houses had disappeared. | Utility poles had snapped like twigs, blocking what seemed like all the roads that weren’t flooded; metal gates that once enclosed affluent neighborhoods were crumpled beyond recognition; gas station pumps were tipped over like domino tiles. Entire houses had disappeared. |
| “This looks like a different country,” said Marimar de la Cruz, an educational consultant, as she viewed the destruction in Hato Rey, a San Juan neighborhood. | “This looks like a different country,” said Marimar de la Cruz, an educational consultant, as she viewed the destruction in Hato Rey, a San Juan neighborhood. |
| President Trump said on Wednesday that he had “never seen” winds like the ones generated by Hurricane Maria as it made landfall in Puerto Rico. | President Trump said on Wednesday that he had “never seen” winds like the ones generated by Hurricane Maria as it made landfall in Puerto Rico. |
| “We have a big one going right now — I’ve never seen winds like this — in Puerto Rico,” he said as he entered a meeting in New York with King Abdullah II of Jordan. “You take a look at what’s happening there, and it’s just one after another.” | “We have a big one going right now — I’ve never seen winds like this — in Puerto Rico,” he said as he entered a meeting in New York with King Abdullah II of Jordan. “You take a look at what’s happening there, and it’s just one after another.” |
| The king extended his “condolences” to residents in the path of the three storms that have hit the United States over the last several weeks, adding, “For us sitting on the outside, looking at how the Americans came together at a difficult time, is really an example to everybody else.” | The king extended his “condolences” to residents in the path of the three storms that have hit the United States over the last several weeks, adding, “For us sitting on the outside, looking at how the Americans came together at a difficult time, is really an example to everybody else.” |
| On CNN, Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that the agency was well positioned to help on Puerto Rico and on the United States Virgin Islands. | On CNN, Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that the agency was well positioned to help on Puerto Rico and on the United States Virgin Islands. |
| Mr. Long confirmed that both areas had fragile power systems. “It’s going to be a very frustrating event to get the power back on,” he said. | Mr. Long confirmed that both areas had fragile power systems. “It’s going to be a very frustrating event to get the power back on,” he said. |
| Residents of the Virgin Islands, whose homes were damaged by Irma two weeks ago, had been urged to find new shelters to ride out Maria. | Residents of the Virgin Islands, whose homes were damaged by Irma two weeks ago, had been urged to find new shelters to ride out Maria. |
| The storm began pounding the Virgin Islands on Tuesday evening, and a flash-flood alert was sent to residents’ cellphones at 10:05 p.m., Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp of the United States Virgin Islands said. He had warned that hurricane-strength winds were likely to batter the islands until Wednesday morning. | The storm began pounding the Virgin Islands on Tuesday evening, and a flash-flood alert was sent to residents’ cellphones at 10:05 p.m., Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp of the United States Virgin Islands said. He had warned that hurricane-strength winds were likely to batter the islands until Wednesday morning. |
| The core of the storm passed south of the Virgin Islands, with the outer eyewall lashing St. Croix. | The core of the storm passed south of the Virgin Islands, with the outer eyewall lashing St. Croix. |
| “There was howling in every part of this house,” said Ernice Gilbert, a journalist who lives on the east side of the island. “In my area, the winds were ferocious. | “There was howling in every part of this house,” said Ernice Gilbert, a journalist who lives on the east side of the island. “In my area, the winds were ferocious. |
| Communications were largely out across the United States Virgin Islands on Wednesday, and its government was assessing the damage, said Garry Green, the emergency operations supervisor at the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency. | Communications were largely out across the United States Virgin Islands on Wednesday, and its government was assessing the damage, said Garry Green, the emergency operations supervisor at the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency. |
| The United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism said it was encouraging travelers to postpone trips there. | The United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism said it was encouraging travelers to postpone trips there. |
| The government of the British Virgin Islands extended a curfew until at least Thursday morning as workers cleared roads and assessed the damage from Maria. But the island seemed to have been largely spared. | The government of the British Virgin Islands extended a curfew until at least Thursday morning as workers cleared roads and assessed the damage from Maria. But the island seemed to have been largely spared. |
| Relief was palpable across the territory on Wednesday, where hundreds were recently left homeless by Irma. | Relief was palpable across the territory on Wednesday, where hundreds were recently left homeless by Irma. |
| “God was on our side,” said Roy Campbell, a fashion designer whose apartment in Huntums Ghut, Tortola, lost much of its roof thanks to Irma. “We thank God that the hurricane has passed.” | “God was on our side,” said Roy Campbell, a fashion designer whose apartment in Huntums Ghut, Tortola, lost much of its roof thanks to Irma. “We thank God that the hurricane has passed.” |
| Maria had battered the island nation of Dominica on Tuesday. Prime Minister Skerrit described the damage as “mind-boggling” and wrote on Facebook that he had to be rescued after winds ripped the roof off his official residence. But little information has emerged since then, with the storm having taken out phone and power lines on the island. | Maria had battered the island nation of Dominica on Tuesday. Prime Minister Skerrit described the damage as “mind-boggling” and wrote on Facebook that he had to be rescued after winds ripped the roof off his official residence. But little information has emerged since then, with the storm having taken out phone and power lines on the island. |