Hurricane Maria savaged Puerto Rico Wednesday with a direct hit at Catagory Four, leaving the island without power in what is being called the ‘worst storm in living memory’ to hit the bankrupt U.S. territory that is home to 3.4 million people.
Devastating Footage From San Juan, Puerto Rico – #Maria
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 20, 2017
“There is no power on the island and there is very little communications,” according to Ricardo Castrodad, a public health official with the US Coast Guard’s San Juan sector.
Thousands fled to shelters as the storm caused flooding in the capital, after killing at least nine people in the Caribbean earlier in the week.
Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz broke down in tears as she described the utter devastation she witnessed.
“Many parts of San Juan are completely flooded,” Yulin Cruz told reporters, adding “Our life as we know it has changed… There is a lot of pain and a lot of devastation.”
Initially gusting near Category Five speeds of 150 mph (240 kph), the storm slowed down a bit when it hit San Juan.
“The wind sounds like a woman screaming at the top of her lungs!” Mike Theiss wrote on Twitter, sheltering in a safe room in the eye of the storm.
“We are getting absolutely hammered right now.”
Imy Rigau, who was riding out the storm in her apartment in San Juan, said water had “cascaded” through her ceiling.
“We are taking refuge in the hallway as there is about a foot of water in my apartment,” she told AFP.
“I boarded up the windows but with all of this, it seems they are going to be blown away. One of them was smashed up, so we are here in the hallway where there are no windows.” –Yahoo
Limited shelters
Residents took cover in the 500 shelters around the island as officials warned of massive flooding and an announced overnight curfew in effect till Saturday.
Governor Ricardo Rossello implored residents to remain civil, stating “I urge the people of Puerto Rico to commit to peace, understanding, and good judgment during these difficult times for our island.”
Footage from the island
#BREAKING NEW FOOTAGE:#Maria video is from #Guayama, #PuertoRico #HurricaneMaria #PrayForPuertoRico
pic.twitter.com/sQHdRjxcZs— Trumpism 9.0™ (@Team_Trump45) September 20, 2017
My aunt's house in Puerto Rico #HurricaneMaria #PuertoRicoStrong pic.twitter.com/SVtBVpwnrx
— Marcos (@MarcosAmparo3) September 20, 2017
Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico “100% without power," according to spokesperson from Puerto Rico governor's office https://t.co/6gpCmMFWRP pic.twitter.com/Gmhhd4YPOl
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) September 20, 2017
Video of San Juan as Hurricane Maria moved through Puerto Rico with winds topping 155 mph
(Via @GadiNBC) pic.twitter.com/qNvLRWsp2Z
— ??Patriot 24/7?? (@TrumpTrain45Pac) September 20, 2017
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The silver lining is that 3.4MM lazy Puerto Ricans hardly contribute to GDP at all so it’s not like the economy will suffer much if the island is w/o electricity for a while.
The thing is, U.S. is still going to be there first, turning the lights on faster than any other nation even thinks about helping – no matter who it is. But make no bones about it, there is huge money flowing into PR now.
Another silver lining is… Hillary is once again turning over in her hyperbolic chamber thinking on how she was robbed and could have used this for more political gain.
Calling horseshit on all these “Worst Ever” “Hurricanes from Hades”. Fucking prove it. A spread out red cotton ball on teevee means nothing.
In recent memory? that is only if you can’t remember back to 1928, when hurricane San Felipe, category 5, hit Puerto Rico with 160 MPH winds. This weather hype is really getting disgusting..