We will get through this together, Vice President Biden assured the residents of Puerto Rico. On Monday, Vice President Joe Biden sent a message to the people of Puerto Rico, who are still dealing with the devastating effects of Hurricane Fiona’s floods and heavy rainfall.
President’s Message!
The message, relayed via the White House’s Spanish language Twitter account, @LaCasaBlanca, translates to, “A message from President Biden on Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico: Jill and I hold the people of Puerto Rico in our prayers as Hurricane Fiona passes over your beautiful island. We stand with you and we will get through this together.”
Biden approved an emergency declaration in Puerto Rico on Sunday.
Even Though Hurricane Fiona Has Weakened Significantly
Even though Hurricane Fiona has weakened significantly, it is still forecast to intensify over the coming few days.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. ET update, Hurricane Fiona has weakened slightly owing to interaction with Hispaniola and now has winds of 85 mph with greater gusts. Late tonight, the hurricane should resume strengthening as its core moves off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, near eastern Samana Bay.
The hurricane update warned that Puerto Rico will continue to see life-threatening and catastrophic floods from Fiona’s heavy rains, as well as mudslides and landslides, until tonight. As of Monday night and Tuesday morning, the eastern parts of the Dominican Republic may expect to deal with potentially deadly flash flooding and urban flooding.
As it continues to intensify over the next two or three days, the hurricane is expected to make a slow turn toward the north-northwest and north, eventually becoming a major hurricane.
Weather conditions typical of hurricanes are predicted for Tuesday in the Turks and Caicos, and for tropical storms in the southeastern Bahamas on Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Puerto Rico never recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Maria (2017). Now, the island is completely flooded and without electricity again.
Please DO NOT DONATE to the Red Cross or FEMA. Instead, send support to trusted local organizations [THREAD]: pic.twitter.com/jXrdXo0WKB
— anna maría (@onlyannamaria) September 19, 2022
The Record For The Highest Level Of The Guanajibo River In Puerto Rico Was Broken After Hurricane Maria
Flooding from Hurricane Fiona’s rains in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, has caused the Guanajibo River to rise to a level that is higher than the record set by Hurricane Maria in 2016.
The National Weather Service reports that the current level of the Guanajibo River is 29.2 feet. The previous record was 28.59 feet, reached on September 20, 2017, during Hurricane Maria. Data from NOAA and USGS river gauges show that the river level surged 17 feet between Sunday morning and Sunday evening. At about 21–22 feet, the river begins to flood out of its banks.
Hormigueros is in the municipality of Mayaguez, which is on the western side of the island, and the municipality reports that rescue operations are ongoing there.
As Fiona Rages In The Caribbean, More Than A Million People In Puerto Rico Are Still Without Electricity
After Hurricane Fiona completely knocked out electricity over the island, more than a million residents in Puerto Rico are still in the dark on Monday morning. On Monday morning, representatives from LUMA Energy announced that “electrical service has been restored to 100,000 clients.”
“inside the municipalities of Toa Alta, Toa Baja, the San Juan metropolitan region, Bayamón, and Corozal,” the firm tweeted, “electricity has been repaired for some.”
Residents have been warned by LUMA to keep away from downed wires while employees continue to operate in dangerous conditions.
According to their website, the energy business in Puerto Rico is responsible for the operation and management of the island’s electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
BREAKING: All of Puerto Rico — every town, neighborhood, house — is without power.
That’s 1.4 million households.
Winds over the southern portion of the island have gusted 80-100 mph, but elsewhere winds have been much lesser. Despite this, the grid is tenuous at best. pic.twitter.com/EGG1m5KY0l
— Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) September 18, 2022
At last, the only thing we can do is pray for the people who are going through such conditions…
