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09-20-2017 01:20 PM
The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico since the Great Depression pummeled the island on Wednesday, tearing off roofs and doors, toppling cell towers and unleashing heavy flooding in an onslaught that could deepen the U.S. territory's financial crisis.
Maria, which left at least nine people dead in its wake across the Caribbean, blew ashore in the morning in the southeast coastal town of Yabucoa as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph. It was expected to punish the island with life-threatening winds, storm surge and rain for 12 to 24 hours.
As people took cover inside stairwells, bathrooms and closets, Maria slowly crossed the island, knocking down communication towers, snapping trees and unloading at least 20 inches of rain. Widespread flooding was reported across the island, with dozens of cars half-submerged in some neighborhoods and many streets turned into rivers.
People calling local radio stations reported that doors were being torn off their hinges and a water tank flew away.
Mike Theiss, a National Geographic photographer who is waiting out the storm in a hotel in San Juan, that the winds sound 'like a woman screaming at the top of her lungs'.
'It's a very high pitched wailing sound. And it's coming through every crack in this building right now. Every now and then we hear a big piece of debris hit the wall and it will tremble a little bit,' Theiss said.
The storm threatened to ravage the island's already crumbling power grid and worsen its economic woes.
Puerto Rico is struggling to restructure a portion of its $73 billion public debt, and the government has warned it is running out of money as it deals with furloughs and other austerity measures imposed by a federal board overseeing the island's finances.
Gov. Ricardo Rossello urged people to have faith: 'We are stronger than any hurricane. Together, we will rebuild.'
He later asked to declare the island a disaster zone, a step that would open the way to federal aid.
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09-20-2017 01:44 PM
09-20-2017 01:47 PM
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the island is without power. Heartbreaking!
09-20-2017 01:57 PM
I was lucky enough to visit Puerto Rico in the late 90's. Beautiful island with lovely people, I felt so welcomed there. Had the time of my life chatting and interacting with the local restaurants and also out of the way places as they were so happy to share their culture which is incredibly diverse. It made me sad as we were driving through the less traveled parts of the island to see the destruction of what I believe was hurricane Hugo as they just couldn't afford to rebuild.
This morning one cable channel was broadcasting from the resort I was lucky enough to stay at. It was so upsetting to see the incredible force of Maria especially when one recognizes the areas that are being torn apart by those incredible winds . . . good thoughts and prayers to all in the path of Maria and special prayers for those that were recently impacted by previous storms and are now being brutalized by Maria.
09-20-2017 02:02 PM
I lived in San Juan with my family back in the mid-sixties for four years. We lived through three hurricanes but none like Maria.
09-20-2017 02:08 PM
@SilleeMee I had such a great time in PR so it's tough to watch them go through this. I was beyond naive when I visited with my now ex so everything was a new experience. One of the best was when we were at a small shack on the ocean. I am not a fan of seafood but I couldn't resist the gentlemen who ran the business as he was from the Netherlands and that day's special was "Seafood Your Preference". After a few verbal conversations and a few charade-like conversations I finally understood that whatever seafood I wanted he would go fish out of the ocean . . . unbelieveable!
09-20-2017 02:25 PM
09-20-2017 04:44 PM
I'm very worried as I have many family members in Ponce and have not been able to reach anyone. No cell signals. Please send your prayers and good thoughts their way.
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