Hurricane Maria’s rampage demolishes Puerto Rico

[Peter1469]

Hurricane Maria’s rampage demolishes Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico got hit hard. I hear that all of the electricity is out. And the territory is broke.

Sleepless Puerto Ricans arose Wednesday knowing to expect a thrashing from the most ferocious storm to strike the island in at least 85 years. They met nightfall confronting the ruin Hurricane Maria left behind: engorged rivers, blown-out windows, sheared roofs, toppled trees and an obliterated electric grid that cut power to every one of the island’s 3.4 million people.

Even though authorities had barely begun to assess the damage Wednesday evening, the scope of the catastrophe was evident, even if in snippets.
The capital city of San Juan got a walloping. Evacuees at a sports arena had to leave a ground floor when the roof sprang a leak, a space rocket adorning the park at a science museum keeled over and the roof of a radio station blew off, though it kept broadcasting despite the damage.

It will take them a long time to rebuild.

[Common]

The entire island is without power, there was no where for them to evacuate too unless you were rich and could fly out. The island was devestated

[Peter1469]

Their electric grid was in poor shape before the storm. Power outages were common.

[Dr. Who]

They could be without power for at least a month. Let's hope FEMA brings in plenty of water purification systems and generators. It's strange, but I'm not seeing any specific relief efforts for Puerto Rico by FEMA. They mention bringing in water and food to St. Thomas. Puerto Rico has a population of 3.4 million. That is a huge number of people to provision.

[Peter1469]

They could be without power for at least a month. Let's hope FEMA brings in plenty of water purification systems and generators. It's strange, but I'm not seeing any specific relief efforts for Puerto Rico by FEMA. They mention bringing in water and food to St. Thomas. Puerto Rico has a population of 3.4 million. That is a huge number of people to provision.

I assume FEMA will be there soon. It is a territory, so we may not have to wait for them to ask for federal assistance.

[Dr. Who]

I assume FEMA will be there soon. It is a territory, so we may not have to wait for them to ask for federal assistance.

I hope so. Without fresh water, people could start getting ill very quickly.

[Peter1469]

I hope so. Without fresh water, people could start getting ill very quickly.

Yes. Also without electricity a lot of things go away. Refrigeration and AC for two.

[Peter1469]

At least it seems that it will not hit the mainland.

[resister]

They could be without power for at least a month. Let's hope FEMA brings in plenty of water purification systems and generators. It's strange, but I'm not seeing any specific relief efforts for Puerto Rico by FEMA. They mention bringing in water and food to St. Thomas. Puerto Rico has a population of 3.4 million. That is a huge number of people to provision.

After Charley struck here in 2004, it took one month to restore power, I still have power to half my house.

Only half the homeowners in PR have insurance, bad year to live there!

[Dr. Who]

Yes. Also without electricity a lot of things go away. Refrigeration and AC for two.

Also clean water, since the water treatment plants won't be pumping. That I expect should be the first order of business. People can survive having to use a BBQ, Hibachi or open fire to cook their food, but lack of clean water and sewerage will take down a population in very short order.