Hurricane Maria

[Lara]

Radar down, relying on NOA satellite to track the eye.

IIRC from Irma the northeast of the hurricane is nastiest, which unfortunately is what Jimena is getting right now.

But it looks like the exit point is going to be around Arecibo, in between San Juan and my mother’s hometown.

The WAPA broadcasters are fairly calm. I didn’t think I could watch a live stream this time but it’s more reassuring than nothing.

ETA - omg the surge flooding in Guayama

 

[BittyBug]

So much of Puerto Rico is right on the coast, I can't imagine.

 

[Vash01]

(((Jimena))) I hope it calms down for you and yours.

 

[Jimena]

And we are flooded! Not a lot. And it's going down. Thank goodness we have a second floor. It is still blowing like crazy and the streets around my house are rivers. Thank goodness we build in concrete here.

We have NEVER seen anything like this. It's astonishing.

 

[skatesindreams]

(((((Jimena)))))

 

[Lara]

So much of Puerto Rico is right on the coast, I can't imagine.

I think the Guayama flooding is actually coming from the Rio de la Plata, not the ocean itself - but it looked surreal. Like from you see from disasters in Asia.

(((Jimena))) Hope the flooding recedes ASAP. I'm glad you could check in.

 

[Vash01]

I just watched a video clip on CNN.com. It looks & sounds (noise created by the wind) truly horrible. The article said PR could be without electricity 4-6 months (did I read that correct?). I hope power will be restored much faster.

 

[skatesindreams]

Many areas don't have the infrastructure to support rapid restoration of power or services.

 

[BittyBug]

Glad you are ok so far, @Jimena.

 

[purple skates]

Thanks for checking in @Jimena

 

[Lara]

Many areas don't have the infrastructure to support rapid restoration of power or services.

I’m sure it varies per area but the power system isn’t great under normal conditions unfortunately.

 

[BittyBug]

Unfortunately, current report say the island is entirely without power.

 

[Lara]

I checked the 14-day forecast and highs will be in the 80s...not 90s at least, but I know 88 is plenty hot enough especially with humidity.

Flash flood warning for my family’s town until 4:45. Also worried about mudslides.

 

[skatesindreams]

((((Lara))))
Let us know if there is news.

 

[ballettmaus]

Unfortunately, current report say the island is entirely without power.

They said on CNN that not all is due to outages as some have shut off power for safety reasons.

 

[kittyjake5]

Thanks for checking in Jimena. My thoughts are with you and PR.

 

[Vash01]

(((Lara)))

 

[Lara]

((((Lara))))
Let us know if there is news.

Nothing from the northwest (the last region to be affected) at all. Ugh. I’m sure they made it/are making it through and it’s just all communication being down but I’d like it confirmed. My cousin in Orlando has her two young kids there and must be besides herself.

 

[BittyBug]

I just saw a clip of San Juan's mayor basically saying that the San Juan and Puerto Rico that was there yesterday is no longer there today. She was very emotional.

 

[purple skates]

None of those islands are the same after these past few weeks. Makes you wonder if the region as a whole can recover.

 

[Vash01]

I am wondering if some people and businesses may have emergency generators that can provide them at least some power?

 

[topaz]

I'm praying for you Lara and Jimena, hopefully you guys will get some rescue/evac info soon.

My aunt received some damage to her house and around her neighborhood. My aunt's house lost the roof, wall and car. The pics are incredible and sad. But so far no loss of life from my aunt, her husband, my aunt's mom and grandfather. Which we are thankful

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155600674632457&set=gm.1612418162143255&type=3&ifg=1
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157276178469572&set=pcb.136481406978727&type=3&ifg=1
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=d0f4be73a3fb33a752f5758b7cd67e65&oe=5A458146
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=baac809bb032200698ac3eeef944e88a&oe=5A5A611A
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=a4ae242f31f01c8d2b10be6730064525&oe=5A4D1E51
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=e6b44fed2a08e785092e2acd00e6bac6&oe=5A3B725F
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=b06525dfd35fa16d1a4818cca505a195&oe=5A418CC2
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=cb462c84a05589d5bcc7efb23cbe92c1&oe=5A3FC31F


***Can everyone view the pictures?

 

[purple skates]

Yes. Sad.

 

[icie]

I just saw a clip of San Juan's mayor basically saying that the San Juan and Puerto Rico that was there yesterday is no longer there today. She was very emotional.

I saw that too. It is heartbreaking.

 

[quartz]

(((((@topaz family))))

 

[BittyBug]

Oh boy, @topaz. I hope your family and their neighbors are able to manage the rebuilding process. What a daunting task.

 

[Vash01]

Jimena, I hope you are ok. I heard there is no power in PR. So it may be hard for you to respond.

 

[Coco]

Wow, @topaz , I hope they can rebuild.

A co-worker's father is in Moca, Puerto Rico (west-northwestern side of the island) and she hasn't had contact with him for ~12 hours. While that is to be expected, it is extremely stressful, of course.

If anyone here can point me to a news site that has detailed information on the conditions in that region, I'd be grateful.

 

[Lara]

Glad your aunt’s okay topaz. Tough to look at these pics.

@Coco - I’m also waiting for basically any news of the northwest, let alone my relatives in Aguada. I understand the silence but it’s scary not having any info yet.

 

[Jimena]

Hi all! They're saying locally that 80% of communications are gone. No one has heard anything from people on the south, central and western Puerto Rico. The entire island is without power. I have no water, either. I haven't heard from my sister and my brother, yet.

We went for a short drive today so we could check on my mom's house. The island looks like a bomb went off. There is no green anywhere. We can only see concrete. It's amazing. Very similar to the pictures topaz posted.

The roads are a mess. There are power lines down everywhere, and to get anywhere you need to go against traffic all the time because the roads are blocked. We are paralized.

Needless to say, I barely have cell phone signal.

In the middle of all this, a kitten ended up in my neighbor's storage closet and I now have her. She's about 3 weeks old and I need to find a foster for her because I have 4 dogs and they're not cat-friendly. She's adorable. We've named her Maria.