United States: “Extremely dangerous” hurricane nears Puerto Rico and Saint Croix /update 1

Event

Hurricane Maria, now a category 4 storm (on a scale of 1 to 5), continues to move towards the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. According to current predictions by the National Hurricane Center, Maria is expected to pass within 15 km (10 mi) of Saint Croix (US Virgin Islands) before making landfall in southeastern Puerto Rico as a major hurricane (level 3 or higher) at 08:00 (local time) on Wednesday, September 20. Hurricane warnings have been issued for all of Puerto Rico (including Culebra and Vieques) and the Virgin Islands, including Saint Thomas and Saint John, which sustained heavy damage earlier in the month from Hurricane Irma.

Up to 46 cm (18 in) of rain is expected in the region during the storm’s passage, followed by several days of additional precipitation. Life-threatening flooding, landslides, wind damage, and power outages are to be anticipated, along with major transportation disruptions and business/store closures after the storm’s passage.

A state of emergency has been declared for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and a confinement order will be enforced on Saint Croix beginning at 10:00 on Tuesday morning until further notice. Everyone present on Saint Croix is being advised to take shelter in one of the islands three emergency shelters. Weeks and even months of power outages are already being predicted.

Puerto Rican officials have opened 450 shelters and asked residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate. Rationing measures have been imposed on the island for bottled water and other essentials ahead of the storm. Widespread power outages are expected in Puerto Rico as well, where 70,000 people remain without electricity due to damage caused by Irma. Schools have been closed since Monday.

Context

Maria is set to be the most powerful storm to hit Puerto Rico in 85 years. Various Caribbean islands are still recovering from Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm that devastated much of the region earlier in September.

Advice

Individuals present in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are advised to follow all instructions issued by the local authorities, keep abreast of weather forecasts and alerts, and avoid coastal and mountainous areas (risk of flooding and landslides).

Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult. Finally, because floodwater may also contain wastewater or chemical products, wear boots and try to avoid any contact with the water. All items having come into contact with the water should be washed and disinfected and foodstuffs disposed of.