The news coming out of Puerto Rico is not good:
Puerto Rico entirely without power as Hurricane Maria hammers island with force not seen in ‘modern history’
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Maria raked across Puerto Rico Wednesday as the most powerful storm to strike the island in more than 80 years, ripping roofs off buildings and filling homes with water, and knocking out power to the entire population. "Definitely Puerto Rico — when we can get outside — we will find our island destroyed," Puerto Rico's emergency management director, Abner Gomez, said at a midday press conference, adding that 100 percent of the island is without electricity. "The information we have received is not encouraging. It's a system that has destroyed everything it has had in its path."
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Maria raked across Puerto Rico Wednesday as the most powerful storm to strike the island in more than 80 years, ripping roofs off buildings and filling homes with water, and knocking out power to the entire population.
"Definitely Puerto Rico — when we can get outside — we will find our island destroyed," Puerto Rico's emergency management director, Abner Gomez, said at a midday press conference, adding that 100 percent of the island is without electricity. "The information we have received is not encouraging. It's a system that has destroyed everything it has had in its path."
Roofs are ripped off buildings in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Hurricane #Maria bears down on the island. https://t.co/XILVvfAlAA pic.twitter.com/C29sZqYdb2â ABC News (@ABC) September 20, 2017
Roofs are ripped off buildings in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Hurricane #Maria bears down on the island. https://t.co/XILVvfAlAA pic.twitter.com/C29sZqYdb2
All of Puerto Rico has lost power after Hurricane Maria slammed into the island, according to emergency officials https://t.co/uOU5kjBaB1 pic.twitter.com/qXKu4PBFynâ BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) September 20, 2017
All of Puerto Rico has lost power after Hurricane Maria slammed into the island, according to emergency officials https://t.co/uOU5kjBaB1 pic.twitter.com/qXKu4PBFyn
Puerto Rico Completely Without Power as Maria Rages @weatherchannel https://t.co/2xQcBXuI0Oâ Denise Oliver-Velez (@Deoliver47) September 20, 2017
Puerto Rico Completely Without Power as Maria Rages @weatherchannel https://t.co/2xQcBXuI0O
10:25 a.m. -- 80% of buildings from Juana Matos community in Cataño were destroyed & half of municipal staff homes. https://t.co/VPI8IErl7sâ Samy Nemir Olivares (@Samynemir) September 20, 2017
10:25 a.m. -- 80% of buildings from Juana Matos community in Cataño were destroyed & half of municipal staff homes. https://t.co/VPI8IErl7s
Gurabo, PR experienced the full wrath of Hurricane Maria's winds and flooding Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/oVVoDzQ2mvâ WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 20, 2017
Gurabo, PR experienced the full wrath of Hurricane Maria's winds and flooding Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/oVVoDzQ2mv
Contact your elected officials to make sure our government is going to commit serious funding for rebuilding when this awful storm leaves.
Update #1 — Other diaries re: Maria
Hurricane Maria lashes St. Croix, slams into Puerto Rico bringing wind, rain, and storm surge
How You Can Help Survivors Of Hurricane Maria: Dominica, St. Croix, Puerto Rico
Powerful Hurricane Maria Striking Puerto Rico. Update: 11 am Advisory & Discussion
Maria slams into 'the enchanted isle' of Puerto Rico
Update #2
See this comment from
J Graham
When will the pr*sident designate PR a disaster zone? Earlier today, Puerto Rico’s governor, Ricardo Rossello, asked Trump to declare the region a disaster zone. The White House gave the country an emergency declaration, which is a designation below “disaster”. This from The Guardian about an hour ago. This is not adequate!
When will the pr*sident designate PR a disaster zone?
Earlier today, Puerto Rico’s governor, Ricardo Rossello, asked Trump to declare the region a disaster zone. The White House gave the country an emergency declaration, which is a designation below “disaster”.
This from The Guardian about an hour ago. This is not adequate!
Update #3
Please retweet, this is for folks in Puerto Rico who might be trying to get in contact with emergency services. pic.twitter.com/0uzrllsWUnâ Black Aziz Ansari ð (@Freeyourmindkid) September 20, 2017
Please retweet, this is for folks in Puerto Rico who might be trying to get in contact with emergency services. pic.twitter.com/0uzrllsWUn
NEW: Authorities say it could be four to six months before electricity is returned to Puerto Rico https://t.co/ExIJWtOIZzâ NBC News (@NBCNews) September 20, 2017
NEW: Authorities say it could be four to six months before electricity is returned to Puerto Rico https://t.co/ExIJWtOIZz
this is devastating. i'm scared for puerto ricohttps://t.co/cUv2uZ9oRf pic.twitter.com/4u2iWHqwCbâ Sarah Emerson (@SarahNEmerson) September 20, 2017
this is devastating. i'm scared for puerto ricohttps://t.co/cUv2uZ9oRf pic.twitter.com/4u2iWHqwCb
My moms friend in Puerto Rico sent us this video she took from her apartment #hurricanemaria #maria #MariaPR #pr pic.twitter.com/TzOvmfrTICâ TheHungryCondor (@TheHungryCondor) September 20, 2017
My moms friend in Puerto Rico sent us this video she took from her apartment #hurricanemaria #maria #MariaPR #pr pic.twitter.com/TzOvmfrTIC
Update #4
Everyone should see this interview with Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz
"The Puerto Rico and the San Juan that we knew yesterday is no longer there," San Juan's mayor tells @GadiNBC as she fights back tears. pic.twitter.com/M4yL7hHWe5â NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) September 20, 2017
"The Puerto Rico and the San Juan that we knew yesterday is no longer there," San Juan's mayor tells @GadiNBC as she fights back tears. pic.twitter.com/M4yL7hHWe5
Puerto Rico is now completely under a Flash Flood Warning. If possible, move to higher ground NOW! #prwx pic.twitter.com/TOrVnXaKORâ NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 21, 2017
Puerto Rico is now completely under a Flash Flood Warning. If possible, move to higher ground NOW! #prwx pic.twitter.com/TOrVnXaKOR
Here is the place to support the poorest communities in Puerto Rico now getting hammered by #Maria https://t.co/spfzLwTYHIâ Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) September 20, 2017
Here is the place to support the poorest communities in Puerto Rico now getting hammered by #Maria https://t.co/spfzLwTYHI
Hurricane #Maria caused widespread flooding on the streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico https://t.co/LdWgMsxcVk pic.twitter.com/Y1wi0j2Msmâ CNN International (@cnni) September 21, 2017
Hurricane #Maria caused widespread flooding on the streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico https://t.co/LdWgMsxcVk pic.twitter.com/Y1wi0j2Msm