Hurricane Maria

Stay Safe

Julie from expat.com,

There are maybe 8 +/- currently active members actually living in PR and in harm's way., They probably can't read your message at the moment.

The remainder of this Board's current regular posters, 20? +/-, like me, are safe at home elsewhere.

We have a lot more members that are more active in the FB group and I am in contact with. So far so good, no water and no electricity which was as expected. But we have only heard from a few of them since last night. They should all be fine, I been informing them in real time what shows up in the storm coverage in the Spanish local news. So they been well aware of what to do.

Thank you Rey, and all the others keeping everyone posted throughout this trying time. We pray that everyone remains safe.

We were just in Palmas three weeks ago, fell in love with it, and decided that it was the marina and neighborhood for us come next spring.  Really hope everyone there and throughout PR is making it through this safely.

OK good Rey, didn't know about the FB page. What is it called?

How many members over there?

And what is the Spanish media saying about today, and which media are you referring so that we can take a look-see?

Thinking of you all!!!!

Yes,prayers for everyone that was in its path.
Does anyone know how aguadilla and aguada faired through the hurricane?

USCG wrote:

OK good Rey, didn't know about the FB page. What is it called?

How many members over there?

And what is the Spanish media saying about today, and which media are you referring so that we can take a look-see?

Group is Expats In Puerto Rico.  About 300 members, it is closed group, you get 3 questions and they need to be answered to be accepted.

Rey,
Have you heard anything on aguadilla or aguada?

We have been looking for information about the north west part of the island.   No luck

Thank you for trying

Jenmag,

That area is still in the hurricane at 100 mph winds. NOAA reported at 5pm that Maria's eye is at 18.8N 67.3W. That 's only app 21 miles NW of Isabela. Moving at 12mph and predicted to slow. So with her hurricane force winds up to 6o miles, and then tropical force winds up to 125 miles, you can do the math. But remember that's the coordinate for the eye. The back loop of the entire cyclone will still be still be hitting NW PR  for many hours after the eye is out of those ranges.

Here's a satellite loop image of where she was during a 3 hour time frame starting early after noon. The time stamp is Zulu time, roughly 4 hs different then PR time.

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/HURRLOOPS/huvsloop.html

Jenmag wrote:

Rey,
Have you heard anything on aguadilla or aguada?

No have not heard but the storm exited the island around Aguadilla so that may give you an idea.
TV channels have lost communications with their personnel in the field, those crews will be making their way to the TV stations with lots of reports, and videos. Maybe 8 or 11 tonight the stations may have videos and description of damages in the west.
Also the west is still being hit with strong winds even if the storm is moving away since the edges of the storm are still close to the west of the island.
If you have FB, there is plenty of videos from locals and probably the same in youtube

Thank you so
Much for that update,I am so sorry this has happened to PR 😔

I'll bet the Camuy river is a major flooding area.  When my friends in PR get communications back they will give us some info.

It's a shit show out here. Damage and trees down everywhere. Minor damage to our vehicles. Downed pool fence. It's horrible. We're getting rains and wind as I write this in Carolina. It's 8:50 pm here. Lightning has started. Winds have picked up. I still have cell service and generator from the condo.

Good to hear from you Peach!

Those in the Dorado area may want to check this: https://www.facebook.com/yolie.cintron/ … 5439532823

Word through the grapevine is the west side is completely without water, electricity and cell service.

I'm in one of the condos in Escorial and our place has a cistern and there's NO water. ATT is my new best friend. Cell service the whole time with Wifi hotspot. Not looking forward to people looting the shopping center.

Hey Peach, you're the only poster living there that has posted, haven't heard from the 5 or 6 others who post regularly so we all hope they are OK, but don't know.

What is the status generally of life in SJ?

I have been unable to contact anyone in PR by cell or email.    I think most cell towers are off line.    Anyone with a satellite phone in PR?

Hearing 8 drowned in Toa Baja, sea level area NE coast, including one police officer, allegation of no warning the dam would be opened.

Also 5 others were found dead. 4 sisters in a house that had a mud slide, 3 of the sisters died, another was a guy that had a fall and the last one was found under a bunch of debris not sure what he died from. As communication gets better the numbers may increse.

I am not on Facebook but my amiga said there is a FB page  "Puerto Rico Maria Uodates" with fotos of Hatillo and Arecibo and in general.

Yesterday by Costco in Carolina they were installing what looked like a generator for the water pumps. Some areas are severely flooded. I saw a video of Los Colobos in Carolina close to Canovanas area is flooded, Kmart lost the roof and people were looting. We lost cell service since the last time i posted and just got it back today but very limited. Plaza Carolina has damage, Best Buy lost half of its big blue sign. UPR hospital in Carolina looked like it's up and running. Krispy kreme and Wendy's across the street were open. Police were stationed outside of those businesses. Police are also at some intersections directing traffic. Some businesses are open but have not seen a bank or gas station open. One CVS out here is open and cash only. All the trees are bare with not one leaf except for palms. Econo by plaza Carolina was open and lines were long outside store to get in. Going towards the airport you can see extensive damage to buildings and flooding.

Friends living in other areas have said ocean park is at least waist deep in water. Those friends lost everything. In condado lots of sand was brought in by the current by ashford. I heard Dorado was completely underwater and so was Palmas Del Mar. not so sure how accurate the last one is.

Everything is at least somewhat damaged.
Concrete light posts to our condo that are up to the third floor are slanted. Some palm trees along with regular trees were snapped in half. Trees are bare. Our condo water pump has damage. Gates to communities have been damaged or completely broken. It also looks like private companies have been hired to clean up the trees and clear the roads.

Incredible. You gave us more info from a real person of the status quo that we have had since your last.

Maybe you would like to hear a summary of what the mainland media is feeding the world but very generally and getting more specific as the hours go by.

But in sum and summary, no power up to 6 mos, main power plants minor damage but 80% grid (poles, lines) are demolished and need to be replaced. 90% cell towers down as per the FCC.  Today main cable into PR for internet re-attached, needs tweaking. 11 dead, then 12, then back to 6, I'd say 7 is probably confirmed. The damned Dam in Lake Guajataca (I know I misspelled it) 6 miles or so South up river from isabela is about to collapse flooding NW coast again, but that info is compromised because there has been video on U tube showing that thing has been pouring water out massively down stream since yesterday am, I think enough to prevent a total collapse, should know if a few hours. But PR has been sending buses up there to evacuate people. Gasoline is supposed to be plentiful tomorrow. Curfew in place being enforced strictly. No IV tax on fast food for now. The Feds are sending massive help already arriving and some charities as well. Still no word about what is up in about half of the municipalities, especially in the mountains and SE and SW coastal but all their mayors got FEMA sat phones today so status should be updated soon. FEMA electrical engineers did fly over today re juice grid. Then published this plan: Get power to main hospital in SJ which will be the juice centro, then to first responder centers all around, then to concentrated areas so good news for SJ, and then to all. I'll send you more via PM as I think of it but I hope you were already aware of what the world thinks of what is going on is accurate to you.

Flooded areas are all over the island, some pumps are coming online, there is plenty of good news if you listen to the TV channels (Spanish).  neighbors  are removing junk off the streets and helping each other, houses made out of wood have lost their roof or the house have been destroyed, but they are in shelters. Priority is getting the high voltage lines up and running and providing hospitals with electricity and fuel for the generators, water trucks are being moved into different areas. It is going to take many years before people can rebuild, but normalcy is coming a little bit at a time. I would suggest reading El Nuevo Via, El Vocero, and watching WWW.Wapa.tv

There are plenty of organizations helping and also the military, cost guard, national guard. Many cities in Florida, NY and others are collecting food, clothes, and items that are being shipped to the island, mayors of the towns have received satellite phones since the communications are down and they are starting to report to the central government. Fema is helping, generators are being distributed, money is being distributed. etc.

Take a chill pill

Thanks USCG. Limited service but somehow this website works. Can't get on Facebook or other online searches. Gas lines are miles long and of course are protected by police.

Curious as to Munoz operations. Still flying?

Hi Doc, Most flights arriving are limited. Lots are private planes or chartered or military with a few comercial flights. It is risky apparently the radar is busted. They are hoping to get this to some semblance of normality by Tuesday. Lots of tourists and others that do have tickets to get out of PR are having their flights canceled. Airlines are also charging a lot for tickets.
https://www.facebook.com/108679513654/v … 583733655/

Thanks Rey. Don't do FB since, well, since...

Condos even on the third floor and homes are being looted. Food is being stolen from those homes as well. Gunshots were heard the other night. People are starting to get desperate. People are not receiving aid fast enough. There is an OASIS set up by AAA so there is free drinkable water for everyone. What makes me angry is some of my husbands friends lost everything too and have not received any aid from anyone not even at work except by friends and coworkers. Yet they are the ones helping in the daily operations. They have not been given any resources.

Our condo is rationing water and electric and looking to hire an armed guard. Still have not received diesel to refill generators. Diesel truck was diverted to a hospital. Cell service still in and out. Everyone in our community has been great.

Yes what I am hearing is that there are plenty of containers sitting in the ports but not enough drivers and trucks to deliver it.

The government is trying to get diesel out in the field and gas, but not enough drivers. Lockily restaurants and supermarkets are starting to open, but if you can get no cash it does no good.