Hurricane Maria Destroys Dominica, Puerto Rico Next

Hurricane Maria plowed through the Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica last night before heading toward Puerto Rico and several islands already dealing with the damage created by Hurricane Irma. With winds of up to 160 miles per hour, the storm left much of the island in ruins. By Tuesday morning, the island’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, had posted on Facebook that “initial reports are of widespread devastation.”

At the height of the storm, Skerrit told those following his reports on Facebook, “My roof is gone. I am at the complete mercy of the hurricane. House is flooding.” He later added, “So far, we have lost all what money can buy and replace. My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths.”

Hurricane Maria Initial Reports

Photo via Twitter/HouseofCaribbean.

Skerrit’s report was heartbreaking. “So far, the winds have swept away the roofs of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with. The roof to my own official residence was among the first to go and this apparently triggered an avalanche of torn away roofs in the city and the countryside. Come tomorrow morning we will hit the road, as soon as the all clear is given, in search of the injured and those trapped in the rubble.”

The Damage Is “Mind Boggling”

“I am honestly not preoccupied with physical damage at this time,” the shaken Prime Minister wrote, “because it is devastating…indeed, mind boggling. My focus now is in rescuing the trapped and securing medical assistance for the injured. We will need help, my friend, we will need help of all kinds.”
As for the island’s infrastructure, Skerrit reported that it was “too early to speak of the condition of the air and seaports, but I suspect both will be inoperable for a few days. That is why I am eager now to solicit the support of friendly nations and [organizations] with helicopter services, for I personally am eager to get up and get around the country to see and determine what’s needed.”

Hurricane Maria Heads For Puerto Rico 

San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons

The storm is forecast to hit the island on Puerto Rico Wednesday as a category 4 or 5 hurricane, making it the first storm of its magnitude to hit the island in 85 years. The US territory is home to 3.4-million inhabitants and barely escaped Hurricane Irma just two weeks ago. Ironically, the island provided shelter to many of those escaping Hurricane Irma’s path only a few short weeks ago. Now, Puerto Rico’s Governor has taken to Twitter to say, “It is time to seek refuge with a family member, friend or head to a state shelter.”
Meanwhile, a hurricane warning is also in effect for Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Culebra and Vieques. “A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 11 feet above normal tide levels in the hurricane warning area near where the center of Maria moves,” reported the National hurricane Center. Guadeloupe’s government Twitter account warned residents, “Don’t go outside under any circumstances.”

Our prayers are with the residents recovering from the devastation and in the path of Hurricane Maria. The current forecast shows the storm to head out to sea by the end of the week.