Hurricane Fiona, which has severely impacted Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, has become more powerful as of Sept. 20.
Up to 30 inches of rain devastated the islands, causing flooding, mudslides, and damage to infrastructure, reported USA Today. More than 80% of Puerto Rico remained without power Sept. 20 after the storm shut down the entire electrical system more than 24 hours prior.
Additionally, water service was cut to more than 837,000 customers, as there is "no power to run filtration systems and no power to pump water into homes. That means no clean water for drinking, bathing or flushing toilets," reported NPR Illinois.
Unfortunately, three deaths have been reported so far (two in Puerto Rico and one in the Dominican Republic), reported USA Today.
"Catastrophic and life-threatening flash, urban, and moderate to major river flooding, as well as mudslides, are likely for southern and eastern Puerto Rico through Tuesday due the rainfall from Hurricane Fiona," stated the National Weather Service. Fiona is also forecast to strengthen during the next couple of days with heavy rains continuing through Sept. 20, adds the weather service. Life-threatening flooding is expected.
USA Today reported that "the storm strengthened to a Category 3 storm overnight with sustained winds of 115 mph. The hurricane, moving north-northwest at 10 mph, was centered about 10 miles off the coast of Grand Turk Island. Hurricane conditions were occurring over the Turks and Caicos and should persist through this morning," according to the National Weather Service.
Tropical storm conditions are forecast to be spreading over portions of the southeastern Bahamas through Sept. 25.
"Most of the rivers are too high," said Pagán Crespo, AAA (Puerto Rico's water agency) President, during an interview with WKAQ 580 AM on Sept. 19, reported El Nuevo Día. "We have 112 filtration plants, and most of them are supplied from rivers."
"As long as the rivers continue to decrease in level and it is safe for our personnel to carry out cleaning tasks, that is how we will be doing it," Crespo added.
