By: Staff Writer
September 20, 2022
At least two people have died in Puerto Rico because of Hurricane Fiona, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi told CNN, as rescuers scrambled to save flooding victims.
A 58-year-old man died after being swept away by La Plata River behind his home in Comerío, and a man in his 30s died after attempting to fill his generator with gasoline while it was on, setting it on fire, according to Press Secretary Sheila Angleró-Mojica.
The slow-moving storm dumped over 32 inches of rain near Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second largest city, according to a rain gauge maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey. Downpours capable of producing flash floods were expected to continue well into Tuesday, according to officials and radar readings. The governor estimated “billions” in damage.
The rain from Hurricane Fiona isn’t yet over in Puerto Rico and rainfall totals continue to climb into staggering territory.
A rain gauge maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey near Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second largest city, has registered a storm total of 32.1 inches through 5 p.m. Monday.
It is one of several gauges to post over 20 inches from the storm. The heaviest totals have concentrated in southern and eastern Puerto Rico.
More than 1,000 residents were rescued across Puerto Rico, while mudslides swept across the Dominican Republic. The storm is expected to strengthen as it heads to Turks and Caicos on Tuesday.
President Biden assured Gov. Pedro R. Pierluisi on Monday that the number of federal support personnel in Puerto Rico would “increase substantially” beyond the 300 rescue workers who are currently on the ground helping the island recover from Hurricane Fiona.
Mr. Biden told Mr. Pierluisi he would ensure that federal workers remained on the job to get the work done, according to a readout provided by the White House of a call made from Air Force One while the president was returning from London after attending the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Meanwhile in the Dominican Republic, authorities closed ports and beaches and told most people to stay home from work. Nearly 800 people were evacuated to safer locations, and more than 700 were in shelters, officials said.
The hurricane left several highways blocked, and a tourist pier in the town of Miches was badly damaged by high waves. At least four international airports were closed, officials said.
The Dominican president, Luis Abinader, said authorities would need several days to assess the storm’s effects.
A Hurricane watch is also in effect for the Turks and Caicos islands as the National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the Turks and Caicos Islands and Southeastern Bahamas (including: the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands). A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Heavy rains and wind from Fiona are predicted to reach the Turks and Caicos Islands by Tuesday morning. Fiona is currently forecast to produce 3 to 6 inches of rainfall in Turks and Caicos. This rainfall may produce considerable flood impacts, including flash and urban flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain.