Janice R. Andrews
Hurricane Ernesto dumped deluges of rain on Puerto Rico and the northeast Caribbean on Wednesday, devastating extensive destruction in a stunning demonstration of nature’s might. A state of emergency was declared throughout the area as a result of the storm, which swiftly intensified into a Category 1 hurricane and almost cut out electricity for half of Puerto Rico’s population.
Pervasive Power Outages and Damage to Infrastructure
More than 640,000 people in Puerto Rico lost power when Ernesto tore through the U.S. territory. The brittle electrical infrastructure on the island, which is still healing after Hurricane Maria’s devastating destruction in 2017, gave way under the might of the storm. 23 hospitals were compelled to run on generators, according to Governor Pedro Pierluisi, as workers hurried to evaluate the damage and start the difficult process of restoring power.
“Our goal is to have the system operational as quickly as possible,” stated Juan Saca, president of Luma Energy, the organization in charge of electricity distribution and transmission in Puerto Rico. Hospitals, vital services, and the island’s water and sewage systems were given first priority during the restoration process. However, with over 300,000 people still without water as a result of the power outages, recovery will likely take time and uncertainty.
Six cell towers were down in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where there was an islandwide blackout on St. Croix and other comparable incidents. Due to severe floods and fallen trees, several highways in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were inaccessible, forcing the closure of schools and government buildings. Mayor Edilberto Romero of the little island of Culebra called the situation serious, saying, “We have trees that have fallen on public roads.” Certain roofs have been blown off.
Transportation disruptions and flash floods
There were flash flood warnings issued throughout Puerto Rico due to Ernesto’s heavy rainfall, which left some regions with up to 10 inches of rain. Residents of Toa Baja, a coastal hamlet in the north that experiences frequent flooding, prepared for the worst by moving their cars to higher ground. A local named Víctor Báez described the general sense of unease that people had when he remarked, “Everyone is worried.” He said, “It’s going to go out again,” alluding to the unstable power source.
There were over 140 canceled flights to and from Puerto Rico as a result of the immediate and serious effect on transportation. The region was still being battered by strong winds and heavy rainfall when this disturbance occurred, severely isolating the island.
Ernesto’s Journey and Upcoming Dangers
Ernesto had gusts of up to 80 mph and was situated around 690 miles to the southwest of Bermuda as of late Wednesday. At 16 mph, the storm was traveling northwest, and forecasters warned that it would probably get stronger over the next few days. Ernesto may strengthen into a Category 3 storm by Friday, which would be extremely dangerous for Bermuda, where a hurricane watch has already been issued.
Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s Minister of National Security, cautioned residents to “get ready now before conditions worsen.” Ernesto is predicted to pass close to the island on Saturday, so plans are in place to lessen any possible damage.
Along with cautioning beachgoers about the potentially deadly rip currents that might result from Ernesto’s strong surges, the National Hurricane Center also issued warnings for the East Coast of the United States. According to Robbie Berg, a center meteorologist, “that means that anybody who goes to the beach, even if the weather is beautiful and nice, could be dangerous.”
Historical Background and Prospects for the Future
The third hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season of 2024 is Ernesto, the fifth named storm overall. Due to record-high ocean temperatures, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting an above-average number of storms this season, which has already shown to be very active. Between 17 and 25 named storms are projected this year, according to NOAA forecasts, with four to seven of them likely to intensify into major hurricanes.
Three or more storms have formed in the Atlantic by mid-August just four previous times since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane expert Philip Klotzbach. This worrying pattern highlights how hurricane seasons are becoming more intense, a problem that is probably being made worse by climate change.
Adaptability and Healing
The destruction that Ernesto left behind has rekindled conversations about Puerto Rico’s susceptibility to natural calamities. One major issue is the island’s electricity infrastructure, which is still unstable despite continuous restoration attempts. Chief director of the Hispanic Federation for Puerto Rico Charlotte Gossett Navarro bemoaned that even after all these years, “we still see something like a storm cause such widespread outages in Puerto Rico, particularly given the risk that these outages can cause for vulnerable households.”
Resilience has been ingrained in the island’s populace. The number of rooftop solar installations has skyrocketed from 8,000 in 2017 to over 117,000 now, indicating that many people have resorted to solar power in recent years. However, paying for such systems continues to be difficult for a society in which over 40% lives in poverty. San Juan street seller Lucía Rodríguez summed up the atmosphere perfectly when she said, “People already prepared themselves with candles.”
Recovery and readiness continue to be the major priorities as Ernesto makes its way across the Atlantic. Even while the current threat may pass, the difficulties brought on by a more unstable environment will endure, necessitating both inventiveness and tenacity from the areas it passes through.
