Janice R. Andrews
Puerto Rico has acted swiftly and decisively in response to Tropical Storm Ernesto’s looming danger by canceling the start of public school courses and calling in the National Guard. The U.S. territory is ready for the storm’s arrival, which is predicted to bring strong gusts, heavy rain, and maybe flooding.
The sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is Tropical Storm Ernesto, which developed in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday. It was around 230 miles (370 kilometers) east-southeast of Antigua as of late Monday. The storm is traveling west at 28 mph (44 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph).
Public Advisories Issued
The U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Culebra, Vieques, Puerto Rico, and a number of other Caribbean islands, including Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, and St. Kitts, have all received tropical storm warnings. Ernesto is expected to cross over or be close to Puerto Rico, the United States, and the British Virgin Islands by Tuesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center’s forecast.
The possibility that the storm would saturate Guadeloupe and pass close to St. Barts and St. Martin has also been raised by officials in the French Caribbean. Widespread effects of the storm are anticipated, and forecasters have issued warnings about the potential for landslides and flooding.
Puerto Rico’s Measures of Preparedness
Commissioner of disaster management for Puerto Rico, Nino Correa, stressed the need for continued vigilance as the hurricane moves in at a press conference. He said, “We cannot let our guard down.” Governor Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico declared that more than 200 National Guard members have been activated to support emergency response activities, and that more than 340 shelters are accessible around the island in case of need.
Six to eight inches of rain might be brought by the storm, with greater amounts possibly in isolated regions, according to Ernesto Morales, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Juan. Additionally, he issued a warning for wind gusts equivalent to hurricane strength, especially since the storm is predicted to hit northern Puerto Rico late Tuesday into early Wednesday.
Power Grid Issues
The possibility of extensive power disruptions is one of Puerto Rico’s main worries. The island’s electricity system is still insecure in the wake of Hurricane Maria’s destruction in 2017. Regarding the possibility of power outages, Juan Saca, president of Luma Energy, which manages Puerto Rico’s transmission and distribution system, said, “That’s a reality.”
In the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands, where authorities have already declared island-wide blackouts on St. John and St. Thomas in advance of the storm’s arrival, similar worries have been expressed. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Albert Bryan Jr., advised locals to treat the storm seriously and to utilize it as a “practice run” for the impending hurricane season’s climax.
Gazing Forward: Ernesto’s Journey
As Tropical Storm Ernesto moves northward toward Bermuda, it is predicted to intensify into a hurricane by early Thursday. There have some forecasts who even speculate that Ernesto may strengthen into a powerful Category 3 hurricane, which would be extremely dangerous for the area.
Because of the unusually warm ocean temperatures this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast an above-average Atlantic hurricane season. Four to seven of the 17 to 25 named storms in the NOAA prediction have the potential to strengthen into major hurricanes with a Category 3 or higher.
Although conditions are still changing as Puerto Rico and the surrounding islands get ready for Ernesto’s onslaught, authorities are advising the people to keep informed and take all required safety procedures.
