Hurricane Ernesto, the third hurricane of the season, moved away from Puerto Rico on Wednesday after bringing torrential rains and flooding to the Caribbean island. Schools and offices were shut down as the storm passed north of the territory, leaving widespread disruption, power outages, and significant flooding in its wake.
The National Hurricane Center reported sustained wind speeds of 75 mph as the hurricane moved away from Puerto Rico on Wednesday afternoon. However, a flash flood watch remained in effect until Thursday, with 5 to 10 inches of rain already recorded by 2 p.m. ET and more expected.
Earlier Tropical Storm Ernesto Nears Hurricane Strength, Threatens Puerto Rico With Flooding
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi urged residents to stay indoors on Tuesday evening as forecasts predicted up to 10 inches of rain, potential landslides, and widespread flooding.
The island’s fragile electrical system, still recovering from Hurricane Maria in 2017, faced anticipated outages, with over 740,000 people reported without power by Wednesday afternoon.
The Puerto Rican government activated 344 shelters and suspended public transport in response to the hurricane. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and urge residents to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines.
Read: Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Tackles House Fire In Riverview
While Hurricane Ernesto moves away from Puerto Rico, its impact continues to be felt across the island. The full extent of the damage and the recovery efforts required will become clearer in the coming days.
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