Today after midnight, a powerful hurricane of the Atlantic ocean – «Irma» – has hit the Small Antilles in the Caribbean sea. It brought heavy rains and strong winds.
A tropical cyclone does not stand still and is moving to the North-West, breaking about 16 miles (25.7 km) per hour. In his way stands of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba. Weather forecasters promise that closer to the week-end «Irma» may look to Florida.
But until someone is ready to attack the inhabitants of the island of Barbuda, which the hurricane came close around 01:47, she has already felt the injustice of nature.
Antigua and Barbuda
The streets were deserted: the people hid in their homes, and those who have no home, – in shelters. Many have lost contact with relatives and were partially cut off from the rest of the world, because the telephone line went dead.
It is too early to assess the extent of the damage, but it is known that several houses were damaged. Including police station: a strong wind blew the roof of the building and officers had to seek new homes. Some of them hid in a nearby fire station, and the rest to the shelter.
Praying for those in Antigua and Barbuda❤ this?? pic.twitter.com/w5iePB0Smb
— Di Owner? (@RMunroe_17) September 5, 2017
«Pray for those who are now on the Islands of Antigua and Barbuda.»
In General, the «Irma» on the Islands of Antigua and Barbuda was not so aggressive as was to be expected. All survived.
Gaston brown, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, sighs, and says this tweet:
06/09/2017, 5:42:18 AM: Gaston Browne: Colleagues, the Lord has protected us and we have been spared the worst of Irma.
— Gaston Browne (@gastonbrowne) September 6, 2017
«06.09.2017, 05:42:18: Colleagues, the Lord protected us and we were spared from the worst of the «Irma»».
Most likely, the hurricane was just saving their strength for Saint-Martin, where the local authorities forbid their citizens to take to the streets.
Saint-Martin
Their fears were not in vain: «Irma» had destroyed four of the «most solid» buildings on the island.
“We know that four of the strongest buildings on the island were destroyed, this means that more simple structures, likely to have been completely or partially destroyed,” said Gerard Collon, the Minister of internal Affairs of France.
Pictures m sent to our newsroom from St. Maarten after Hurricane Irma the initial impact. pic.twitter.com/jTfHdvE5fy
— Eric Yutzy (@EricYutzy) September 6, 2017
«The pictures that were sent to our news Department: St Maarten after the first shock of the hurricane «Irma»».
In addition, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy has been a flood and the power went out.
Whoa. This is the havoc of Hurricane Irma on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.pic.twitter.com/Eh7mRdPkiJ
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) September 6, 2017
«Wow. This is a destructive hurricane «Irma» on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten».
Meanwhile, the «Irma» in the first half of the day getting to Puerto Rico, is gradually brought down upon him the rain. Strong winds brought down trees and knocking down people off their feet.
Puerto Rico
“With such a danger we have never met. Many infrastructures will not be able to resist such a force,” said Ricardo Rossello, the Governor of Puerto Rico.
The inhabitants of the island and the truth is not in an enviable position: if the «Irma» will hit hard, because of the economic crisis, a full recovery may not be enough money. Likely to take them is not one – to Puerto Rico and so «hang» debts totaling $120 billion.
Southern San Juan, Puerto Rico #Irma pic.twitter.com/mQykQNBrc9
— Hola (@Urbanmediatiqu1) September 6, 2017
«The southern part of San Juan, capital of Puerto Rico».
Recognizing the risks that in some parts of the island the electricity can be lost for several months, local residents stocking up on water and food. At noon, already more than 30,000 people were left without electricity and about 4,000 without water.
I’m praying so hard for the millions of people in the path of Hurricane Irma including much of my own family in Puertorico. Please be safe.?
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) September 6, 2017
«I so much pray for the millions of people in the path of hurricane «Irma», including most of my family in Puerto Rico. Please be careful.»
Throughout Puerto Rico operates 156 points, where you can shelter from the weather. Rescue operations will be conducted until then, until the wind strengthened to 50 mph (80 km/h).
#Captan Video llegada de #Irma a Puerto Rico pic.twitter.com/RHBHUJGv5b
— Noticieros Enlace (@EnEnlace) September 6, 2017
Despite the fact that «Irma» can get to Florida only for the weekend, the us government decided in a timely manner to prepare for the hurricane.
FL
Today on the archipelago of the Florida Keys, which is home to 80,000 people declared evacuation, but the residents of low-lying areas in the mainland district Miami-Dade County is recommended to move on to something higher.
One of the residents of Key West – Caroline butt told reporters that four years ago she moved to the archipelago from Massachusetts to live with her husband.
The day before the evacuation, they faced difficulties refueling the car: when at some gas stations, in General, absent fuel, for the rest lined up in a long queue. The butt had to wait about 45 minutes.
After six evenings of the city will not fly: airport Key West will be closed immediately, as at 17:50 starts last flight to Atlanta. Can only use highway A1A.
A mandatory evacuation will take place in the southern part of the mainland of Floridaon Thursday it will start in the district the Broward, or rather, in areas located along the Atlantic ocean.
Many residents of the densely populated district of Florida – Miami-Dade County is also preparing for the long road. Given the fact that on the main highways connecting the Eastern and Western parts of South Florida with a Central, probably will be traffic jams, the state’s Governor Rick Scott canceled the fare.
“I’m leaving Miami. Hit you it storm or not – there will still be chaos, ” – said the artist Federico Uribe. Like him a lot.
And those who decided to stay, now devastate the shelves of supermarkets, which has almost no water and batteries. The vast majority of educational institutions in the districts , Brower, palm beach, Monroe, Miami-Dade County and Pinellas announced the cancellation of classes to the end of the week.
Crazy #HurricaneIrma isn’t even in Florida yet and most grocery stores are out of water & bread, the storm may not even go over Florida
— Jeffrey. (@jefreeb) September 6, 2017
«Crazy it «Irma» not in Florida, but most grocery stores have already run out of water and bread, but the storm might not come to Florida».
