At Least Four Dead in Heavy Rains, Flooding in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN - In addition to claiming the lives of four people, the strong tropical wave that has been affecting the island since yesterday established a record rainfall of over 24 inches in some areas within a 24-hour period.

Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá reported today that over 24 inches of rain fell in the Municipality of Patillas, which exceeds the record established in 1985 with the rains that affected the Mameyes community of Ponce, where 185 people died.

"We expect rain to continue falling throughout the entire island today," the Governor warned during a press conference where he was accompanied by the heads of safety, education, and transportation agencies.

Acevedo indicated that up to 12 inches of rain might fall in different areas during the next 24 hours, towns in the southwestern part of the island being the most affected.

He also indicated that weather conditions will not improve noticeably until tomorrow afternoon, but the eastern region will be the first to see a decrease in rainfall.

Meanwhile, Police Superintendent Pedro Toledo reported two deaths in Guayama related to the tropical wave, one involving a 75-year-old man who died of a heart attack while removing water from his house, and the other involving a 74-year-old man who drowned when getting caught under a car while helping a person who was stranded by floodwaters.

In Humacao, another person died of a heart attack related to the emergency, and another individual in the southeastern part of the island, details of whom were not offered, drowned while trying to cross a river.

Local news/talk radio station Notiuno (http://www.notiuno.com) is providing continued coverage (in Spanish, though) of the situation in Puerto Rico in the wake of the tropical wave. Further reports indicate school closures, mudslides, opened shelters, interruptions in water and electricity service, and cresting rivers. Residents are being urged to stay home.

2 posted on 09/22/2008 8:34:59 AM PDT by rrstar96 (Strength and Honor!)

Thinking about you. Please check in when you can.

3 posted on 09/22/2008 8:48:05 AM PDT by NautiNurse (Palin won more votes in her Wasilla Mayoral race than Biden got in his 2008 Pres run)

To: rrstar96; AuH2ORepublican; livius; adorno; wtc911; Willie Green; CGVet58; Clemenza; Narcoleptic; ...

Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.

4 posted on 09/22/2008 9:57:32 AM PDT by cll (Carthage must be destroyed)

Thanks, NN. We’re okay except for manageable urban flooding. Is the folks up in the hills and the south side of the island who are a cause of concern.

5 posted on 09/22/2008 9:59:30 AM PDT by cll (Carthage must be destroyed)

My thoughts and prayers are with the whole island.

6 posted on 09/22/2008 10:02:06 AM PDT by rrstar96 (Strength and Honor!)

The real miracle during and after the heavy rains last night is that we never lost electric power service! (knock on wood...)

7 posted on 09/22/2008 10:02:59 AM PDT by cll (Carthage must be destroyed)

Have no fear...Geraldo Rivera is en route to PR. Last report had him evacuating JFK Airport due to security scare.

:o)

8 posted on 09/22/2008 10:26:22 AM PDT by NautiNurse (Palin won more votes in her Wasilla Mayoral race than Biden got in his 2008 Pres run)

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