Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on Wednesday as a potent Category 4 storm, knocking out the entire island's power grid and triggering flash floods and mudslides. On Thursday morning the National Hurricane Center in Miami said heavy rainfall is expected to continue, and 'catastrophic flash flooding is occurring ... especially in areas of mountainous terrain.'
The storm is now passing offshore of the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, and hurricane warnings are in effect for the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas.
Maria struck Puerto Rico full on less than two weeks after Hurricane Irma brushed the island. Irma had killed at least three people and left nearly 70% of households without power, according to the New York Times.
Irma tore through the USVI as a Category 5 hurricane, causing catastrophic destruction in St. John and St. Thomas. Maria has now caused more destruction, especially on St. Croix, according to USVI Recovery, the official site for recovery efforts.
Before Maria USCG assets and personnel were strategically positioned with relief supplies, including water, in areas near the USVI and Puerto Rico.
USCG said the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley are en route from Curaçao to Puerto Rico and USVI with more than 800 gallons of bottled water. Air crews from USCG Sector Southeast in Miami are being deployed for search and rescue missions, and other resources will be delivered as needed by further assets and personnel.
Coast Guard personnel have been responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and to Hurricane Maria for days.
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