By the Caribbean Journal staff

United States President Donald Trump has declared that a “major disaster” exists in Puerto Rico and in St Croix, ordering federal assistance to supplement local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Maria.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help both individuals and small business owners.

Alejandro de la Campa has been appointed as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in Puerto Rico.

Trump’s declaration makes federal funding available to those affected in the Puerto Rico municipalities across the island.

Puerto Rico was hammered by Maria, with much of the island in a blackout and widespread damage.

The total damage assessment is still underway.

St Croix was pummeled by Maria as well, although the extent of damage remains unclear.

William L. Vogel has been tapped as the Federal Coordinating Officer for recovery operations in affected areas in St Croix.

The post White House Approves Puerto Rico, St Croix Disaster Declaration appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Hurricane Maria clobbered Puerto Rico on Wednesday, sending it into a total island-wide blackout, with reports of significant property damage.

It was not yet clear how much damage had been wrought, nor was it yet possible to determine the number of injuries or potential deaths.

Maria hit Puerto Rico with more than 20 inches of rain and serious flooding, with conditions strong enough to knock out radar and telecommunications.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello imposed a curfew at 6 PM on Wednesday evening, calling it “essential to maintain order.”

Rossello said he had already asked US President Donald Trump to declare Puerto Rico a Disaster Zone.

The Dominican Republic was next in Maria’s path late Wednesday and early Thursday morning,

Above: the projected path of the storm.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Dominican Republic between Cabo Engano and Puerto Plata, along with the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Dominican Republic west of Puerto Plata to the northern border with Haiti and the Dominican Republic west of Cabo Engano to Punta Palenque.

The storm was set to pass offshore the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic early Thursday before moving toward the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas Thursday night and Friday.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello imposed a curfew on Wednesday evening.

Maximum sustained winds were around 110 miles per hour with higher gusts, although some strengthening was forecast in the next day or two, according to the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.

While the storm was already moving away from Puerto Rico on Wednesday evening, it was still hitting the island with torrential rains.

The post Hurricane Maria Heads Toward Dominican Republic After Hammering Puerto Rico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The French Caribbean island of Martinique was spared after Tuesday’s encounter with Hurricane Irma, officials said.

Martinique’s Aime Cesaire International Airport reopened on Wednesday morning, with ports scheduled to reopen on Thursday.

“In Martinique, reconnaissance operations are still underway but already we can see that there is no significant damage,” said Jacques Witkowski, France’s head of civil protection and crisis response.

The rum bar at Le Petibonum in Le Carbet was back to serving cocktails on Wednesday.

Martinique was also spared by Hurricane Irma earlier this month.

“We are all deeply saddened by the devastation experienced by Dominica, Martinique’s neighbor to the North, and pray that all of our friends who are now in the storm’s path will be spared the worst of this powerful hurricane,” said Karine Mousseau, Martinique Tourism Commissioner.

Indeed, even in the north of Martinique, which was closer to the path of the storm, the island’s most popular bar, Le Petibonum, was back and open for business serving Martinique’s famous cocktail, the Ti’ Punch.

The post Martinique Quickly Back to Business After Maria appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Above: the projected path of Maria

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The eye of the “potentially catastrophic” Hurricane Maria was nearing St Croix on Tuesday evening, with Puerto Rico in its crosshairs.

Maria was 30 miles south-southeast of St Croix late Tuesday evening, and about 120 miles southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

It was expected to reach southeastern Puerto Rico Wednesday morning.

Maria’s maximum sustained winds were near 175 miles per hour with higher gusts; the storm was forecast to remain an “extremely dangerous” category 4 or 5 storm as it moved near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The National Hurricane Center said storm surges would lead to major flooding, with water expected to reach between six and nine feet above ground in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands if peak surged occurred at high tide.

A Hurricane Warning is now in effect for the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques and the portion of the Dominican Republic between Cabo Engano and Puerto Plata.

There were also tropical storm warnings in effect for Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten, according to the NOAA.

The storm had already caused significant damage in Dominica that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit called “mind-boggling.”

Although the extent was not yet clear, there were unconfirmed reports of six deaths on the island, which was now experiencing a communications blackout.

Guadeloupe was also hit hard, with at least one dead and two people missing and widespread flooding.

Neighboring Martinique had what officials termed limited damage, however.

It’s the second severe hurricane to hit the Caribbean this month, after Hurricane Irma devastated much of the Virgin Islands, St Maarten and St Barth.

The post Hurricane Maria Moves to St Croix, Puerto Rico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Sir Richard Branson, whose own Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands was devastated by Hurricane Irma, is urging the creation of a long-term “Marshall Plan” for the British Virgin Islands, modeled on the massive US aid package that helped to rebuild Europe after World War II.

Much of the BVI was devastated by the passage of Irma.

Branson, a major advocate for action on climate change, is also advocating for the Caribbean to be “reconstructed and rejuvenated with clean energy and new jobs.”

Branson recounted his experience during Irma in a video filmed in New York.

“I’ve seen first-hand the impact climate change is having,” Branson said. “Even as the world faces increasingly shocking climate change-related catastrophes, now is our opportunity to get on top of the problem before it’s too late.”

The post Richard Branson Urges “Marshall Plan” For British Virgin Islands appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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