Hurricane Maria Devastates Puerto Rico

As the Category 5 storm pulled out of the Caribbean, it left in its wake a trail of disaster from the tiny nation of Dominica to the American territory of Puerto Rico. The effects include a large dam that was heavily damaged and posed a threat to around 700,000 people- residents in the area evacuated late last week (CNN). The evacuation was a tedious procedure because of limited communication services; almost all of the wireless cell sites 95%, are out (CNN). In agriculture on the island, estimates a $780 million loss in crops, with 80% of the industry gone (CNBC).

Meanwhile, in the continental United States, Maria has caused a Tropical Storm Warning in parts of the North Carolina coast as strong winds and waves will arrive soon. Maria is weakening rapidly and will not directly hit the continental US, but large effects will still be felt in the Outer Banks. The latest prediction is that the storm will pass 150 miles off the coast, but isolated parts of North Carolina could see storm surge up to 4 feet (USA Today).