“Tomorrow, everyone must be at home by 6:00 p.m. to avoid any mishaps. Be cautious. It’s better to be safe than sorry,” was the call from Governor Pedro Pierluisi ahead of the expected impact of Tropical Storm Ernesto, whose effects are expected to begin in Puerto Rico from midday tomorrow.
According to Pierluisi, although some decisions are up to private entities, after 6:00 p.m., only essential personnel should be on the streets while Ernesto passes, as Puerto Rico is now under a tropical storm warning.
According to the information provided to him by meteorology experts, the storm’s center will be at its closest point to Puerto Rico around 8:00 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, and the peak effects of the storm should be felt around midnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.
The governor and experts in meteorology and emergency management emphasized that in addition to the rain, maritime conditions are expected to worsen starting tomorrow and remain dangerous for several days, particularly in the north of the island, with waves of 13 to 18 feet and possibly even higher.
The storm is forecasted to bring rainfall accumulations of 4 to 6 inches, with the possibility of up to 8 to 10 inches in some areas. Ernesto had sustained winds this afternoon ranging between 35 and 40 miles per hour, which could increase.
“We do not anticipate that this storm will become a hurricane when it is near Puerto Rico or in the vicinity, but we still need to make preparations and protect ourselves,” the governor insisted before announcing the numerous measures already taken due to the storm’s proximity.
As was reported earlier in the morning, the start of classes scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled until further notice.
Additionally, the governor signed an executive order to activate the National Guard, so they can assist during the emergency, and the activation of between 200 and 250 personnel is expected.
On the other hand, the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO), Francisco González, stated that prices of essential goods will be frozen starting tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. He reminded that among those goods, such as water, ice, or batteries, pet food is also included.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP), Eileen Vélez Vega, announced that maritime transportation to the municipal islands of Vieques and Culebra will be suspended starting tomorrow, Tuesday, at noon. She added that they are in contact with the Coast Guard and will notify if there is any change that implies a suspension before that time.
The last trip from Ceiba to Culebra will be at 11:30 a.m., and the last departure from Culebra to Ceiba will be at 1:00 p.m. On the other hand, the last trip from Ceiba to Vieques will be at 8:30 a.m., and from Vieques to Ceiba at 10:00 a.m. The Ceiba ferry terminal will close operations at noon, and the barge will only make the morning trips.
The ferry service between San Juan and Cataño will be suspended at 4:00 p.m.
Although the Coast Guard is expected to provide more information tomorrow, “most likely” the ports will be closed at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow.
The airports remain open, but people with scheduled flights on Tuesday and Wednesday are advised to contact the airline for more information about possible schedule changes or cancellations.
Vélez Vega stated that bus collective transportation will operate tomorrow only until 4:00 p.m. The Call and Ride service will only be operating for dialysis patients, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Urban Train will continue operating as long as wind conditions allow.
On the other hand, Juan Saca, president of LUMA Energy, the operator of the transmission and distribution components of the electrical system, stated that yesterday they activated their six emergency centers and 11 centers for distributing materials across the island. He also indicated that they have 1,100 employees ready to respond in the field to any situation that arises, with another 250 on standby, and contracts with local and external contractors to supplement the response if necessary.
Saca highlighted that the phone number 844-888-LUMA will be available for citizens to report any situation that may occur. He urged people who have essential medical equipment for their survival, such as a respirator, to contact that number and register so they can be given preferential treatment when restoring service.
He emphasized the importance of staying away from power lines and calling the indicated number to report “anything that should be reported.”
The executive anticipated that there might be power outages due to the expected 50-mile-per-hour winds and said that crews are ready to address those situations as they arise. He explained that evaluating potential damage would take about 24 to 48 hours after the event, and, depending on the specific case, they could provide an estimated time for repairs after that assessment.
