Details on the measures local authorities are taking and the path of the weather system through the archipelago. Last updated at 9:00 a.m.
The center of Tropical Storm Ernesto is near latitude 19.8 north, longitude 67.2 west. At the time of the report it was moving northwest at 16 mph, according to the 8:00 a.m. report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). A turn toward the north-northwest is expected between tonight, Wednesday, and Thursday; by Saturday it should be near Bermuda.
The report adds that Ernesto has sustained winds of up to 70 mph, with stronger gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend about 150 miles from Ernesto's center.
— John Morales (@JohnMoralesTV) August 14, 2024
Here is what you need to know:
Shelters
List of shelters opened around the island by the Department of Public Housing.
Power and water services
At a press conference, LUMA Energy president Juan Saca said that "there will definitely be interruptions" to electrical service as wind gusts exceed 50 mph.
Saca also estimated that restoring service could take 24 to 48 hours after assessments by the company and the municipalities. LUMA currently has 1,500 employees activated to work in response to the weather event.
The Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA) sent a water tanker truck to the island municipalities of Vieques and Culebra to supply water in the event of a potable water outage. The agency currently has 1,622 emergency generators around the island to offset electrical service interruptions at its facilities.
The AAA has carried out preventive releases of water at dams around the island, including the Carraízo and La Plata reservoirs.
The president of the Negociado de Telecomunicaciones, Ferdinand Ramos Soeegard, said the telecommunications network has "energy resilience" following Hurricane María, given the purchase of generators, solar panels and other supply systems.
Health
At this time, Centro Médico de Río Piedras is operating on its regular schedule, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia explained, and its emergency room will remain open while Ernesto passes.
Beneficiaries of the Programa de Asistencia Nutricional (PAN) have received advance disbursements so they can complete their purchases before the event.
Education
According to Secretary to the Governor Noelia García Bardales, there is no scheduled date for the return to classes at public institutions, as it will be determined after the storm passes (possibly Wednesday, Aug. 14).
Classes and work across the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) system will likewise be suspended until further notice.
The start of classes at Universidad de Sagrado Corazón (USC) was postponed until Thursday, Aug. 15, while Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico (PUCPR) extended it until Friday, Aug. 16. Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico (UIPR), meanwhile, suspended classes until further notice as of midday Tuesday, Aug. 12.
Stay informed
The state government has set up the PREPS portal, where you can check the status of various services during the storm. This page will be updated continuously as Tropical Storm Ernesto passes over the island.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
