We’re waiting to hear from 3 families here in our department- the mother of one of our professors and the families of 2 of our phd students. The whole department is on edge.
In a small department, we all become like family 
Oh, this makes me sad. We met the nicest couple from PR on a cruise one year. The next year we stopped at the same port, and they showed us around San Juan. Their daughter teaches at Colby, so we’ve hosted them when they travel through here. Last year, though, the man died shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. I hope his wife is all right. 
I’ll have to try to contact the daughter.
Much of “Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest” were filmed in Dominica. Our church support a church there. Praying everyone is OK.
1st hand reports from USVI focused on heavy rain and mud slides. Maria reported to move slower than Irma contributing to this. In addition to the destruction and toll on property and humans, I’m afraid there will be a significant toll on coral reefs and sea life. The plants will grow back in months. Coral reefs won’t. Looking at photos from today from spots like Magen’s Bay and other spots that are just awash in mud.
@doschicos that is so upsetting about the mud and debris onto the reefs. They will take forever to recover due to sediment cover.
Sailed around Fiji once two years after a hurricane and the coral was still dead and bleached. However, I sailed through Belize three years after a hurricane. All palm trees still dead like sticks on the outer islands but the reef on the outside edges were back to healthy because of the ocean current action washing the coral.
We were in Puerto Rico a year ago. What a beautiful island, it just makes me so sad.
Someone sent me a message that it could take months to restore power to PR. Awful.
All three families are safe and accounted for. Apparently there is ONE cell provider that’s working on the island and the community has been sharing phones so people can check in.
It sounds like my professor’s mom’s apartment is in pretty bad shape but she is OK and that’s what’s most important.
And now the dams have broken. http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/us/puerto-rico-guajataca-river-dam-evacuations/index.html
It just never ends 
Neighbors came back from PR days late- due back when Irma hit us in Tampa. They had a generator and cell phone coverage but no internet. Both their kids are there and Maria knocked out cell phone towers as well as power. They finally heard that they are okay. Large Hispanic population with much of it Puerto Ricans in this part of Florida. Glancing blow from Irma here plus two hits in PR- tough on people.
Puerto Rico is Katrina, but for an entire commonwealth of 3.5 million people instead of a city. Freedom!
Free November SAT Registration and CSS Profile Fee Waiver for Hurricane Irma-Impacted Students
Really happy the College Board is doing this!
Freedom? I don’t comprehend.
@“Cardinal Fang” I’m with busdriver11 what do you mean by “Freedom”?
New York Expands Relief Efforts for Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/nyregion/new-york-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-relief.html
Glad to see NY stepping up to the plate.
H’s boss went down to PR with the Guv on Friday. Curious to hear what he tells H today.
I volunteer with two women who both have extended family in PR. All are safe, one family lost all their trees and had significant damage to their house. A large tree went through the roof on the “addition”, but they have tarped it off and can live in the main part. They have no power, and were told don’t expect it for another week or more.
Are Direct Relief and the Red Cross the best places to donate for PR as far as organizations that can get things done quickly?
I’m really worried about PR… This could turn into a major humanitarian crisis (if it isn’t there already).
The two US hospital ships, the Mercy and the Comfort: why are they not in Puerto Rico right now?