Puerto Rico is being wiped out by Hurricane Fiona.

fuzzybuddy said:
All we know right now is that the entire island is without power and facing huge floods. PR is kind of like the poor relation of the US. It took years to try to restore what got wiped out in the last monster storm. And now, again.
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So sad, and it is such a pretty island inhabited by good people.
 

Grampa Don said:
As the sea level rises and storms get worse, some of these islands may become uninhabitable.
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Yes...this storm, and recent reports about the massive floods in Pakistan, and even the coastal flooding in Alaska, are just a sample of what much of the world will be facing in coming years. Climate Change is accelerating, and the world is Not prepared for it.
 
Grampa Don said:
As the sea level rises and storms get worse, some of these islands may become uninhabitable.
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You are so right. The Thwaits Glacier in Antarctica is the size of Florida and is melting faster than expected. If it eventually melts, sea levels could rise 10 feet. South Florida would be completely underwater. :(

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/f...ng-faster-than-thought-study-says-11662481260

And yes, these islands are predicted to disappear. It may not be in our lifetime, but it will be in the lifetime of young people.

20 Islands That Will Disappear in Your Lifetime
  • Federal States of Micronesia. > Population: 113,815. ...
  • Shishmaref, Alaska. > Population: 498. ...
  • Marshall Islands. > Population: 58,791. ...
  • Tuvalu. > Population: 11,646. ...
  • Maldives. > Population: 530,953. ...
  • Palau. > Population: 18,008. ...
  • Fiji. > Population: 889,953. ...
  • Seychelles. > Population: 97,625.
 
Pecos said:
So sad, and it is such a pretty island inhabited by good people.
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Yes, it is. I had a friend from Puerto Rico many years ago. We went to his family's house in the mountains for Thanksgiving. They roasted a pig in their yard. They were some of the most gracious people I've ever met, and even though I spoke very broken Spanish they treated me like I was part of the family.

It is a beautiful place, and I'm sending the people of Puerto Rico good thoughts.
 
dseag2 said:
You are so right. The Thwaits Glacier in Antarctica is the size of Florida and is melting faster than expected. If it eventually melts, sea levels could rise 10 feet. South Florida would be completely underwater. :(

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/f...ng-faster-than-thought-study-says-11662481260

And yes, these islands are predicted to disappear. It may not be in our lifetime, but it will be in the lifetime of young people.

20 Islands That Will Disappear in Your Lifetime
  • Federal States of Micronesia. > Population: 113,815. ...
  • Shishmaref, Alaska. > Population: 498. ...
  • Marshall Islands. > Population: 58,791. ...
  • Tuvalu. > Population: 11,646. ...
  • Maldives. > Population: 530,953. ...
  • Palau. > Population: 18,008. ...
  • Fiji. > Population: 889,953. ...
  • Seychelles. > Population: 97,625.
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I would hate to see the Marshall Islands go. There's a lot of history to be lost if they disappear. The Navy and Marine Corps. fought some pretty fierce battles with the Japanese during WWII on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. It's also a beautiful set of islands surrounded by coral atolls with their many different species of flowers and the coral surrounding the islands makes it a natural underwater adventure for divers to explore the ships that lie on the ocean floor below.
 
Hurricane Fiona apparently hit Puerto Rico as a category 1 storm, often called a "minimal" hurricane. I don't mean to diminish the damage done, or suggest is wasn't bad for some folks. Category 1 hurricanes can cause damage, and I hope the people of Puerto Rico come through this one without too much problem, time will tell.

However Puerto Rico has a long history of hurricanes, many worse than Fiona, a few years ago Maria was a category 5. See: https://huracanado1.tripod.com/index.html

What has changed to make Fiona such big news? I am guessing its a combination of the media hyping things and overcrowding on the island, memory of the relatively recent and much worse Maria is contributing. The "Puerto Rico is being wiped out by Hurricane Fiona" headline is clearly overstated. Damaged probably, but no where near "wiped out".

Don't think sea level rise has a lot to do with it, Puerto Rico is a mountainous island, not threatened as much as many places. Climate change is another issue, but its not really clear that hurricane frequency is increasing, might be...

Best to Puerto Rico and its people through this one!
 
You think only elites live on Martha's Vinyard, @CarolfromTX because you would be wrong. And Hawaii being elite? An entire United State is elite? C'mon. I do understand your frustration; I really do and sympathize. We can all do better, working together as one nation which we can't seem to do anymore.
 
Alligatorob said:
Hurricane Fiona apparently hit Puerto Rico as a category 1 storm, often called a "minimal" hurricane. I don't mean to diminish the damage done, or suggest is wasn't bad for some folks. Category 1 hurricanes can cause damage, and I hope the people of Puerto Rico come through this one without too much problem, time will tell.

However Puerto Rico has a long history of hurricanes, many worse than Fiona, a few years ago Maria was a category 5. See: https://huracanado1.tripod.com/index.html

What has changed to make Fiona such big news?
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"Big news" because news reporters seem to be trained on hysteria these days .... Each wants to be top reporter of any event.
 
Alligatorob said:
What has changed to make Fiona such big news
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In my opinion, what has changed is that each time there is a weather emergency that hits Puerto Rico, it is further damaging an infrastructure that had not been repaired from prior storms.

Some beaches have eroded so much that a few have totally disappeared leaving homes and businesses with no protection from the body of water just waiting to devour them.

I have spent many vacations in the SW of Puerto Rico visiting friends I worked with for over 30 years, and they retired back to homes where they grew up.
These friends, luckily, had the means to repair and reinforce their homes and live well in their retirement. There are so many that are not that fortunate.

Yet the Puerto Rican people, as a whole, are resilient, resourceful, and help those in their community who do not have sufficient means to overcome a disaster on their own. They are happy, always look at the bright side, and welcome anyone and everyone who comes into their homes.

After Hurricane Maria in 2017 they did not receive much assistance to repair the electrical system. It is very fragile, and in my opinion (again) I think there is a lot of mismanagement and corruption that prevents things from happening as they should.

Yes, Fiona was a Category 1, which is indicative of wind speed. The amount of rain in a short period of time (reported to be 12-16 inches) is what is causing the devastation. It will get worse. Fiona is slow moving.

Puerto Rico needs lots of help and prayers at this point.
 
Kika said:
In my opinion, what has changed is that each time there is a weather emergency that hits Puerto Rico, it is further damaging an infrastructure that had not been repaired from prior storms.

Some beaches have eroded so much that a few have totally disappeared leaving homes and businesses with no protection from the body of water just waiting to devour them.

I have spent many vacations in the SW of Puerto Rico visiting friends I worked with for over 30 years, and they retired back to homes where they grew up.
These friends, luckily, had the means to repair and reinforce their homes and live well in their retirement. There are so many that are not that fortunate.

Yet the Puerto Rican people, as a whole, are resilient, resourceful, and help those in their community who do not have sufficient means to overcome a disaster on their own. They are happy, always look at the bright side, and welcome anyone and everyone who comes into their homes.

After Hurricane Maria in 2017 they did not receive much assistance to repair the electrical system. It is very fragile, and in my opinion (again) I think there is a lot of mismanagement and corruption that prevents things from happening as they should.

Yes, Fiona was a Category 1, which is indicative of wind speed. The amount of rain in a short period of time (reported to be 12-16 inches) is what is causing the devastation. It will get worse. Fiona is slow moving.

Puerto Rico needs lots of help and prayers at this point.
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"In my opinion, what has changed is that each time there is a weather emergency that hits Puerto Rico, it is further damaging an infrastructure that had not been repaired from prior storms."

Perhaps due to so much "relief" money sent for these projects , ending up in the already deep pockets of those in position to intercept it .
 
Pepper, you miss the point of my post. As you well know. Although I am pretty sure only elite people live on Martha’s Vineyard or on the Hawaiian coast, unless they’re the live-in help. The point is, I am being told “the oceans are rising alarmingly fast” by the very same folks who then board a private plane powered by fossil fuels for their seaside home. Which is often the size of 10 Walmarts. Somehow, they don’t seem to think the rising oceans will affect them. So pardon me if I’m just a tad skeptical. Nice try attempting to change the subject, tho.
 
rgp said:
Perhaps due to so much "relief" money sent for these projects , ending up in the already deep pockets of those in position to intercept it .
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I totally agree. I alluded to that in my post.
Kika said:
and in my opinion (again) I think there is a lot of mismanagement and corruption that prevents things from happening as they should.
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The mismanagement and corruption came to light after Hurricane Maria in 2017 and again after the 6.4 earthquake in Guanica, PR in January 2020. Water, food, medical supplies, were found to be diverted to politicians and others that were not in need. So sad, so criminal.
 
@CarolfromTX
I like your post, but I just spontaneously replied, and didn't mean to change the subject. Sorry if I misunderstood you, but I'm glad we are talking together and hope for more conversations with you.
 
I am sorry for the terrible hardship that is in Puerto Rico. They are right in the path of Hurricane alley and the oceans keep warming. I think they need to get off the island. Immigrants. More Immigrants. Already we are shipping them around the U.S. like commodities. From Texas to New York. We'll show them northerners! Well where all these Puerto Rican immigrants going to go. I know more to New York!
 
dseag2 said:
And yes, these islands are predicted to disappear. It may not be in our lifetime, but it will be in the lifetime of young people.
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It has already happened in Louisiana, once inhabited islands and small towns have already disappeared, including Isle de Jean Charles, Isle Dernière and Burrwood (once home to a US Navy submarine base) see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_de_Jean_Charles,_Louisiana , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Island_(Louisiana) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrwood,_Louisiana . There are several others...

These are mostly small little known places, but New Orleans turn is coming. Much of the town is below sea level and all of it below commonly reached Mississippi River levels. The levees can't keep the water out forever.
 
Paco Dennis said:
I am sorry for the terrible hardship that is in Puerto Rico. They are right in the path of Hurricane alley and the oceans keep warming. I think they need to get off the island. Immigrants. More Immigrants. Already we are shipping them around the U.S. like commodities. From Texas to New York. We'll show them northerners! Well where all these Puerto Rican immigrants going to go. I know more to New York!
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Listen up You. Puerto Ricans are AMERICAN Citizens and ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS
 
Pepper said:
Listen up You. Puerto Ricans are AMERICAN Citizens and ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS
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Yep, they sure are. However Puerto Rico is in a funny place politically. Seems to me that both they and us would be better off if they either got statehood, or independence. I am ok either way, I'd let the residents of Puerto Rico decide. This in-between thing doesn't seem to work real well.
 
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Paco Dennis said:
Ok ...sorry your right they should be able to come and go as they please. But, that is going to be a lot of "visitors" to our country should they decide they need to move to the mainland.
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They ARE OUR COUNTRY. They hold American passports. They are not visitors. Once they get to the states they have every right to do whatever they please and live anywhere they wish to live, vote in all elections. No permission is needed.
 

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