Trump says Puerto Rico obliterated by Hurricane Maria

Olivencia, a longtime member of the Democratic party with ties to the government in Puerto Rico, said he received more than 100 calls on Wednesday, many from people hoping he might have news about friends and loved ones on the island.

The government is calling the situation “extremely unsafe”.

The evacuations follow a flash flood warning by the National Weather Services for the municipalities of Isabela and Quebradillas, which the agency called “an extremely risky and life-threatening situation”.

At the moment, Maria does not appear to pose a threat to the USA mainland.

At least 28 lives in all have been lost around the Caribbean, including at least 15 on hard-hit Dominica. Total devastation is apparent there with roads ripped apart and huge trees uprooted.

“I just keep on the news, live streaming of the storm the entire time”, said Martinez. The singer posted an emotional plea on social media.

Hurricane Maria knocked out the power on Puerto Rico and the USA military, which is helping the island, says it is impossible to know when power will be restored.

The Coast Guard released video Friday of a dramatic rescue off Puerto Rico as Hurricane Maria battered the island. “The flooding I’ve seen is larger than I ever would’ve expected”.

Meanwhile, the loss of power left residents hunting for gas cylinders for cooking, collecting rainwater or steeling themselves mentally for the hardships to come in the tropical heat. The damage was so extensive, the 64-year-old retiree said, that she didn’t think the power would be turned back on until Christmas.

Hector Llanos, a 78-year-old retired NY police officer, is leaving the island.

On Thursday, the FCC estimated that more than 95 percent of Puerto Rico’s cellular telephone sites were out of service.

“It’s pretty nerve wracking and stressful, but you try to stay positive”, said Gerardo Colon, of Cleveland, who has not heard from his parents or grandparents since the storm hit. “This is never going to return to normal”. “It could be tonight, it could be tomorrow, it could be in the next few days, but it’s very likely it will be soon”, she told Reuters by telephone on Friday night. You know, I was in the Marines.

The local electricity board has promised that their priority will be to restore power to hospitals, water treatment plants and pumping stations. The north coastal town of Manati had run out of fuel and fresh water, Mayor Jose Sanchez Gonzalez said.

Still, getting out the evacuation message was extremely hard.

As rescue mission fan out across the island, Gov. Rossello is warning people to stay inside.