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Hurricane Irma: Category 5 Storm Makes Landfall in the Caribbean Hurricane Irma: Category 5 Storm Makes Landfall in the Caribbean
(35 minutes later)
Read more about the storm here.Read more about the storm here.
• Hurricane Irma, packing winds of 185 m.p.h., made landfall in Barbuda, an island of about 2,000 people, around 2 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.• Hurricane Irma, packing winds of 185 m.p.h., made landfall in Barbuda, an island of about 2,000 people, around 2 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.
• Around 5 a.m., the eye was moving away from Barbuda toward St. Martin, the center said.• Around 5 a.m., the eye was moving away from Barbuda toward St. Martin, the center said.
• The Category 5 storm was churning toward Puerto Rico and threatening havoc and widespread destruction in several nearby islands, including St. Kitts and Nevis; the Virgin Islands, and Hispaniola, shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Cuba is also threatened by the hurricane. • The Category 5 storm was churning toward Puerto Rico and threatening havoc and widespread destruction in several nearby islands, including St. Kitts and Nevis; the Virgin Islands; and Hispaniola, shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Cuba is also threatened by the hurricane.
• Residents of the Caribbean were scrambling to leave flood zones, stock up on water, food and gas, and shutter their homes.• Residents of the Caribbean were scrambling to leave flood zones, stock up on water, food and gas, and shutter their homes.
• President Trump declared a state of emergency in Florida, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.• President Trump declared a state of emergency in Florida, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
Irma produced high gusts of wind across Antigua, in what appeared to be a less-than-eventful hit on the island early Wednesday.Irma produced high gusts of wind across Antigua, in what appeared to be a less-than-eventful hit on the island early Wednesday.
About 4 a.m. local time, the storm was 40 miles north of the island, the National Hurricane Center said.About 4 a.m. local time, the storm was 40 miles north of the island, the National Hurricane Center said.
In the Gambles Terrace neighborhood in St. John’s, the capital city, major structures were still intact and houses showed no significant damage. A few fallen branches littered the streets.In the Gambles Terrace neighborhood in St. John’s, the capital city, major structures were still intact and houses showed no significant damage. A few fallen branches littered the streets.
— CARL JOSEPH— CARL JOSEPH
As the storm bore down late on Tuesday, many residents of the Leeward Islands sounded stoic and battle-tested, saying powerful storms were a fact of life in the region.As the storm bore down late on Tuesday, many residents of the Leeward Islands sounded stoic and battle-tested, saying powerful storms were a fact of life in the region.
“We grew up with this stuff,” Joseph John, a surgeon in Antigua, said by telephone. “We build for it. We have the necessary sustenance for it, like water, generators and so forth, shutters and all that.”“We grew up with this stuff,” Joseph John, a surgeon in Antigua, said by telephone. “We build for it. We have the necessary sustenance for it, like water, generators and so forth, shutters and all that.”
Dr. John, who lives on the coast, was spending the night with a friend who lives inland.Dr. John, who lives on the coast, was spending the night with a friend who lives inland.
But he and others acknowledged that with the promise of record-high winds, Hurricane Irma could be a new experience for the islands.But he and others acknowledged that with the promise of record-high winds, Hurricane Irma could be a new experience for the islands.
“This one is a superstorm, so people are very uptight about this,” he said. “We’re talking 185 right now. I can’t recall any hurricane packing on 185 in my lifetime,” he added, referring to winds of 185 miles per hour.“This one is a superstorm, so people are very uptight about this,” he said. “We’re talking 185 right now. I can’t recall any hurricane packing on 185 in my lifetime,” he added, referring to winds of 185 miles per hour.
“There are tons of homes here that aren’t prepared for it obviously,” the surgeon continued, saying that many of the substandard dwellings were in lower-income neighborhoods. “What the heck is going to happen, we don’t know.”“There are tons of homes here that aren’t prepared for it obviously,” the surgeon continued, saying that many of the substandard dwellings were in lower-income neighborhoods. “What the heck is going to happen, we don’t know.”
On Wednesday, Elias Hadeed, a retired structural engineer and general contractor in Antigua, said that at least from his perspective, the storm was “much better than expected.” By 6 a.m., he said, the rains had stopped and he had gotten a chance to see the impact on his garden and his reinforced concrete home. On Wednesday, Elias Hadeed, a retired structural engineer and general contractor in Antigua, said that from his perspective, the storm was “much better than expected.” By 6 a.m., he said, the rains had stopped and there had been “no extensive damage” to his garden and his reinforced concrete home.
“No extensive damage,” he said in a text message. “We are lucky that it shifted a little bit to the north of Antigua, but feel sad for the people in our sister island Barbuda.” He said in a text message, “We are lucky that it shifted a little bit to the north of Antigua, but feel sad for the people in our sister island Barbuda.”
In St. Kitts and Nevis, Commissioner Ian Queeley of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force said in a text message on Wednesday that the early reports were encouraging. “Not too bad at this time,” he wrote. “Still plenty rain and strong winds.”
— KIRK SEMPLE— KIRK SEMPLE
The last time Puerto Rico was hit by a Category 5 storm was a century ago, said Bryan Norcross, a hurricane specialist at the Weather Channel. That hurricane, known as San Felipe killed more than 2,700 people in Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and Florida in September 1928, according to The Associated Press.The last time Puerto Rico was hit by a Category 5 storm was a century ago, said Bryan Norcross, a hurricane specialist at the Weather Channel. That hurricane, known as San Felipe killed more than 2,700 people in Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and Florida in September 1928, according to The Associated Press.
Officials in Puerto Rico warned that the island’s fragile electrical grid could be shut down for months in some areas. Gov. Ricardo Rosselló warned that the powerful winds could thrash the island, its infrastructure, houses and the phone system.Officials in Puerto Rico warned that the island’s fragile electrical grid could be shut down for months in some areas. Gov. Ricardo Rosselló warned that the powerful winds could thrash the island, its infrastructure, houses and the phone system.
“We have to prepare for an event that we have never experienced here,” he said.“We have to prepare for an event that we have never experienced here,” he said.
The hurricane could not have come at a worse time for Puerto Rico. The island is the throes of an economic crisis and does not have money for rebuilding.The hurricane could not have come at a worse time for Puerto Rico. The island is the throes of an economic crisis and does not have money for rebuilding.
“The price you may pay for not evacuating is your life or serious physical harm,” Prime Minister Hubert Minnis of the Bahamas warned residents.“The price you may pay for not evacuating is your life or serious physical harm,” Prime Minister Hubert Minnis of the Bahamas warned residents.
Evacuees from the southern part of the island chain were being flown to Nassau, the capital, on Wednesday, The A.P. said. Mr. Minnis called the operation the “largest evacuation” in Bahamian history.Evacuees from the southern part of the island chain were being flown to Nassau, the capital, on Wednesday, The A.P. said. Mr. Minnis called the operation the “largest evacuation” in Bahamian history.
In Miami-Dade County, Florida’s largest, the memory of the damage brought in 1992 by Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 storm, spurred residents to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irma earlier than usual. In Miami-Dade County, Florida’s most populous, the memory of the damage brought in 1992 by Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 storm, spurred residents to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irma earlier than usual.
Most projections have Irma slamming into the state by Sunday, although it was unclear where it might make landfall.Most projections have Irma slamming into the state by Sunday, although it was unclear where it might make landfall.
Gov. Rick Scott activated the state National Guard and declared a state of emergency.Gov. Rick Scott activated the state National Guard and declared a state of emergency.
Evacuation orders for Miami-Dade County were expected Wednesday or early Thursday, Mayor Carlos Gimenez said. Hundreds of thousands of residents are likely to leave their homes as a precaution for what is expected to be unprecedented coastal flooding.Evacuation orders for Miami-Dade County were expected Wednesday or early Thursday, Mayor Carlos Gimenez said. Hundreds of thousands of residents are likely to leave their homes as a precaution for what is expected to be unprecedented coastal flooding.
The county expected to open shelters on Wednesday, and ordered schools closed on Thursday.The county expected to open shelters on Wednesday, and ordered schools closed on Thursday.
The Florida Keys, a vulnerable chain of islands, were under a mandatory evacuation order: Wednesday morning for visitors and Wednesday evening for residents. The islands’ three hospitals began evacuating patients on Tuesday.The Florida Keys, a vulnerable chain of islands, were under a mandatory evacuation order: Wednesday morning for visitors and Wednesday evening for residents. The islands’ three hospitals began evacuating patients on Tuesday.
Hurricane Harvey in Texas was weighing heavily on people’s minds.Hurricane Harvey in Texas was weighing heavily on people’s minds.
“I think because of Texas, people are freaking out,” said Yoseyn Ramos, 24, a Miami resident who said she was worried because she could not find gas anywhere.“I think because of Texas, people are freaking out,” said Yoseyn Ramos, 24, a Miami resident who said she was worried because she could not find gas anywhere.
But Jose Fonseca, 52, a Coral Gables resident, said he had not yet done anything to prepare for the storm.But Jose Fonseca, 52, a Coral Gables resident, said he had not yet done anything to prepare for the storm.
“I think people are panicking because of the news from Texas day after day,” he said. “I will buy some water.” He added, “And some beer of course.”“I think people are panicking because of the news from Texas day after day,” he said. “I will buy some water.” He added, “And some beer of course.”
The National Hurricane Center said that Jose was expected to become a hurricane Wednesday night, and that Tropical Storm Katia had formed in the Gulf of Mexico.The National Hurricane Center said that Jose was expected to become a hurricane Wednesday night, and that Tropical Storm Katia had formed in the Gulf of Mexico.