Emergency official warns of rains in coming days
By John McPhaul
jpmcphaul@gmail.com
Emergency Management and Disaster Administration Bureau Commissioner Nino Correa Filomeno warned Monday that the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that a lot of rain is expected this week due to the passage of a low-pressure trough in combination with a tropical wave through Puerto Rico, so he called on the public to be aware of the weather bulletins and flood warnings that may be issued.
Maritime conditions could also deteriorate, he added.
“We call on all people who live in flood zones or who are still in vulnerable places that suffered landslides from Hurricane Fiona to look for safe places to spend the coming days, since the forecast of the NWS is that It will rain for the rest of the week, especially between Tuesday and Thursday,” Correa Filomeno said in a written statement. “The concern is that we know that there are places prone to flooding where the land is still saturated from the downpours of recent weeks and we do not want there to be misfortunes due to this trough.”
The commissioner also asked people not to go into rivers, lakes or the ocean during the week while the weather conditions are deteriorating.
Separately, the Highways and Transportation Authority (ACT by its Spanish initials) announced on Monday the reopening of bridge 121 on highway PR-3 in Naguabo, which was taken out by Hurricane Fiona.
ACT Executive Director Edwin González Montalvo said the project was carried out at a cost of $102,780.60 and financed with federal emergency funds.
“We are working tirelessly to address all incidents where road infrastructure was affected by the hurricane and we continue working on 14 other roads in towns such as Bayamón, Ciales, Las Marias, Mayaguez, Morovis, Orocivis, Salinas, Toa Alta, Utuado and Yabucoa,” González Montalvo said.
The restored bridge provides access for hundreds of drivers from different communities in the direction of Naguabo.
With funding from the Federal Highway Administration, the ACT has worked on more than 290 projects related to Hurricane Fiona, including landslides and damage to pavement and bridges, among others. Total estimated damage is around $150 million.