Hurricane Fiona: As the storm passed near Bermuda, Canadians on the Atlantic coast were on alert

CNN
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a killer hurricane That hit several Caribbean island nations this week is now affecting Bermuda before hitting Canada this weekend, with residents being warned to prepare for high-risk winds and torrential rain.

Officials in Canada’s Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are urging those in the path of the storm to be on high alert and prepare for the impact of Hurricane Fiona, which has already killed at least five people and cut power to millions this week.

“Fiona is expected to be a significant and historic weather event for Nova Scotia,” He said John Loehr, Minister Responsible for the Regional Emergency Management Office.

“It is potentially very dangerous. The effects are expected to be felt across the county. Every citizen of Nova Scotia should prepare today.” During an official update Thursday.

Loehr said residents should prepare for damaging winds, high waves, coastal storms and torrential rain that could lead to prolonged power outages. Emergency officials encouraged people to secure outdoor materials, trim trees, charge cell phones, and set up a 72-hour emergency kit.

The area hasn’t experienced a storm of this intensity in nearly 50 years, according to Chris Fogarty, director of the Canadian Hurricane Center.

“Please take it seriously because we see meteorological numbers in our weather maps that are rarely seen here,” Fogarty said.

Utility company Nova Scotia Power activated an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Friday morning that will serve as the central coordination area for outage recovery and response, according to a press release.

The company will also work closely with the Nova Scotia Office of Emergency Management.

“We are taking every precaution and will be prepared to respond to Hurricane Fiona as safely and efficiently as possible,” Sean Borden, Nova Scotia Power Storm Command Coordinator, said in the statement.

On Friday morning, Fiona was a strong Category 3 storm, about 125 miles north of Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center. The center said it was hitting sustained winds of 125 mph, with winds gusting up to 155 mph.

“Once Fiona passes Bermuda, the storm is expected to affect Nova Scotia by Saturday noon. Fiona will become extratropical before the collision, but that won’t do much to impede the damage Fiona will cause,” CNN meteorologist Robert Shackleford explained. .

Across Canada’s Atlantic Ocean, winds can be around 100 mph (160 km/h) as Fiona makes landfall in Nova Scotia, Shackleford said.

Bermuda, under a tropical storm warning, closed schools and government offices on Friday, to me Michael Weeks, the island’s national security secretary.

In Canada, Nova Scotia hurricane warnings are from Hubbards to Brule and in Newfoundland from Parson Pond to Francois. Prince Edward Island and Isle de la Madeleine are also under warnings.

Prince Edward Island officials are pleading with residents to prepare for the worst as the storm approaches.

Tania Mullally, who serves as the county’s emergency management chief, said one of the most pressing concerns with Fiona is the historic storm that is expected to unleash her.

“The storm surge will certainly be significant. Flooding we have not seen and cannot measure,” Mulally said on Thursday. during update.

She added that the northern part of the island will bear the brunt of the storm due to the direction of the winds, which is likely to cause property damage and coastal flooding.

The Nova Scotia Office of Emergency Management said all regional campgrounds, beaches, and day-use parks as well as Shubenacadie Wildlife Park will close at noon Friday.

“Safety is our priority as we prepare for severe storm conditions Friday and Saturday night. We are closing our Storm Provincial Parks properties and will reopen when the situation is safe,” Natural and Renewable Resources Minister Tory Rushton said in a statement announcing the closure.

Earlier this week, Fiona damaged homes and overturned critical power and water infrastructure for millions of people across Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos.

Days after Puerto Rico experienced an island-wide blackout with Fiona making landfall on Sunday, only 38% of customers regained their power Thursday, according to the power grid operator. Loma Energy.

The mass blackout is happening because most of Puerto Rico is experiencing extreme temperatures, causing temperatures to soar to 112 degrees Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Daniel Hernandez, director of renewable energy projects at LUMA, explained that critical places including hospitals will be prioritized before repairs begin at the individual level.

“This is a natural process. The important thing is for everyone to be calm… and we are working to ensure 100% of customers get service as quickly as possible,” Hernandez said.

According to the government, nearly 360,000 customers were experiencing intermittent water service or no service at all as of Thursday evening. emergency gate system.

As of Wednesday, more than 800 people were housed in dozens of shelters across the island, according to Puerto Rico’s Minister of Housing, William Rodriguez.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said President Joe Biden has agreed to declare a major disaster for the US mainland. The move allows residents to obtain grants for temporary housing and home repair as well as low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses.

In the Dominican Republic, Fiona affected 8,708 families and destroyed 2,262 homes, according to the country’s head of emergency operations, Major General Juan Mendes Garcia.

He said more than 210,000 homes and stores were still in the dark Thursday morning, and another 725,246 customers were without running water.

“It was an incredible thing we hadn’t seen before,” Ramona Santana in Higuay, Dominican Republic, told CNN en Español this week. “We are in the streets with nothing, no food, no shoes, no clothes, just what’s on your back. … We don’t have anything. We have God, and hope will come to help.”

Fiona also threatened parts of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday, and areas of the British territory remained without power earlier this week, namely in Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay, North Caicos and Central Caicos, according to Anya Williams, acting governor of the territory. . carrots.