- Title: Puerto Rico braces for Dorian emergency as storm blows past Barbados
- Date: 27th August 2019
- Summary: PONCE, PUERTO RICO (AUGUST 27, 2019) (REUTERS) WOMAN PULLING GROCERY CART AND CART WITH BOTTLED WATER TO CAR IN PARKING LOT VARIOUS OF AREA RESIDENT LIDIA GONZALEZ PUTTING BOTTLED WAR IN TRUNK OF HER CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LIDIA GONZALEZ, AREA RESIDENT, SAYING: "Well, they say it (Tropical Storm Dorian) is pretty close. So in this way, I get ready and if it doesn't come, that's even better." AREA RESIDENT CARLOS REDONDO PUSHING CART WITH BOTTLED WATER TO HIS CAR VARIOUS OF REDONDO PUTTING WATER IN CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARLOS REDONDO, AREA RESIDENT, SAYING: "A little water for the situation that's headed our way, so we're prepared and it doesn't take us by surprise like last time." MAN PUSHING GROCERY CART WITH BOTTLED WATER BOTTLED WATER IN CART (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HECTOR LUIS REYES GARCIA, PUERTO RICAN MAN SAYING: "Water and the necessities in case this thing comes and hits us, so it doesn't catch us without anything. I didn't prepare for Maria but this time, for this, I'm preparing." REYES GARCIA WALKING IN STORE PUERTO RICANS ELIAS RIVERA AND WIFE INSIDE STORE LOOKING AT BATTERY-OPERATED FLASHLIGHT AND BATTERIES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ELIAS RIVERA, AREA RESIDENT, SAYING: "We're getting ready for this situation because you always have to be ready for these things because no one knows how things are going to turn out." WALKING SHOT OF STORE DISPLAY WITH BATTERIES AND FLASHLIGHTS BATTERIES IN RIVERA'S HAND (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ELIAS RIVERA, AREA RESIDENT, SAYING: "At the moment, we're checking out the batteries. (WIFE SAYS OFF-MIKE:) The batteries, that you can't get anywhere. (RIVERA SAYING:) They're a bit scare in other places and we had to make a trip out here to be able to run that errand." WOODEN BOARDS WITH PUERTO RICAN MAN, MAXIMO DE JESUS SANTIAGO, AT CASHIER BUYING THEM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MAXIMO DE JESUS SANTIAGO, PUERTO RICAN MAN, SAYING: "Yes, getting ready for the windows because this is headed our way no matter for sure." SANTIAGO PUSHING DOLLY WITH BOARDS VARIOUS OF STORE SHELVES WITH BOARDS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WILMA SEGARRA, STORE CLERK, SAYING: "We have everything related to, to, to the event that we're working so we want all our clients to come to us." BOXES OF CHAIN SAWS ON DISPLAY IN STORE STORE EMPLOYEE ARRANGING BOXES AND WELCOMING CUSTOMERS CUSTOMERS WALKING DOWN AISLE WOMAN PUSHING DOLLY WITH CHAIN SAW TO HER CAR CHAIN SAW ON DOLLY WORKERS PUTTING CHAIN SAW IN CAR
- Embargoed: 10th September 2019 19:48
- Keywords: Tropical Storm Dorian Barbados hurricane storm preps
- Location: BRIGHTON ST. GEORGE AND OISTINS CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS/ PONCE, PUERTO RICO/ INTERNET
- City: BRIGHTON ST. GEORGE AND OISTINS CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS/ PONCE, PUERTO RICO/ INTERNET
- Country: Barbados
- Topics: Environment,Weather
- Reuters ID: LVA002ATZVUPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic braced for tropical storm Dorian on Tuesday (August 27) as it churned west-northwest, with officials cautioning that it could approach hurricane-strength on Wednesday after blowing over Barbados.
"Slow strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Dorian is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it moves close to Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola," the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in a report.
The storm's center is expected to pass near or south of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, move near or over eastern Hispaniola Wednesday night and move north of Hispaniola on Thursday.
"Tropical storm conditions are expected and hurricane conditions are possible in Puerto Rico on Wednesday and in portions of the Dominican Republic Wednesday night and Thursday," said the NHC.
Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced declared a state of emergency for the U.S. territory late on Monday in anticipation of the storm, the government said on Twitter.
Barbados was hit by strong winds and intermittent showers, with periodic jolts of thunder and lightning, on Monday evening.
The Barbados Meteorological Services discontinued its tropical storm warning at 2 a.m. and the nation's international airport was reopened at 7 a.m.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
By late Tuesday morning, the storm was located about 60 miles (95 km) west-northwest of St. Lucia, blowing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, according to the NHC.
St. Lucia discontinued a tropical storm warning for the island.
(Production: Nigel Browne, Ricardo Ortiz, Arlene Eiras) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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