PUERTO RICO/U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS/CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
Hurricane Maria continued on its path toward Puerto Rico as of Tuesday morning, Sept. 19, after devastating Dominica as a Category 5 storm and then weakening to a still potent Category 4. Maria is said to be the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Dominica, a small Caribbean island reliant on tourism.
Puerto Rico avoided a direct hit from Hurricane Irma, but if the current National Hurricane Center forecast holds true, it will not be as lucky with Hurricane Maria, which is predicted to pass directly over the island. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said the government has prepared hundreds of shelters capable of housing more than 100,000 evacuees if necessary, according to the latest reporting from USA Today and other news outlets.
A hurricane warning is in effect as of Tuesday morning for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques. Florida is keeping a watchful eye on Hurricane Maria as it develops, but it seems that the storm system will bypass the recovering state.
Stay tuned to the Meetings Today website for more updates as they become available.
