Widespread flooding in San Juan as first Cat 4 hurricane in 85 years makes landfall in Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria is causing river levels to approach or exceed record levels in the United States territory of Puerto Rico, while Hurricane Irma could cause total economic losses of up to US$95 billion in the U.S. and the Caribbean, catastrophe modeling vendors report.

A car dealership lays in disarray after the impact of Hurricane Maria, which hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

As of Thursday morning, Hurricane Maria was centred over water about 175 kilometres east northeast of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported.

That storm brought a storm surge of six to nine feet to Puerto Rico and is “inundating” that island with 12 to 18 inches of rain, or 305 to 450 mm, “with isolated amounts of up to 25 inches,” or 645 mm,  stated Verisk Analytics Inc.’s AIR Worldwide unit Wednesday in a release.

“River levels are approaching or exceeding record levels across Puerto Rico, according to data from the US Geological Survey,” AIR Worldwide added. “Flooding from lashing rain is widespread, and several Puerto Rico municipalities along Rio La Plata are under severe flash flood warnings. Widespread flooding was reported in the capital of San Juan.”

Hurricane Maria made landfall at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday near Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, AIR Worldwide reported. That was ten days after Hurricane Irma made two separate landfalls in Florida and nearly a month after Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas.

Puerto Rico is still getting intense rain from #Maria, turning streets into rivers. Millions are predicted to be without power for months. pic.twitter.com/fqb7QWOTYN

— AJ+ (@ajplus) September 21, 2017

Risk Management Solutions Inc. “has estimated that the insured loss from Hurricane Irma will be between $35 and $55 billion,” RMS said in a release Wednesday. “This estimate represents the insured losses associated with wind, storm surge, and inland flood damage across Florida and the southeast United States (including losses to the National Flood Insurance Program). It also includes insured loss associated with wind and storm surge in the Caribbean.”

RMS is estimating total economic losses in the U.S. and the Caribbean, of US$60 billion to US$95 billion.

Related: Irma losses in U.S. and Caribbean could reach $50 billion while Jose could cause ‘minor to moderate coastal flooding’ in New England

The company added that Irma “was the eighth named storm of the 2017 North Atlantic hurricane season” and the first Category 3 or greater hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday morning that a hurricane warning is in effect for part of the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas.

Before and after photos of damages from #Maria in #PuertoRico taken by Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González. #HuracanMaria pic.twitter.com/ac0NyAEfLU

— Hurricane Info (@HurricaneData) September 21, 2017

“Flash flood emergencies continue in portions of Puerto Rico due to persistent heavy rainfall from Maria’s trailing rainbands,” the Hurricane Centre said, adding that an additional four to eight inches (50 to 100 mm) is predicted for Puerto Rico through Saturday.

It is also warned of possible “life-threatening flash floods and mudslides” on islands including the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, northern and eastern Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, northern Haiti and parts of the Bahamas.

Related: Maria could ‘severely test’ Caribbean insurers’ financial strength: A.M. Best

Hurricane Maria “is Puerto Rico’s first direct landfall from a Category 4 storm in 85 years since the notorious 1932 San Ciprian storm,” AIR Worldwide noted. “Maria’s winds are causing widespread and severe damage, reportedly ripping roofs and nonstructural elements from buildings and launching debris left from Irma’s destructive rampage the week before.”

The storm knocked out electricity to the entire island of Puerto Rico, the Associated Press reported, adding it destroyed 80% of houses in a small fishing community near the San Juan Bay.

Photo of the week: Red Cross volunteers helping residents in the Cay Bay district #StMaarten #HurricaneIrma
Photo: Arie Kievit @RodeKruis pic.twitter.com/kJb04iaKTV

— Canadian Red Cross (@redcrosscanada) September 15, 2017