Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to hit the U.S. territory in almost a century, ravaged both islands, demolishing homes and knocking out all electricity. It could take half a year to restore power to the millions of people who live there.
Maria passed Dominica first, at least 14 people are dead after the hurricane barreled through the island and many of those who survived have gone into survival mode.
The storm cut a path through Puerto Rico on Wednesday and the whole island remained without power. Officials predicted that it could take months to restore electricity as rescue brigades ventured out to assess the toll of death and injury.
The eye of the storm moved offshore overnight, but the danger remained Thursday: Intense flooding was reported, particularly in San Juan, where many residential streets looked like rushing rivers.
Brock Long, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico had very fragile power systems and also pointed out that electricity was expected to remain out for a very long time.
The storm, with its fierce winds and heavy rain, toppled trees, shattered windows, and ripped roofs and doors of homes. Widespread flooding blocked many highways and streets across the island Thursday, creating a maze that forced drivers to go against traffic.
The toll of 14 deaths confirmed in Dominica is expected to rise, as rescue teams make their way to parts of the island without access.
Hartley Henry, an adviser to the prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said there had been a “tremendous loss of housing and public buildings”. There was no electricity and virtually no means of communicating with the outside world, he said.
The island has an agriculture-based economy: sugar cane, banana plantations, and citrus fruits are grown here, and most of it is exported. All of that appears to have vanished. The potential loss of those resources and income will be devastating for the island and its people.
The White House announced that President Donald Trump has approved a federal disaster declaration for Puerto Rico, and Governor Ricardo Rosselló imposed a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m.curfew, citing flood warnings and the importance of keeping streets clear for repair and rescue teams.
Maria is next expected to pass by the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos Islands, causing dangerous storm surge and rainfall. People in eastern parts of the Dominican were seeing whipping winds Wednesday night.