Dam Fails On Guajataca Lake In Puerto Rico, Evacuations Underway
Source: Bnonews.com
Dam fails on Guajataca Lake in Puerto Rico, evacuations underway
PUBLISHED FRI, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017 - 2:42PM EDT
A dam on Guajataca Lake in northwest Puerto Rico is failing, causing flash flooding on the Rio Guajataca river and prompting an emergency evacuation for the communities of Isabela and Quebradillas, officials say. (more)
At 2:10 p.m. ET on Friday, dam operators reported that the Guajataca Dam was failing, resulting in flash flooding which is moving downstream on the Rio Guajataca, the National Weather Service said in a warning.
"This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for ISABELLA and QUEBRADILLAS. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!", the agency said. "This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation."
The agency added: "Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life. Authorities have ordered an evacuation of Isabella and Quebradillas. Buses will be evacuating people from these areas."
Read more: http://bnonews.com/news/index.php/news/id6536
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lancelyons
(988 posts)Hopefully the damn didnt completely bust with people downstream.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Guajataca+Lake/@18.3987786,-66.9336968,2159m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8c02c151ed80db51:0xc566d6e50e58b63e!8m2!3d18.3771124!4d-66.9168955
Warpy
(111,335 posts)because there is no power and poor cell service. I'm afraid a lot of people aren't going to be warned in time.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)
TexasBushwhacker
(20,211 posts)And with the whole island without power, they won't be able to refuel. People will be left behind.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)He posted that warning about an hour ago on his Facebook.
Eugene
(61,939 posts)Source: The Guardian and agencies
• National Weather Service says: ‘This is an extremely dangerous situation’
• Maria knocked out island’s power and several rivers hit record flood levels
Guardian staff and agencies in San Juan
Friday 22 September 2017 21.55 BST
Officials are rushing to evacuate tens of thousands of people from their homes in western Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria inflicted structural damage on a dam and unleashed “extremely dangerous” flash floods.
Some 70,000 residents in the municipalities of Isabela and Quebradillas were being evacuated by bus after a crack appeared in the nearly 90-year old Guajataca dam.
“It’s a structural failure. I don’t have any more details,” Governor Ricardo Rossello said from the capital, San Juan. “We’re trying to evacuate as many people as possible.”
“This is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. Buses are currently evacuating people from the area as quickly as they can,” the US National Weather Service tweeted on Friday .
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/22/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-dam
nitpicker
(7,153 posts)Flash Flood Warning
PRC071-115-231200-
/O.EXT.TJSJ.FF.W.0114.000000T0000Z-170923T1200Z/
/00000.3.DM.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service San Juan PR
Issued by National Weather Service Miami FL
150 AM AST SAT SEP 23 2017
...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR ISABELLA AND QUEBRADILLAS...
The National Weather Service in San Juan has extended the
* Flash Flood Warning for...
A Dam Failure in...
Eastern Isabela Municipality in Puerto Rico...
Central Quebradillas Municipality in Puerto Rico...
* Until 800 AM AST Saturday
* At 130 AM AST, dam operators continued to report that a failure of
the Guajataca Dam is imminent, potentially causing life-
threatening flash flooding downstream on the Rio Guajataca River.
The National Weather Service has been running various dam break
scenarios. Results indicate that a full breach would result in large
peak flows that would reach the coast in under 12 hours. Flood
extent mapping of these scenarios keep flows largely within the
canyon river channel.
This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Eastern ISABELLA, Western
QUEBRADILLAS and SURROUNDING AREAS. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to higher ground now. This is an extremely dangerous and
life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are
fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.
Act quickly to protect your life. Please heed instructions from
authorities.
