Effects of Hurricane Georges in Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hurricane Georges

Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Georges approaching Puerto Rico
Winds	1-minute sustained: 115 mph (185 km/h)
Pressure	968 mbar (hPa); 28.59 inHg
Fatalities	1 direct, 7 indirect
Damage	$3 billion (1998 USD)
Areas affected	All of Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra.
Part of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Georges was a powerful storm that hit Puerto Rico in 1998. It caused about $3 billion in damage and led to eight deaths. This hurricane was especially significant because it was the first time a hurricane had crossed the entire island since the San Ciprian Hurricane in 1932. Georges started as a tropical depression on September 15 off the coast of Africa. It grew stronger, becoming a Category 4 hurricane by September 19. When it reached Puerto Rico on September 21, it was a Category 3 hurricane. The storm left a lasting impact on the island.

How Hurricane Georges Formed and Traveled

Track of Hurricane Georges

Hurricane Georges began as a tropical wave in the middle of September 1998. This wave moved west from the coast of Africa. After a couple of days, it formed an area of low pressure, which quickly grew into a tropical depression.

From Storm to Super Storm

On September 16, the depression became Tropical Storm Georges. The very next day, it strengthened into Hurricane Georges. The storm reached its strongest point on September 20. At this time, its winds were 155 miles per hour (250 km/h). This was almost a Category 5 hurricane, which is the strongest type of hurricane.

Georges' Path After Puerto Rico

After hitting Puerto Rico, Hurricane Georges traveled through the Greater Antilles. It caused a lot of damage and problems in other areas too. By September 25, Georges moved into the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. It made landfall near Biloxi, Mississippi three days later. The storm then slowed down and finally disappeared on October 1 near the Atlantic coast of Florida.

Getting Ready for the Storm

People in Puerto Rico started getting ready for Hurricane Georges on September 19. That's when a hurricane watch was announced. A day later, on September 20, this was changed to a hurricane warning for the whole island. This warning meant that hurricane conditions were expected very soon.

Safety Measures and Closures

The warning was lifted on September 22. More than 1,600 people went to public shelters for safety. Both Puerto Rico and the nearby United States Virgin Islands declared a state of emergency. This allowed them to get help from the United States National Guard.

Puerto Rico's governor, Pedro Rosselló, took important steps. He stopped all alcohol sales and told the Puerto Rico Police to open all shelters. Banks and schools closed, and many flights were canceled. Over 1,000 people left their homes for shelters in cities like San Juan, Arecibo, and Mayagüez.

How Hurricane Georges Affected Puerto Rico

Total rainfall in Puerto Rico from Georges

A home destroyed by Georges in Toa Baja

When Hurricane Georges hit Puerto Rico, it brought very high ocean waves. These waves, called storm surges, were between 10 and 20 feet high. The island also received a huge amount of rain. One area, Jayuya, got over 30 inches of rain. Other parts of the island saw up to 25 inches.

Flooding and Possible Tornadoes

All this rain caused severe flooding. Water from the mountains flowed into every river in Puerto Rico, making them overflow. There were also reports of three possible tornadoes in Puerto Rico. One was near Puenta Este in Vieques. Another was in the Orocovis and Barranquitas area. A third was recorded in the Jayuya area by radar.

Damage to Services and Homes

The storm caused huge damage to the island's power system. About 96% of the electrical system was lost, leaving 1.3 million people without power. Water and sewer services were also cut off for 75% of the population. Road damage cost about $22 million. Only a small number of people (8.4%) lost telephone service.

Many homes were destroyed or damaged. About 28,005 houses were completely ruined, and another 72,000 were partly damaged. On the nearby island of Culebra, 74 houses were completely destroyed. Schools also suffered, with an estimated $20–25 million in damage.

Impact on Farming and the Economy

The farming industry in Puerto Rico was hit hard. Over half of its crops and 65% of its poultry (like chickens) were lost. The total damage to Puerto Rico's economy was estimated at about $1.9 billion.

Victor Rojas Bridge, had collapsed in 1998 with the forces from Hurricane George

The Victor Rojas Bridge in Arecibo collapsed because of the strong forces from Hurricane Georges.

Lives Affected by the Storm

While no deaths were directly caused by the hurricane's winds or floods, Georges indirectly led to 8 deaths in Puerto Rico. For example, one person died from breathing in carbon monoxide from a generator used inside their home. Another family, a mother and her three children, died when a lit candle started a house fire. Other deaths were due to accidents while people were trying to fix storm damage. In total, the storm caused about $3 billion in damage.

Helping After the Storm

Severe flooding caused by the storm

After Hurricane Georges, many groups sent help to Puerto Rico. The Church World Service donated many useful items. These included bed sheets, blankets, first aid kits, water purification tablets, school kits, and flashlights. The total value of these items was over $100,000.

Government and Other Aid

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent 50 power generators to the island. The United States Army Corps of Engineers bought a million pounds of ice and gallons of water to give out. They also sent teams to help clear debris from roads. Even the manager of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner, donated $200,000 from the Yankee Foundation to help the areas most affected in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Rebuilding Efforts

Officials from the government created a five-year plan to rebuild homes destroyed by Georges. This plan was worth $1.2 billion. The money came from state and local governments. New houses were built stronger and not in areas prone to landslides. FEMA received over 190,000 requests for help and gave out more than $65 million in aid checks.

Hurricane Georges caused massive damage to Puerto Rico's road system. Over 7,000 kilometers of roads and 2,100 bridges were affected. This included structural damage, broken signs, and landslides. The Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works quickly started cleaning up the roads. Over 230 teams worked to remove debris and set up four temporary bridges.