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Puerto Rico National Guard rescues Hurricane Fiona victims

By Puerto Rico National GuardSeptember 19, 2022

The Puerto Rico National Guard continued working in support of the government after Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico. Since Friday, the National Guard began to preposition Soldiers at nine points throughout the island to attend to emergencies that could arise caused by the atmospheric system. The Puerto Rico National Guard has been rescuing people in cities such as Ponce, Cayey, and Toa Baja, among other municipalities
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Puerto Rico National Guard continued working in support of the government after Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico. Since Friday, the National Guard began to preposition Soldiers at nine points throughout the island to attend to emergencies that could arise caused by the atmospheric system. The Puerto Rico National Guard has been rescuing people in cities such as Ponce, Cayey, and Toa Baja, among other municipalities (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by the Puerto Rico National Guard) VIEW ORIGINAL
A member of the Puerto Rico National Guard monitors the path of Hurricane Fiona, which caused heavy flooding and knocked out power to the entire island Sept 17-18, 2022. The Guard prepositioned personnel and heavy equipment in nine locations before the storm passed over southwest Puerto Rico.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A member of the Puerto Rico National Guard monitors the path of Hurricane Fiona, which caused heavy flooding and knocked out power to the entire island Sept 17-18, 2022. The Guard prepositioned personnel and heavy equipment in nine locations before the storm passed over southwest Puerto Rico. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by the Puerto Rico National Guard) VIEW ORIGINAL

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Puerto Rico National Guard rescued dozens of people threatened by Hurricane Fiona, which knocked out power to the entire island and caused severe flooding.

Monday in Cayey, the Guard's 65th Infantry rescued 21 elderly and bedridden people at an elderly home due to landslides that were threatening the home’s structure and residents’ safety. Also Monday, the 296th Infantry in Mayagüez rescued 59 people from a flooded community, including two bedridden elderly people. Thirteen pets were also rescued.

Over the weekend, Guard members with the 125th Military Police Battalion rescued a man in Ponce who was swept away by a flash flood when he apparently went out to try to get gasoline. He was clinging to a concrete post near Mercedita Airport in southern Puerto Rico, where floodwaters were as high as 6 feet. Guard personnel also rescued people in Salinas, Cayey, Toa Baja and Añasco, among other municipalities.

Guard members also rescued people in Salinas, Toa Baja, and Añasco, among other municipalities.

Members of the Puerto Rico National Guard, 125th Military Police Battalion, rescue a man who had apparently gone out to try to find gasoline and was caught in a flash flood caused by Hurricane Fiona in Ponce, near Mercedita Airport in southern Puerto Rico. The hurricane knocked out power to the entire island.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Puerto Rico National Guard, 125th Military Police Battalion, rescue a man who had apparently gone out to try to find gasoline and was caught in a flash flood caused by Hurricane Fiona in Ponce, near Mercedita Airport in southern Puerto Rico. The hurricane knocked out power to the entire island. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by the Puerto Rico National Guard) VIEW ORIGINAL
Puerto Rico National Guard Soldiers from the 125th Military Police Battalion help rescue families trapped by floods during the passing of Hurricane Fiona. The Guard prepositioned personnel and heavy equipment in nine locations before the storm.
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Puerto Rico National Guard Soldiers from the 125th Military Police Battalion help rescue families trapped by floods during the passing of Hurricane Fiona. The Guard prepositioned personnel and heavy equipment in nine locations before the storm. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Puerto Rico National Guard) VIEW ORIGINAL
Puerto Rico National Guard Soldiers from the 125th Military Police Battalion help rescue families trapped by the floods during the passing of Hurricane Fiona.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Puerto Rico National Guard Soldiers from the 125th Military Police Battalion help rescue families trapped by the floods during the passing of Hurricane Fiona. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Puerto Rico National Guard) VIEW ORIGINAL

Heavy rain continued to fall in the wake of the hurricane Monday and will "produce life-threatening and catastrophic flooding along with mudslides and landslides across Puerto Rico," a National Hurricane Center advisory warned.

The center forecast an additional 4 to 8 inches of rain in southern Puerto Rico Monday, with a local maximum of 15 inches. Total rainfall from the storm was projected to be 12 to 20 inches, with over 30 inches in some areas. Northern Puerto Rico was expected to get an additional 1 to 4 inches of rain Monday, with as much as 6 inches in some locations.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi activated the Guard as the hurricane approached the island.

The Puerto Rico National Guard began prepositioning Soldiers and heavy equipment at nine points across the island Friday to address emergencies and clear roads as necessary. Hurricane-force winds struck southwest Puerto Rico over the weekend. Fiona then headed for the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos.

A tropical storm warning was in effect Monday morning for Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra.

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