The Puerto Rico Tip-Off was an early-season college basketball tournament owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television that took place in late November of each year from 2007 through 2017, usually the week before Thanksgiving .
100-758: The Puerto Rico Tip-Off began in 2007. From 2007 to 2011, it was held in José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan , Puerto Rico . In 2012, it took place in Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez in Bayamón , Puerto Rico. From 2013 to 2015, Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan hosted it. In 2016, plans to hold the tournament at Roberto Clemente Coliseum were scrapped due to a Zika virus outbreak in Puerto Rico, and it
200-558: A bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games . The facility was supposed to be constructed between the Roberto Clemente Coliseum and Hiram Bithorn Stadium , about a mile and a half away from the current arena site. The Coliseum would have been used for events such as Gymnastics and Olympic Basketball had the games been held in San Juan. However, in 1997 the International Olympic Committee selected Athens to host
300-572: A public corporation of Puerto Rico , and managed by ASM Global . It can accommodate up to 19,000 spectators and can be reached by the Hato Rey Station of the Tren Urbano system. The arena hosted the first WWE pay-per-view event outside the continental United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, since SummerSlam 1992 when New Year's Revolution was held there in 2005. On May 26, 2011,
400-486: A 14-date run for the entire month of December 2022, a record previously held by Daddy Yankee , who had a 12-date run, December 2019. Hurricane Maria Effects U.S territory • Puerto Rico • Death toll controversy Hurricane Maria was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that affected the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly in
500-538: A 24-hour total of 7.5 inches (190 mm), while the capital of Basse-Terre measured 6.4 in (160 mm). Even greater quantities fell at higher elevations of Basse Terre Island, with a maximum total of 18.07 in (459 mm) measured at the mountainous locality of Matouba , Saint-Claude . Throughout the archipelago, the hurricane left 40% of the population (80,000 households) without power and 25% of landline users without service. The islands of Marie-Galante , La Désirade and especially Les Saintes bore
600-598: A 45-year-old man died in the commune of Limbe, in the department of the North , while attempting to cross a flooded river. Two other people, a woman and a man, died in Cornillon , a small town 40 km (25 mi) east of the capital Port-au-Prince , according to the authorities. Maria brushed the Outer Banks of North Carolina on September 26, as the center of the storm passed by offshore and brought tropical storm conditions to
700-571: A Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Maria's weaker outer eyewall was reported by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to have crossed Saint Croix , while the hurricane was at Category 5 intensity. Sustained winds at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix reached 99 to 104 mph (159 to 167 km/h) and gusted to 137 mph (220 km/h). Damage was most extensive in the town of Frederiksted , on
800-575: A Category 5 hurricane and attained its peak intensity with winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a pressure of 908 mbar (hPa; 26.81 inHg) at 03:00 UTC on September 20 while southeast of Puerto Rico ; this ranks it as the eleventh-most intense Atlantic hurricane since reliable records began. An eyewall replacement cycle caused Maria weaken to Category 4 strength before it made landfall near Yabucoa , Puerto Rico at 10:15 UTC (6:15 am local time) that day with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h)—the most intense to strike on
900-535: A coconut tree onto a residence in Saint Joseph . Passing 30 mi (48 km) off the northern shorelines, Maria brought torrential rainfall and strong gusts to Martinique but spared the island of its hurricane-force windfield, which at the time extended 25 mi (40 km) around the eye. The commune of Le Marigot recorded 6.7 inches (170 mm) of rain over a 24-hour period. By September 19, Maria had knocked out power to 70,000 households, about 40% of
1000-471: A depth of 15 feet (4.6 m) in some areas. More than 2,000 people were rescued once military relief reached the town 24 hours after the storm. At least eight people died from the flooding, while many were unaccounted for. On September 24, Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rosselló estimated that the damage from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was probably over the $ 8 billion damage figure from Hurricane Georges . Approximately 80 percent of
1100-472: A family of four, issued a distress signal while battling 20-foot seas (6.1 m) and 115 mph winds (185 km/h) on September 20. Communications with the vessel were lost near Vieques on September 20. The United States Coast Guard , United States Navy , and British Royal Navy conducted search-and-rescue operations using an HC-130 aircraft, a fast response cutter, USS Kearsarge , RFA Mounts Bay and Navy helicopters. On September 21,
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#17328947775841200-493: A fatal heart attack during the hurricane. The hurricane caused severe damage to St. Croix. It took almost a year for power to be restored to most residents. U.S. President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in the U.S. Virgin Islands one day after Maria hit. The move freed up federal funding for people on the island of St. Croix. After both hurricanes, the office of V.I. congresswoman Stacey Plaskett stated that 90% of buildings in
1300-562: A game Jos%C3%A9 Miguel Agrelot Coliseum The Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot ( English : José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico) is the biggest indoor arena in Puerto Rico dedicated to entertainment. It is located at the Golden Mile of San Juan , the island capital. It is usually referred by Puerto Ricans as the Choliseo or Choli , which is a portmanteau of
1400-472: A gust to 113 mph (182 km/h) was reported in San Juan, immediately prior to the hurricane making landfall on the island. After landfall, wind gusts of 109 mph (175 km/h) were reported at Yabucoa Harbor and 118 mph (190 km/h) at Camp Santiago. A minimum barometric pressure reading of 926.6 mbar (27.36 inHg) was reported in Yabucoa. In addition, heavy rainfall occurred throughout
1500-493: A humanitarian emergency here in Puerto Rico. ... This is an event without precedent. The power grid was effectively destroyed by the hurricane, leaving millions without electricity. Governor Ricardo Rosselló estimated that Maria caused at least US$ 90 billion in damage and in 2018 the US National Hurricane Center updated its list of costliest hurricanes to include that figure. On September 26, 2017, 95% of
1600-507: A living individual and there were talks of making an exception to the law should a living Puerto Rican icon be honored with the name. However, the name of beloved local comedian José Miguel Agrelot was chosen when the Coliseum was near its completion. Agrelot himself had suggested the name of Rafael Hernández Marín to be used, and when someone suggested his name instead he was both surprised and concerned. A major public parking space or garage
1700-550: A major hurricane again the following day. Passing north of The Bahamas , Maria remained a powerful hurricane over the following week as it slowly paralleled the East Coast of the United States , gradually weakening over time as conditions became less favorable. Maria then stalled and swung eastward over the open Atlantic, becoming extratropical on September 30 before dissipating by October 2. Maria brought catastrophic devastation to
1800-581: A previous record that was also achieved by him in 2019. This was the first time a concert was fully broadcast live on national television in Puerto Rico, which was exclusively through the airwaves of Telemundo Puerto Rico . Wisin & Yandel hold various records, some of which they have previously broken as well, including most performances at the Choliseo , by any artist, duo or group, increasing it to 39 and largest number of shows sold out in 24 hours. Their farewell concert tour, La Última Misión World Tour , spun
1900-441: A private entity should manage the facility. The contract's expense would be justified by bringing in an operating partner with international experience managing world-class facilities, whose reputation would ensure that performers and sport events that had never been staged in Puerto Rico could visit the island. The Coliseum's construction was stopped for close to two years during the administration of governor Sila María Calderón ,
2000-669: A private entity sponsor the facility and lend its name to it. Most local politicians objected to the idea, due to the 2001 Enron financial scandal , which made the company go bankrupt at a time when their corporate sponsorship named the Houston Astros ' home ballpark as the Enron Field. Some politicians argued over the naming the Coliseum after a Puerto Rican celebrity. Some of the names mentioned were that of pop star Chayanne , boxer Félix "Tito" Trinidad and actor Raúl Juliá . Puerto Rican law demanded that no facility could be named after
2100-620: A slow relief process. The storm caused the worst electrical blackout in US history, which persisted for several months. Maria also landed in the northeast Caribbean during relief efforts from another Category 5 hurricane, Irma , which crossed the region two weeks prior. The total death toll is 3,059: an estimated 2,975 in Puerto Rico, 65 in Dominica, 5 in the Dominican Republic , 4 in Guadeloupe , 4 in
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#17328947775842200-715: A total area of more than 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares); farmers described the destruction to their plantations as "complete annihilation". Beyond their impact on farmland, the strong winds ravaged much of the island's vegetation: fallen trees and branches covered practically every major road and were responsible for one death. Another person was killed upon being swept out to sea. Two people disappeared at sea after their vessel capsized offshore La Désirade , east of mainland Grande-Terre , and they are presumed to be dead afterwards. Damage from Maria across Guadeloupe amounted to at least €100 million (US$ 120 million). Two weeks after Hurricane Irma hit St. Thomas and St. John as
2300-600: A tropical storm watch for its citizens and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines . The government of Antigua and Barbuda issued Hurricane watches for the islands of Antigua , Barbuda , St. Kitts , Nevis , and Montserrat by the time of the NHC's second advisory which declared Maria a tropical storm. The Dominican Republic activated the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters for humanitarian satellite coverage on
2400-631: A trough that was beginning to emerge off the Northeastern United States swung Maria eastward out to sea, while also weakening to a tropical storm. Periodic bursts of convection near the center managed to maintain Maria's intensity as it accelerated east-northeast across the northern Atlantic Ocean, but interaction with an encroaching frontal zone ultimately resulted in the storm becoming an extratropical cyclone on September 30, which continued east-northeastward, before dissipating on October 2. Upon
2500-624: A while, the Choliseo was used as a warehouse and recollection center by the Government of Puerto Rico to prepare and distribute food, water and basic necessities to those affected by the deadliest and costliest hurricane in Puerto Rican history. The arena resumed hosting events in March 2018. The Coliseum was a project started during the administration of Governor Rafael Hernández Colón , initially as part of
2600-454: Is fine, but it's not. Everywhere needs rebuilding but there is no money to rebuild things with. OK, so we have some food and water—but how long for? Everything else is gone. In the wake of the hurricane, more than 85% of the island's houses were damaged, of which more than 25% were completely destroyed, leaving more than 50,000 of the island's 73,000 residents to be displaced. Following the destruction of thousands of homes, most supermarkets and
2700-499: The Choliseo can be found and charge a fee. The Tren Urbano is by far the most used transportation mode to and from the Choliseo ; the Hato Rey station , located at a short walking distance, is the only station to extend operating hours after nighttime events end until all passengers using the system have exited at the station of their respective destinations. On May 26, 2011, the Coliseo
2800-681: The HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University in Conway , South Carolina . The 2017 tournament was the final one for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Since 2018, the Myrtle Beach Invitational has taken place at the HTC Center instead. The 2017 field of eight teams to compete in the 2017 Puerto Rico Tip-Off was unveiled on July 26, 2017. Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria ,
2900-676: The United Nations General Assembly on September 23, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit called the situation in Dominica an "international humanitarian emergency". The Royal Canadian Navy vessel HMCS St. John's was dispatched to Dominica at the request of Dominican Prime Minister Skerrit. The prime minister urged churches to encourage their membership to provide housing for senior citizens and disabled, many of whom remained in damaged structures despite tarpaulin donations from Venezuela, Israel, Cuba, Jamaica, and other countries. As schools began to reopen on October 16,
3000-609: The contiguous United States , 3 in the United States Virgin Islands , and 3 in Haiti . Maria was the deadliest hurricane in Dominica since the 1834 Padre Ruíz hurricane and the deadliest in Puerto Rico since the 1899 San Ciriaco hurricane . This makes it the deadliest named Atlantic hurricane of the 21st century to date. Maria originated from a tropical wave that left the western coast of Africa on September 12. Gradual organization occurred as it progressed westward across
3100-477: The fourth-costliest tropical cyclone on record . Maria developed from a tropical wave on September 16 east of the Lesser Antilles . Steady strengthening and organization took place initially, until favorable conditions enabled it to undergo explosive intensification on the afternoon of September 18, achieving Category 5 strength just before making landfall on the island of Dominica that night. After crossing
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3200-417: The official residence of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit , who required rescue when his home began to flood. Downing all cellular, radio and internet services, Maria effectively cut Dominica off from the outside world; the situation there remained unclear for a couple of days after the hurricane's passage. Skerrit called the devastation "mind boggling" before going offline, and indicated immediate priority
3300-532: The 2017 tournament took place at the HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina . The 2016 tournament took place at HP Field House in Orlando, Florida due to a Zika virus outbreak in Puerto Rico, and temporarily was renamed the Tire Pros Invitational Tournament . All Times Eastern ‡ tournament record for most points scored in
3400-685: The 20th. Prior to both Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), already struggling with increasing debt, had seen budget cuts imposed by PROMESA as well as the loss of 30 percent of its work force since 2012. With the median age of PREPA power plants at 44 years, an aging infrastructure across the island made the electric grid more susceptible to damage from storms. Inadequate safety mechanisms also plagued Puerto Rico's electric company, and local newspapers frequently reported on its poor maintenance and outdated control systems. According to
3500-543: The Dominican Republic: four of them were of Haitian origin , killed when they were swept away by floodwaters; the fifth person was a Dominican man who died in a landslide. Infrastructural damage amounted to RD$ 3 billion (US$ 63 million). Hurricane Maria's center passed 250 km (160 mi) from Haiti's northern coast, but triggered a large amount of rain and some flooding in Haiti. Three deaths were reported:
3600-611: The Olympics and the construction of the Coliseum was jeopardized. Recognizing the need for such a facility anyway, the government decided to continue the construction, this time at a site physically close to San Juan's financial district, the Golden Mile . Since the new site was adjacent to a future Tren Urbano station, the Coliseum's planners decided not to incorporate parking facilities to the arena, as to induce visitors to use mass transportation to reach it. Political opponents of Pedro Rosselló 's administration raised various objections to
3700-493: The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico , which accounted for 2,975 of the 3,059 deaths. It is the deadliest and costliest hurricane to strike the island of Puerto Rico, and is the deadliest hurricane to strike the country of Dominica and the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands . The most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2017 , Maria was the thirteenth named storm , eighth consecutive hurricane , fourth major hurricane , second Category 5 hurricane , and deadliest storm of
3800-466: The United Nations Children's Fund reported that the entire child population of Dominica—23,000 children—remained vulnerable due to restricted access to clean drinking water. Efforts to rebuild homes and buildings across the island were steady, albeit slowed due to lack of funds. Almost two years after Maria, shelters remained operational as many homes still lacked significant roofing. There's
3900-619: The Virgin Islands were damaged or destroyed and 13,000 of those buildings had lost their roofs. The Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center on St. Croix suffered roof damage and flooding, but remained operational. The storm made landfall on Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 20, near the Yabucoa municipality at 10:15 UTC (6:15 a.m. local time) as a high-end Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph (249 km/h). A sustained wind of 64 mph (103 km/h) with
4000-534: The Wake of Hurricane Maria." Torrential rains and strong winds impacted the Dominican Republic as Maria tracked northeast of the country. Assessments on September 22 indicated that 110 homes were destroyed, 570 were damaged, and 3,723 were affected by flooding. Approximately 60,000 people lost power in northern areas of the country. Flooding and landslides rendered many roads impassable, cutting off 38 communities. Five people, all of them males, were killed in
4100-400: The air during the storm. Hurricane Maria caused landslides across the island and in some municipalities there were more than 25 landslides per square mile. The NEXRAD Doppler weather radar of Puerto Rico was blown away. The radome which covers the radar antenna, and which was designed to withstand winds of more than 130 mph, was destroyed while the antenna of 30 feet in diameter
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4200-705: The area, along with a storm surge, large waves, and rip currents to the coast. The storm knocked out power to 800 Duke Energy Progress customers in the Havelock area, with restoration of power expected to take several hours. Dominion North Carolina Power and Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative experienced scattered power outages. Winds of 23 mph (37 km/h) and gusts of 41 mph (66 km/h) were reported at Dare County Regional Airport at Manteo on September 27, while winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) were reported in Duck, North Carolina . Maria caused beach erosion at
4300-520: The arena was ranked 8th on the Top 50 Arena Venues of the world and second of the West Hemisphere in worldwide ticket sales by Pollstar . As of May 2013, the arena has received over 5 million spectators, hosting more than 600 events with a gross ticket revenue around $ 200 million. After the hit from Hurricane Maria , in the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season , events after mid-September 2017 were cancelled. For
4400-641: The banana industry, suffered losses from the winds. Heavy rainfall amounting to 3–5 in (76–127 mm) caused scattered flooding across Barbados ; in Christ Church , the flood waters trapped residents from the neighborhood of Goodland in their homes and inundated the business streets of Saint Lawrence Gap . Maria stirred up rough seas that flooded coastal sidewalks in Bridgetown and damaged boats as operators had difficulties securing their vessels. High winds triggered an island-wide power outage and downed
4500-423: The bay of the commune of Schœlcher . Martinique's agricultural sector suffered considerable losses: about 70% of banana crops sustained wind damage, with nearly every tree downed along the northern coast. There were no deaths on the island, although four people were injured in the hurricane—two seriously and two lightly. Agricultural loss were estimated at €35 million (US$ 42 million). Rainfall ahead of
4600-476: The brunt of the winds, which caused heavy damage to structures and nature alike and cut the islands off from their surroundings for several days. Homes on Terre-de-Haut Island of Les Saintes were flooded or lost their roofs. On the mainland, sections of Pointe-à-Pitre stood under more than 3.3 feet (1.0 m) of water, and the city's hospital sustained significant damage. The Basse-Terre region suffered severe damage to nearly 100% of its banana crops, comprising
4700-506: The building's foundations would have had to be redone because of this. There was even talk of demolishing what had been built and starting from scratch, which infuriated Rosselló supporters, who dismissed the suggestion as merely an excuse to spend more government money, this time to benefit the PPD's financial backers. Plans for a redesigned interior added during the Calderón administration added fuel to
4800-454: The center had temporarily become exposed, a convective burst over the center enabled it to become a hurricane. Shortly afterward, explosive intensification occurred, with Maria nearly doubling its winds from 85 mph (140 km/h)—a Category 1 hurricane, to 165 mph (270 km/h)—a Category 5 hurricane, in just 24 hours, by which time it was located just 15 mi (24 km) east-southeast of Dominica late on September 18;
4900-458: The commonwealth. Other estimates included 166,000 residential buildings damaged or destroyed and 472,000 housing units having received major damage or having been destroyed. Storm surge and flash flooding—stemming from flood gate releases at La Plata Lake Dam—converged on the town of Toa Baja , trapping thousands of residents. Survivors indicate that flood waters rose at least 6 ft (1.8 m) in 30 minutes, with flood waters reaching
5000-458: The contract, but the Government of Puerto Rico stood by their original contract with Ticketpop. Local producer Angelo Medina spearheaded a group that wanted the legislature to curb the managing powers of SMG (before merging to ASM Global in 2019), recently-named to oversee operations and activities, because they feared that the company's relationship with non-local television companies would limit
5100-417: The day before the hurricane made landfall. Puerto Rican travelers often chose to go to Orlando , Miami, New York City, and Atlanta . Internally, there was an influx of people into San Juan . As Maria approached the coast of North Carolina and threatened to bring tropical storm conditions, a storm surge warning was issued for the coast between Ocracoke Inlet and Cape Hatteras , while a storm surge watch
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#17328947775845200-431: The entirety of Dominica, destroying housing stock and infrastructure beyond repair, and practically eradicating the island's lush vegetation. The neighboring islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique endured widespread flooding, damaged roofs, and uprooted trees. Puerto Rico suffered catastrophic damage and a major humanitarian crisis; most of the island's population suffered from flooding and a lack of resources, compounded by
5300-514: The entirety of the coastline were rendered uninhabitable, as widespread floods and landslides littered neighborhoods with the structural remnants. The hurricane also inflicted extensive damage to roads and public buildings, such as schools, stores and churches, and affected all of Dominica's 73,000 residents in some form or way. The air control towers and terminal buildings of the Canefield and Douglas Charles airports were severely damaged, although
5400-436: The extremely active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season . With over 3,000 deaths and a minimum central pressure of 908 millibars (26.8 inHg), Maria was both the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Jeanne in 2004 , and the eleventh most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, respectively. Total monetary losses are estimated at upwards of $ 91.61 billion (2017 USD), almost all of which came from Puerto Rico, ranking it as
5500-623: The ferry terminal at the north end of Ocracoke Island that washed out a portion of the paved lanes where vehicles wait to board the ferry. By the morning of September 26, the storm flooded North Carolina Highway 12 along the coast. Rip currents from Maria caused three swimmers to drown and several others to be rescued at the Jersey Shore on the weekend of September 23–24. A fourth drowning death occurred in Fernandina Beach, Florida . People are trying to be strong in Dominica, like everything
5600-413: The hurricane caused several landslides in Dominica, as water levels across the island began to rise by the afternoon of September 18. Maria made landfall at 21:15 AST that day (1:15 UTC , September 19) as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (266 km/h). These winds, the most extreme to ever impact the island, damaged the roof of practically every home—including
5700-509: The initiation of the National Hurricane Center (NHC)'s first advisories for the system that would become Tropical Storm Maria on the morning of September 16, the government of France issued tropical storm watches for the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe , while St. Lucia issued a tropical storm watch for its citizens, and the government of Barbados issued a similar watch for Dominica . Barbados would later that day declare
5800-688: The intense public controversy. Another controversy came about when Banco Popular 's subsidiary Ticketpop was named the ticketing distributor through an exclusive contract, almost ignoring the bid by competitor TicketCenter. Ticketpop remained the sole ticketing distributor, from the venue's opening day until August 28, 2019 when rising competitor Ticketera was given the exclusive contract; Ticketpop's entire subsidiary operations were later sold to Ticketera in April 2021, whose founders also founded Ticketpop. The original ticket vendor bidding controversy almost went to trial, as both parties argued over who would receive
5900-421: The island and weakening slightly, Maria re-intensified and achieved its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a pressure of 908 mbar (hPa; 26.81 inHg). On September 20, an eyewall replacement cycle weakened Maria to a high-end Category 4 hurricane by the time it struck Puerto Rico. The hurricane re-emerged weaker from land interaction, but quickly restrengthened back into
6000-460: The island since the 1928 San Felipe Segundo hurricane . Maria weakened significantly while traversing Puerto Rico, but was able to restrengthen to a major hurricane once it emerged over the Atlantic later that afternoon, eventually attaining a secondary peak intensity with winds of 125 mph (201 km/h) on September 22, while north of Hispaniola . Maria then began fluctuating in intensity for
6100-474: The island's lush rainforests. The agricultural sector, a vital source of income for the country, was completely wiped out: 100% of banana and tuber plantations was lost, as well as vast amounts of livestock and farm equipment. In Maria's wake, Dominica's population suffered from an island-wide water shortage due to uprooted pipes. The Assessment Capacities Project estimates that the hurricane has caused EC$ 3.69 billion (US$ 1.37 billion) in losses across
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#17328947775846200-513: The island, which is equal to 226 percent of its 2016 GDP. As of April 12, 2019, a total of 65 fatalities have been confirmed across the island, including 34 who are missing and presumed to be dead. Post-hurricane relief aid that was brought to Dominica from regional partners and aiding countries additionally brought several non-native species that became established and which local stakeholders are still trying to remove in 2022. Blustery conditions spread over Guadeloupe as Maria tracked to
6300-538: The island. Ninety-five percent of cell networks were down, with 48 of the island's 78 counties networks being completely inoperable. Eighty-five percent of above-ground phone and internet cables were knocked out. Only twelve radio stations, namely WAPA 680 AM , WPAB 550 AM & WISO 1260 AM of Ponce , WKJB 710 AM, WPRA 990 AM & WTIL 1300 AM of Mayaguez, WMIA 1070 AM of Arecibo , WVOZ 1580 AM of Morovis , WXRF 1590 AM of Guayama , WALO 1240 AM of Humacao and WOIZ 1130 AM of Guayanilla , remained on
6400-409: The island. Widespread property destruction took place with many structures leveled. The remaining structures on the island of Culebra were extremely vulnerable to Maria's powerful winds after having recently experienced major damage due to Hurricane Irma , causing the complete destruction of many wooden houses, along with blown off roofs and sunken boats. The former survey ship Ferrel , carrying
6500-685: The islands, is located on Puerto Rico. By September 15, 2017, 83% of the items there, including 90% of the water and all of the tarps and cots, had been deployed for post-Irma relief, mostly to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Maria arrived before supplies were replenished. Evacuation orders were issued in Puerto Rico in advance of Maria, and officials announced that 450 shelters would open in the afternoon of September 18. By September 19, 2017, at least 2,000 people in Puerto Rico had sought shelter. Using anonymous aggregate cell phone tracking data provided by Google from users that opted to share location data, researchers reported that travel from Puerto Rico increased 20%
6600-409: The leader of the opposition party ( PPD ) whose administration followed Rosselló's. She claimed that the Puerto Rican government had spent $ 242 million for a facility where only 42% of its scheduled project plan had been completed when she took office. The planners and constructors had overlooked the fact that a water pumping station next to the facility had been built over unstable land, and a portion of
6700-400: The months that followed Maria. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit characterized the devastation wrought by Irma and Maria as a sign of climate change and the threat it poses to the survival of his country, stating, "To deny climate change ... is to deny a truth we have just lived." Many islanders suffered respiratory problems as a result of excessive dust borne out of the debris. Light rainfall in
6800-475: The mother and her two children were rescued while the father drowned inside the capsized vessel. Maria's Category 4 winds broke a 96-foot (29 m) line feed antenna of the Arecibo Observatory , causing it to fall 500 feet (150 m) and puncturing the dish below, greatly reducing its ability to function until repairs could be made. Hurricane Maria greatly affected Puerto Rico's agriculture. Coffee
6900-429: The next few days as the eye periodically appeared and disappeared, while slowly nearing the East Coast of the United States , although southwesterly wind shear gradually weakened the hurricane. By September 25, it passed over cooler sea surface temperatures that had been left behind by Hurricane Jose a week prior, causing its inner core to collapse and the structure of the storm to change significantly. On September 28,
7000-524: The non-profit environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council , the island's water system was already in substandard conditions prior to hurricanes Irma and Maria. The NRDC reported that seventy percent of the island had water that did not meet the standards of the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act . Still recovering from Hurricane Irma two weeks prior, approximately 80,000 remained without power as Maria approached. FEMA's Caribbean Distribution Center warehouse, its only emergency stockpile in
7100-410: The original plan, claiming that the lot of land purchased for the construction would benefit some of his political party's ( PNP ) heaviest financial contributors. They also objected to the lack of parking space, claiming that nearby private parking operators, supposedly also money donors to Rosselló's party, would extort high parking fees from people who could not or would not use public transportation to
7200-535: The parish's main settlement, experienced total roof failure or were otherwise structurally compromised. Many houses in La Plaine caved in or slid into rivers, and its single bridge was broken. Overall, the hurricane damaged the roofs of as much as 98% of the island's buildings, including those serving as shelters; half of the houses had their frames destroyed. Its ferocious winds defoliated nearly all vegetation, splintering or uprooting thousands of trees and decimating
7300-401: The participation of local talent in the arena. The Coliseum was finally inaugurated on September 4, 2004. The first major show was Van Halen , on September 13, 2004. The naming of the structure caused a controversy by itself. During the construction phase, plans called for the coliseum to be named simply El Coliseo de Puerto Rico (The Coliseum of Puerto Rico). It was also suggested to have
7400-525: The population. Water service was cut to 50,000 customers, especially in the communes of Le Morne-Rouge and Gros-Morne . Numerous roads and streets, especially along the northern coast, were impassible due to rock slides, fallen trees and toppled power poles. Streets in Fort-de-France were inundated. In the seaside commune of Le Carbet , rough seas washed ashore large rocks and demolished some coastal structures, while some boats were blown over along
7500-569: The public library of its roof panels and demolished all but one wall of the Baptist church. To the south of Roseau, riverside flooding and numerous landslides impacted the town of Pointe Michel , destroying about 80% of its structures and causing most of the deaths in the country. Outside the capital area, the worst of the destruction was concentrated around the east coast and rural areas, where collapsed roads and bridges isolated many villages. The port and fishing town of Marigot , Saint Andrew Parish ,
7600-499: The rate of intensification that occurred has been exceeded only a few times in the Atlantic since records began. Maria made landfall in Dominica at 01:15 UTC on September 19, becoming the first Category 5 hurricane on record to strike the island nation. Entering the Caribbean Sea, Maria weakened slightly to a Category 4 hurricane due to land interaction with the island of Dominica, however it quickly restrengthened to
7700-409: The runways remained relatively intact and open to emergency landings. The disaster affected all of the island's 53 health facilities, including the badly damaged primary hospital , compromising the safety of many patients. The infrastructure of Roseau was left in ruins; practically every power pole and line was downed, and the main road was reduced to fragments of flooded asphalt. The winds stripped
7800-460: The south of the archipelago, which endured hours of unabating hurricane-force winds. The strongest winds blew along the southern coastlines of Basse-Terre Island : Gourbeyre observed a peak wind speed of 101 mph (163 km/h), while winds up north in nearby Baillif reached 92 mph (148 km/h). Along those regions, the hurricane kicked up extremely rough seas with 20 ft (6.1 m) waves. The combination of rough seas and winds
7900-459: The southern Windward Islands . The Hewanorra and George F. L. Charles airports of Saint Lucia respectively recorded 4.33 and 3.1 in (110 and 79 mm) of rain, though even higher quantities fell elsewhere on the island. Scattered rock slides, landslides and uprooted trees caused minor damage and blocked some roads. Several districts experienced localized blackouts due to downed or damaged power lines. The agricultural sector, especially
8000-400: The system's path consisting of warm sea surface temperatures of 29 °C (84 °F), low wind shear , and abundant moisture aloft allowed the disturbance to consolidate and become Tropical Storm Maria 6 hours later, after satellite images had indicated that the low-level circulation of the wave had become well-defined. Maria gradually strengthened, and by late on September 17, although
8100-492: The territory's agriculture was lost due to the hurricane, with agricultural losses estimated at $ 780 million. The hurricane completely destroyed the island's power grid, leaving all 3.4 million residents without electricity. Governor Rosselló stated that it could take months to restore power in some locations, with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz estimating that some areas would remain without power for four to six months. Communication networks were crippled across
8200-574: The territory, peaking at 37.9 inches (960 mm) in Caguas . The eyewall replacement cycle that caused María to weaken to Category 4 strength also caused the eye to triple in size as the diameter expanded 9–28 nmi (10–32 mi ) prior to landfall. This change in size caused the area exposed to high-intensity winds on the island to be far greater. Widespread flooding affected San Juan, waist-deep in some areas, and numerous structures lost their roof. The coastal La Perla neighborhood of San Juan
8300-434: The tropical Atlantic under the influence of a mid-level ridge that was located to the system's north, and by 12:00 UTC on September 16, it had developed into Tropical Depression Fifteen, as deep convection consolidated and developed into curved bands wrapping into an increasingly-defined center of circulation. At that time, it was located about 665 mi (1,070 km) east of Barbados . Favorable conditions along
8400-627: The venue. At the time, the Tren Urbano was in its initial stages of construction; by the time the facility opened it was still under construction. Objectors would also point out that a private operator would take control of the facility under contract from the government of Puerto Rico under what was perceived as a highly expensive contract. The Rosselló administration countered by stating that previous experience with public sports facilities in Puerto Rico, which would quickly fall into disrepair at an accelerated rate requiring constant remodeling, demanded that
8500-432: The water supply system, many of Dominica's residents were in dire need of food, water and shelter for days. With no access to electricity or running water, and with sewage systems destroyed, fears of widespread diarrhea and dysentery arose. The island's agriculture, a vital source of income for many, was obliterated as most trees were flattened. Meanwhile, the driving force of the economy—tourism—was expected to be scarce in
8600-636: The weeks following Maria alleviated this problem, although it also slowed recovery efforts, particularly rebuilding damaged rooftops. Through the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility , Dominica received approximately US$ 19.2 million in emergency funds. USS Wasp , previously deployed to Saint Martin to assist in relief efforts after Hurricane Irma, arrived in Dominica on September 22. The vessel carried two Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters to assist in distribution of relief supplies in hard-to-reach areas. At
8700-401: The west end of St. Croix, as well as along the southern shoreline, leaving 3 people dead. Weather stations on St. Croix recorded between 10 and 20 inches (250 and 510 mm) of rain from the hurricane, and estimates for St. John and St. Thomas were somewhat less. The hurricane killed two people, both in their homes: one person drowned and another was trapped by a mudslide. A third person had
8800-512: The words Coliseo (coliseum) and "Cholito", in reference to Don Cholito , one of José Miguel Agrelot 's characters and Agrelot's own adopted nickname. It has consistently been ranked among the highest ticket-selling venues globally. The coliseum opened on September 4, 2004 after a prolonged construction financed by the Government of Puerto Rico . This venue is owned by the Puerto Rico Convention District Authority,
8900-547: Was 80% damaged. Settlements in Saint David Parish , such as Castle Bruce , Good Hope and Grand Fond , had been practically eradicated; many homes hung off cliffs or decoupled from their foundations. In Rosalie , rushing waters gushed over the village's bridge and damaged facilities in its bay area. Throughout Saint Patrick Parish , the extreme winds ripped through roofs and scorched the vegetation. Buildings in Grand Bay ,
9000-505: Was blown from the pedestal, the latter remaining intact. The radar is 2,800 ft (850 m) above sea level, and the anemometer at the site measured winds of about 145 mph (233 km/h) before communications broke, which means winds at that height were likely 20 percent higher than what was seen at sea level. The radar was rebuilt and finally brought back online 9 months later. The nearby island of Vieques suffered similarly extensive damage. Communications were largely lost across
9100-602: Was held instead at HP Field House at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando , Florida , temporarily renamed the Tire Pros Invitational for 2016. Plans called for the tournament to return to Puerto Rico in 2017 and take place at the Coliseo Tomás Dones in Fajardo , Puerto Rico, but widespread damage in Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria in September 2017 caused the 2017 edition of the tournament to be moved as well, to
9200-648: Was issued for the Pamlico Sound , the lower Neuse River , and the Alligator River on the morning of September 26. A state of emergency was declared by officials in Dare and Hyde counties, while visitors were ordered to evacuate Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Ferry service between Ocracoke and Cedar Island was suspended the evening of September 25, and remained suspended on September 26 and 27, due to rough seas, while ferry service between Ocracoke and Hatteras Island
9300-645: Was largely destroyed. Cataño saw extensive damage, with the Juana Matos neighborhood estimated to be 80-percent destroyed. The primary airport in San Juan, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport , was slated to reopen on September 22. Extensive damage occurred to hundreds of thousands of buildings throughout Puerto Rico due to high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, wave action and landslides. Ricardo Rosselló estimated that over 300,000 homes had been destroyed and many more damaged across
9400-452: Was not included in the planning or construction for the arena. Instead, only three parking lots were constructed, one for backstage entrance for authorized talent, production, equipment, props, etc., a medium-sized lot to the West entrance mostly for handicapped and the smallest lot, access-controlled, located across the box office and nearby the heavy rail station; privately-owned parking lots around
9500-455: Was ranked 13 times in the 25 best arenas worldwide, according to Pollstar , Billboard and Venues Today . The largest attendance record that the Choliseo has hosted was achieved on July 28, 2022, with Bad Bunny 's Un Verano Sin Ti. The singer established an all-time record of 18,749 spectators, 249 spectators over the venue's capacity, on the first night of his three-night performances, breaking
9600-672: Was ranked 8th on the Top 50 Arena Venues of the world and second of the West Hemisphere in worldwide ticket sales by Pollstar , surpassing the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the American Airlines Arena in Miami , Wembley Arena in London, etc. In the first three months of 2011, the coliseum received an overwhelming number of people of over 205,000. During the first trimester, the coliseum
9700-437: Was responsible for widespread structural damage and flooding throughout the archipelago, especially from Pointe-à-Pitre, along Grand-Terre Island 's southwestern coast, to Petit-Bourg and the southern coasts on Basse-Terre Island. Aside from wind-related effects, rainfall from Maria was also significant. In just a day, the hurricane dropped nearly a month's worth of rainfall at some important locations: Pointe-à-Pitre recorded
9800-790: Was suspended on September 26 and 27. The port in Morehead City was closed by the United States Coast Guard on the morning of September 26. Schools in Dare County closed on September 26 and 27, while schools in Carteret and Tyrrell counties, along with Ocracoke Island, dismissed early on September 26, in anticipation of high winds. Schools in Currituck County were closed on September 27, due to high winds. The outer rainbands of Maria produced heavy rainfall and strong gusts across
9900-399: Was the worst affected crop, with 18 million coffee trees destroyed, which will require about five to ten years to bring back at least 15% of the coffee production of the island. The Whitney Museum of American Art documented Hurricane Maria experiences in Puerto Rico and its aftermath in an art exhibition November 23, 2022 – April 23, 2023: "no existe un mundo poshuracán: Puerto Rican Art in
10000-433: Was to rescue survivors rather than assess damage. Initial ham radio reports from the capital of Roseau on September 19 indicated "total devastation," with half the city flooded, cars stranded, and stretches of residential area "flattened". The next morning, the first aerial footage of Dominica elucidated the scope of the destruction. Maria left the mountainous country blanketed in a field of debris: Rows of houses along
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