The last major hurricane to strike Puerto Rico directly was Georges, which made landfall there as a Category 3 storm in 1998, he said. PRAYERS AND MATTRESSESUS Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp said Maria was due to pass within 10 miles of the island of St. Croix, which escaped the brunt of Irma’s clout on Sept. 6. Mapp asked the public for prayers and urged St. Croix residents take cover in one of three emergency shelters on the island. Forecasts predict Maria will be the worst storm to hit St. Croix since Hugo, a Category 4 storm, in 1989. Parts of Puerto Rico could see up to 25 inches (64 cm) of rain, it said.

Source: bd News24 September 19, 2017 10:30 UTC