A teenage professional surfer from the Barbados is dead after surfing an unruly swell caused by Hurricane Irma reports Loop News Barbados.
Zander Venezia was surfing a notoriously shallow, heavy break when he fell and broke his neck on a reef beneath the water. The wave in question is positioned between Barclay’s and Cattlewash beaches. Another pro surfer, Nathan Florence, was at the scene at the time of the accident. He retrieved a badly bleeding Venezia from the surf before attempting to perform CPR on the unconscious victim. Those attempts proved unsuccessful.
Venezia was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The category 5 hurricane has already made landfall at numerous Caribbean islands and currently the US Virgin Islands are bearing the brunt of the storm.
*Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s friends and family.Â
Find the entire Loop News Barbados article here:Â Surfer dies after incident at St Joseph beach
Hurricane Warning [Puerto Rico + US Virgin Island]
— A Hurricane Warning is in effect for all of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
* STORM INFORMATION: – About 90 miles east of San Juan PR or about 20 miles east-northeast of Saint Thomas VI – 18.5N 64.7W – Storm Intensity 185 mph – Movement West-northwest or 285 degrees at 16 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW ——————
At 2 PM AST Irma continues as a dangerous category 5 with winds of 185 mph. Irma passed just north of Saint John and will continue in this west northwest direction as a category 5 hurricane as it passes north of and impacts Puerto Rico today. Irma is expected to cause lethal winds, storm surge, rip currents and rainfall impacts across the local islands. Hurricane force winds will be exceeded across the Northern U.S. Virgin Islands, Culebra, with an eyewall passage. Hurricane force winds are possible in northeast Puerto Rico and hurricane force gusts can be expected there. Strong tropical force winds with hurricane force gusts are likely over Vieques and on- going in Saint Croix. The rest of the area is likely to experience tropical storm force winds. Wind gusts with hurricane force wind are also likely in higher elevations. Rainfall storm total accumulations across the north and northeast of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands except Saint Croix, 4 to 10 inches with isolated 15 inches. Across the Southwest part of Puerto Rico and St. Croix expect 2 to 4 inches.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS —————–
* WIND: Protect against life-threatening wind having possible devastating impacts across the northern U.S. Virgin Islands, Culebra and northeast Puerto Rico. Potential impacts in this area include: – Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months. – Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. – Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. – Widespread power and communications outages. Also, protect against life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts across Saint Croix, Vieques, and most of the rest of Puerto Rico.
* SURGE: Protect against life-threatening surge having possible devastating impacts across northern coasts of Puerto Rico including Culebra and the northern U.S. Virgin Islands. Potential impacts in this area include: – Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded from considerable floating debris. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period. – Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. – Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible. – Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted onshore and stranded. Also, protect against life-threatening surge having possible significant to extensive impacts across Puerto Rico and Saint Croix.
* FLOODING RAIN: Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across the entire region and especially higher terrain. Potential impacts include: – Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. – Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. In mountain areas, destructive runoff may run quickly down valleys while increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. – Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.
* TORNADOES: Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts across PUERTO RICO AND THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS. Potential impacts include: – The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. – A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. – Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ———–
* EVACUATIONS: If you are exceptionally vulnerable to wind or water hazards from tropical systems, consider voluntary evacuation, especially if being officially recommended. Relocate to a predetermined shelter or safe destination. If evacuating away from the area or relocating to a nearby shelter, leave early before weather conditions become hazardous. Do not return to evacuated areas until hazardous winds diminish and flood waters abate.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: In Puerto Rico now is the time to bring to completion all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Outside preparations should be wrapped up as soon as possible before weather conditions completely deteriorate. Any remaining evacuations and relocations should be expedited before the onset of tropical storm force wind. Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss of life. Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with any orders that are issued. Remember, during the storm 9-1 1- Emergency Services may not be able to immediately respond if conditions are unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision making. Check-in with your emergency points of contact among family, friends, and workmates. Inform them of your status and well-being. Let them know how you intend to ride out the storm and when you plan to check-in again. Keep cell phones well charged and handy. Also, cell phone chargers for automobiles can be helpful after the storm. Locate your chargers and keep them with your cell phone. Be a Good Samaritan and helpful to others. Closely monitor NOAA Weather radio or other local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: – For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov – For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org – For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE ———–
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in San Juan PR around 5:30 PM AST, or sooner if conditions warrant.