Hurricane In Puerto Rico Causes $200 Million In Damage, 10 Deaths

With preliminary damage estimates topping $200 million after Hurricane Hortense’s jagged path across the island, Gov. Pedro J. Rossello urged federal officials Wednesday to approve emergency aid to help Puerto Ricans rebuild.

After touring the island by helicopter, Rossello reported an estimated 8,500 residences damaged at a cost of $40.7 million. Most of the damage has been caused by floodwaters.

More than 10,000 people remain in emergency shelters, mostly in the eastern part of the island which was hit hardest by the storm on Tuesday.

“I see no problem declaring Puerto Rico a disaster area,” Rossello said at a news conference at the Governor’s Mansion. “I understand that the damage is much worse than during Hurricane Marilyn.”

President Clinton approved disaster aid for Puerto Rico after Marilyn battered the island last September.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials still were working Wednesday to corroborate local damage estimates to decide whether to recommend that Clinton declare Puerto Rico a disaster area, thereby freeing federal aid for the island of 3.6 million people.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the hurricane had pounded the island of Grand Turk with 90 mph winds and was heading toward the United States.

Rossello said Puerto Rico had suffered $127 million in losses to coffee, plantain and fruit crops, compared with $100 million in losses during Hurricane Hugo of 1989.

Rising waters and broken pipes caused about $30 million in damage to highways, washing away bridges and leaving more than 15 major rural highways still closed Wednesday.

The Aqueduct and Sewer Authority estimated its losses from flooding at $5.6 million.

Officials used helicopters to reach some rural areas left isolated because downed trees and power lines were blocking access roads. About 60 percent of the island lacked electricity and 36 percent of it lacked running water Wednesday, but government workers brought potable water in trucks to affected areas.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Puerto Rico rose to 10 Wednesday.

On Wednesday, rescue workers found the bodies of three family members who had been swept away by the Guayama River in the southern municipality of Guayama.