Associated Press
VEGA BAJA, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico’s governor declared a state of emergency Friday after three days of rain set off floods that swept away bridges, damaged hundreds of homes and forced more than 250 people into shelters. No one was reported seriously injured.
Gov. Sila Calderon made available $5 million from the U.S. territory’s emergency fund to help flood victims and farmers who lost coffee, bananas and other crops.
The American Red Cross estimated that the flooding damaged at least 270 homes. "There are places we haven’t been able to get to," said Carmen Canino, executive director of the Red Cross in Puerto Rico.
Visiting a school where 54 people took shelter in the northern coast town of Vega Baja, Calderon urged those in low-lying areas to move to higher ground and go to the schools that are open as shelters.
Evelyn Rosario, 40, brought her three daughters and her 10-month-old grandson to the shelter at a school here.
"The house hadn’t flooded since (Hurricane) Georges" in 1998, Rosario said. "This time, the water was rising and it reached my knee."
With rain sweeping the Caribbean island for a third day Friday, more than 250 evacuees were staying in 11 emergency shelters, authorities said.
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