Hurricane Irma devastates Caribbean as US prepares for possible hit

Hurricane Irma has left a trail of destruction in its wake as it moves across the Caribbean Sea and heads for a possible landfall on the mainland United States.

The Category 5 storm made initial landfall Wednesday afternoon on the Caribbean island of Barbuda and continued in the direction of Puerto Rico, leaving massive destruction in its wake and several reported deaths. 

Barbuda, with its population of about 1,600 people, was so badly hit that communication to the island was completely cut off, CNN reported. 

Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, later posted a message on his personal Facebook page assuring the public that the country “has stood up to a mighty test.”

Irma also hit St. Martin and Anguilla and parts of the British Virgin Islands. At least three people have been reported killed in the destruction, according to CNN.

The National Hurricane Center reported earlier Wednesday that Irma will likely be the strongest hurricane to make landfall north of the Caribbean Sea in history. Irma’s most powerful winds have been clocked at 185 mph.

President Trump on Tuesday acted to declare a prelandfall emergency for Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico has already begun evacuations in some areas, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) said Trump’s declaration would allow relief funds to begin pouring in.

“This will free up much needed federal funding and assistance as we prepare for Irma,” Scott said Tuesday.

{mosads} Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump predicted the situation in the affected areas will be “not good.”

“There is a new and seems to be record-breaking hurricane [heading] toward Florida and Puerto Rico and other places,” Trump said. “It looks like it could be something that will be not good. Believe me, not good.”

Puerto Rico’s Gov. Ricardo Rossello (D) told reporters Wednesday that much of the island’s infrastructure will likely be damaged or destroyed by the powerful storm.

“The dangerousness of this event is like nothing we’ve ever seen,” Rossello told The Associated Press. “A lot of infrastructure won’t be able to withstand this kind of force.”

Another hurricane, Katia, was upgraded from a tropical storm Wednesday afternoon. It is expected to be much milder and will make landfall in Mexico.

The House voted Wednesday to send $7.85 billion in Hurricane Harvey disaster relief to Texas and Louisiana, which were struck by the hurricane last week. The bill passed by an overwhelming 419-3 vote, but a possible future vote tying the relief funds to a debt-ceiling increase could be much closer. 

At least 60 people died and billions of dollars in property was destroyed by Harvey. Irma is expected to be much more powerful and will likely raise the tab for relief funds significantly.