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Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico on Sept. 18, only five years after Hurricane Maria heavily damaged the island archipelago. (Video: John Farrell, Julie Yoon, Juan C. Dávila/The Washington Post)

At least four killed in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Fiona, FEMA says

Five years after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, killing thousands and triggering one of the largest blackouts in U.S. history, the island is digging out after another devastating storm.  
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Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi (D) said Tuesday that President Biden had agreed to issue a major disaster declaration for the territory to free additional federal funds for the response. The storm brought an average of 10 to 16 inches of rain across Puerto Rico, Pierluisi said. Four people on the island were killed, according to FEMA.
Luma Energy officials said power had been restored to more than 286,000 customers as of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday — a fifth of the 1.5 million total households that rely on the private energy consortium. It also said late Monday that Luma had restored power to Pavia Emergency Room (Carolina), Caribbean Hospital (Fajardo), Canovanas CDT and Cambalache Regional Hospital (Arecibo).
Fiona reached maximum sustained wind speeds of 115 mph, the National Hurricane Center said early Tuesday, making it this year’s first “major hurricane,” which is defined as a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or more.
The southeast part of Puerto Rico saw the most rainfall of the storm, with many areas getting at least 20 inches of rain and a few spots receiving more than 25 inches. In Ponce, the island’s second-largest city, Fiona dumped more than 32 inches.
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Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi (D) said Tuesday that President Biden had agreed to issue a major disaster declaration for the territory to free additional federal funds for the response. The storm brought an average of 10 to 16 inches of rain across Puerto Rico, Pierluisi said. Four people on the island were killed, according to FEMA.
Luma Energy officials said power had been restored to more than 286,000 customers as of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday — a fifth of the 1.5 million total households that rely on the private energy consortium. It also said late Monday that Luma had restored power to Pavia Emergency Room (Carolina), Caribbean Hospital (Fajardo), Canovanas CDT and Cambalache Regional Hospital (Arecibo).
Fiona reached maximum sustained wind speeds of 115 mph, the National Hurricane Center said early Tuesday, making it this year’s first “major hurricane,” which is defined as a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or more.
The southeast part of Puerto Rico saw the most rainfall of the storm, with many areas getting at least 20 inches of rain and a few spots receiving more than 25 inches. In Ponce, the island’s second-largest city, Fiona dumped more than 32 inches.
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The Atlantic hurricane season

The latest: After a somewhat slow start to the season, hurricane activity — including a rare storm affecting California — is ramping up in the late summer. NOAA forecasters have updated their season predictions, calling for a high likelihood of above-average tropical activity. Ocean waters are particularly warm, and a global weather pattern known as El Niño is complicating the outlook.

Tips for preparing: We rounded up what you need to know before, during and after a hurricane hits, plus seven safety tips to help you get ready. Here’s what to know about flood insurance.

Understanding climate change: It’s not just you — hurricanes and tropical storms have hit the U.S. more frequently in recent years. And over the past decade, seas have drastically risen along the southern U.S. coast. A new study also suggests hurricanes have become deadlier in recent decades.