Weather Injustice Bears Down on Puerto Rico

Colonizer-Imposed Naming Drags On as Tropical Storm “Ernesto” Barrels Towards Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, Forcing School Closures and Flooding

“Ernesto,” the second named storm this week, is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it batters the northern Caribbean, disrupting lives and inflicting harm.

by [Your Name Here], Outraged Activist Reporter

National Hurricane Center, in its 8 p.m. AST advisory, announced that the tropical storm “Ernesto” is expected to become a hurricane as it passes northeast of Puerto Rico. This update was made when the storm was located 20 miles east of St. Thomas and 90 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico, posing a direct threat to the lives and livelihoods of those in its path.

The harmful weather event has already led to the cancellation of the first day of classes in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as flight cancellations at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan. Yes, it's apparently okay for nature to cancel school, but when we try to protest racist policies, we get arrested.

“If you're in those areas, you need to go ahead and get prepared for a potential for hurricane conditions," NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said during a livestream.

This stark warning underscores the urgency of the situation.

Tropical Storm “Ernesto” is expected to slam into Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands late Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, with the potential for significant rainfall. The U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as the islands that are part of Puerto Rico, have been placed under hurricane watches.

The storm's projected path includes a turn north towards Bermuda, where it is expected to gain strength over the Atlantic Ocean, further highlighting the inequitable distribution of natural disasters and the vulnerability of already-marginalized communities.

You can track the storm's path and follow USA TODAY’s coverage of yet another violent storm with a colonizer moniker, as it retraces the paths of violence trod by conquistadors and slave owners centuries ago.

Links:

• National Hurricane Center advisory
• NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome
• USA TODAY Tropical Storm “Ernesto” coverage