Puerto Rico Multiple Quakes

07.01.2020

Three strong earthquakes shook Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning, damaging buildings, knocking out power after another strong earthquake less than 24 hours earlier. A magnitude 6.4 quake struck just before 4:30 a.m. local time Tuesday, off the coast of southwest Puerto Rico, about 8 miles wsw of Ponce. The quake was followed 10 minutes later by a magnitude 5.6 temblor and more than a dozen aftershocks. Another magnitude 5.6 quake shook the U.S. territory a little after 7:15 a.m. Since Dec. 28, hundreds of small earthquakes have occurred in Puerto Rico. The large quakes and more than 90 aftershocks triggered a nationwide power outage.

Download the PDF here Multiple Large Earthquakes, Puerto Rico, January 2020 (2).pdf

National Situation Report and Significant Updates

Significant Updates (most recent first)

Jan 7

  • Puerto Rico Governor has declared a State of Emergency and activated the National Guard source
  • SJU Airport is operating on generators following power outage caused by earthquakes source
  • Landslide on PR-2 road leaves it impassable in Ponce source
  • The Electric Power Authority reported an island-wide power outage. Víctor Huérfano, director of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, told The Associated Press that he does not have immediate reports of damage or injuries because communications are down for much of the island. source
  • Facebook has activated their crisis response for the earthquake in Puerto Rico source
  • Americares Emergency Response Team is assessing needs in Puerto Rico source

Jan 6

  • Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced ordered all schools closed until January 13th in order to do proper inspections source

National and Regional Links

 

Puerto Rico State Website

 

Puerto Rico Emergency Management

 

Puerto Rico Department of Transportation

 

Autoridad de Energia Electgrica

 

Water and Sewer

 

American Red Cross

 

Humanity Road

 

Emergency Numbers

For life-threatening emergencies please call — 911

  • If you are trapped in your home and need life-saving medications or procedures like dialysis or if you are disabled and need assistance getting to a shelter, please call — 911.
  • Disaster Distress Helpline — 1-800-985-5990, TTY for deaf and hearing impaired — 1-800-846-8517.
  • State Agency for Emergency Management: (787) 724-0124
  • Medical emergencies: (787) 343-2550 or (787) 754-2550
  • Firefighters: (787) 343-2330
  • Electric Power Authority: (787) 289-3434
  • Water and sewage Authority: (787) 620-2482
  • Puerto Rico Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222
  • Health Department: (787) 765-2929

 

Shelters and Evacuation Centers

  • Penuelas – Jan 7 The Pentecostal Church of Korea opened as a refuge. Map source
  • With the earthquake and continued seismic activity, we wanted to provide the following information related to currently open American Red Cross shelters. Please use this weblink to get the most current information should additional shelters be opened: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html
  • Esc, Gloria Borrero, Carr. 132 Km 4.2 Bo. Marcana, Guayanilla, PR 00656
  • Coliseo Mariano Tito Rodriguez, PR-116R, Guanica, PR 0065

Health and Hospitals

  • Damas de Ponce Hospital reports all patients are properly treated and evacuated. Engineers are evaluating the infrastructure. source
  • Hospitals in Medical Center are functioning normally. They are experiencing a shortage of staff due to their unknown situation. source
  • San Juan Medical Center has power source
  • Pavia Hospital of Yauco evacuated urgently ask for 15×40 tents with air conditioning source

 

Vulnerable Populations

 

Useful Links

 

Power and Communications

 

Status updates

Jan 7

  • The Electric Power Authority reported an island-wide power outage. Víctor Huérfano, director of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, told The Associated Press that he does not have immediate reports of damage or injuries because communications are down for much of the island. source
  • Claro: We have just activated the contingency plan to ensure continuity of service provision. Our Brigades are monitoring the network and we will inform any service affectation. We hope everyone is well. It is important to take the necessary measures to protect lives / property and keep calm while the situation is normalized. Communicate 24/7 with us through our social networks and chat. Access here to report situations: https://bit.ly/2KX9Am5 source
    • Claro – Report downed wires 787-792-8484.
    • Claro – Report service outages to 787-775-0000/*775

 

  • Amateur Radio Via ARRL ARRL Puerto Rico Public Information Officer Angel Santana, WP3GW, Santana said VHF and UHF repeater systems having emergency power carried reports of power outages and other information. ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, told ARRL that no Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) activations have been necessary, as commercial telecommunication systems remain functional. http://www.arrl.org/

 

  • Video showing poles down Video

 

Transportation Roads / Bridges

Useful Links

Status

  • Jan 7 Personnel are evaluating the safety aspect of different roads in the southern zone, after the tremor reported in the morning today.

 

Maritime / Shipping / Ports

Useful Links

Status

 

Water Systems

Useful Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACUEDUCTOSPR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Acueductospr

 

Status Update

  • Puerto Rico governor says almost 300,000 homes and businesses are without water service source

Regional Situation Reports

Guanica (pop. 19,427) (17.971667, -66.908056)

Located on the south coast, territory mostly flat. It borders with Sabana Grande on the north, the Caribbean Sea on the south, Yauco on the east and Lajas on the west.

Website: None

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Municipio-de-Gu%C3%A1nica-120674641877056/

Twitter: None

 

Guayama (pop 84,214) (17.974167, -66.11)

Located on the Southern Coastal Valley region, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Cayey; east of Salinas; and west of Patillas and Arroyo. Guayama municipal territory reaches the central mountain range to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. The mountain systems Sierra de Jajome (2,395 feet or 730 meters) and Sierra de Cayey cover some of the municipality area. The highest points are the Cerro de la Tabla (2,834 feet or 863 meters) and Cerro Tumbado (2,450 feet or 746 meters), which are part of the Sierra de Cayey mountain system.

Website: None

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/municipiodeguayama/

Twitter: None

 

Guayanilla (pop. 21,581) (18.019167, -66.791944)

Located on the south coast. To the west it borders Yauco, Adjuntas to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the south and Peñuelas to the east. Central mountain range borders its North. In the Pasto and Jagua Pasto neighborhoods, it has heights that reach up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level. Towards its central part the relief descends remarkably.

Website https://www.linkedin.com/company/municipio-de-guayanilla/about/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MunGuayanilla/

Twitter: None

 

  • Via Facebook From you or any family or neighbor need emotional help you can communicate to 18009810023 https://www.facebook.com/MunGuayanilla/
  • Guayanilla – Video of structures collapsed in the area of after tremor source Jan 7

 

Penuelas (pop 1.422) 18.057062, -66.722642

Located in the southern coast of the island, south of Adjuntas, east of Guayanilla, west of Ponce and north of the Caribbean Sea. Peñuelas is spread over 12 wards and Peñuelas Pueblo

Website https://www.municipiodepenuelas.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/munpenuelas/

Twitter: None

 

  • Jan 7 The Pentecostal Church of Korea opened as a refuge. Map
  • Jan 7 Via Municipal de Penuelas – Please stay in a safe place. The streets are not safe at the moment, we are working on them but the tremors continue and the landslides continue. Source
  • Jan 7 Damas de Ponce Hospital reports all patients are properly treated and evacuated. Engineers are evaluating the infrastructure. source
  • Penuelas – Large boulders fell about 5:20am onto Highway #2 blocking the westbound lane from Poncé to Peñuelas https://twitter.com/Arod50051/status/1214517656155566080

 

Ponce (pop 445,000) 18.01087,-66.61393

Located in the southern coastal plain region of the island, south of Adjuntas, Utuado, and Jayuya; east of Peñuelas; west of Juana Díaz; and bordered on the south by the Caribbean Sea. The municipality has a total of 31 barrios (wards), including 19 outside the city’s urban area and 12 in the urban area of the city. The historic Ponce Pueblo district, located in the downtown area of the city, is shared by several of the downtown barrios, and is located approximately three miles (4.8 km) inland from the shores of the Caribbean

Website: http://visitponce.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PPRPonce/

Twitter: None

Maps and Situational Awareness

 

 

Photos and Videos