Sep 19, 2017

Caribbean islands leveled by back-to-back hurricanes

Erica Pandey, author of @Work

The hurricanes ripped so many plants out of the ground that the Virgin Islands appeared to change color. Photo: Joshua Stevens / NASA Earth Observatory via AP

The Caribbean islands in the direct paths of Hurricanes Irma and Maria weathered two instances of Category 5-level winds and rain in just over a week. The storms have ripped off roofs, leveled neighborhoods and prompted mass evacuations.

Dominica, Barbuda and the Virgin Islands — which are already dealing with high rates of poverty — were hardest hit by the back-to-back hurricanes, and face a long road to recovery.

  • There's not a single living person on Barbuda for the first time in 300 years. The island evacuated all 1,800 of its residents, and 95% of homes and buildings are destroyed.
  • Maria made landfall in Dominica this morning, packing 160 mph sustained winds. That's stronger than Harvey and Irma when they hit Texas and Florida, respectively.
  • Parts of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico could be "uninhabitable for months" after Maria strikes, per NBC.
  • As the above natural color photos shot by NASA show, the hurricanes ripped so many plants out of the ground that the Virgin Islands appeared to change color. "Lush green tropical vegetation can be ripped away by a storm's strong winds, leaving the satellite with a view of more bare ground. Also, salt spray whipped up by the hurricane can coat and desiccate leaves while they are still on the trees," per NASA.

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer, Orion Rummler, Rashaan Ayesh
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

George Floyd updates

Protesters gather north of Lafayette Square near the White House during a demonstration against racism and police brutality, in Washington, D.C. on Saturday evening. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AFP via Getty Images

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have been rallying in cities across the U.S. and around the world to protest the killing of George Floyd. Huge crowds assembled in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago for full-day events on Saturday.

Why it matters: Twelve days of nationwide protest in the U.S. has built pressure for states to make changes on what kind of force law enforcement can use on civilians and prompted officials to review police conduct. A memorial service was held for Floyd in Raeford, North Carolina, near where he was born. Gov. Roy Cooper ordered all flags to fly at half-staff to honor him until sunset.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 11:30 p.m. ET: 6,889,889 — Total deaths: 399,642 — Total recoveries — 3,085,326 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 11:30 p.m. ET: 1,920,061 — Total deaths: 109,802 — Total recoveries: 500,849 — Total tested: 19,778,873 — Map.
  3. Public health: Why the pandemic is hitting minorities harder — Coronavirus curve rises in Florida — How racism threatens the response to the pandemic — Some people are drinking and inhaling cleaning products in attempt to fight the virus.
  4. Tech: The pandemic is accelerating next-generation disease diagnostics — Robotics looks to copy software-as-a-service model.
  5. Business: Budgets busted by coronavirus make it harder for cities to address inequality — Sports, film production in California to resume June 12 after 3-month hiatus.
  6. Education: Students and teachers flunked remote learning.
Other resources (<1 min. read)Arrow
Rashaan Ayesh, Rebecca Falconer
Updated 6 hours ago - World

In photos: People around the world rally against racism

Despite a ban on large gatherings implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic, protesters rally against racism in front of the American Embassy in Paris on June 6. Photo: Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Tens of thousands of people have continued to rally in cities across the world against racism and show their support this week for U.S. demonstrators protesting the death in police custody of George Floyd.

Why it matters: The tense situation in the U.S. has brought the discussion of racism and discrimination onto the global stage at a time when most of the world is consumed by the novel coronavirus.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow