Attention news media covering Hurricane Irma—Puerto Rico is part of the U.S.

As the United States still reels from Hurricane Harvey, a massive threat is bearing down on us and our Caribbean neighbors. Hurricane Irma is now a Category 4 storm.

I’m keeping all those in Irma’s path in my prayers, and am waiting to hear what the U.S. is going to do to assist with the devastation that is sure to follow when Irma hits.

FYI — the English word “hurricane” comes from the Indigenous Caribbean deity “Huracan”

What has bothered me, and other people who are watching the storm closely is that many news reports state when they think Irma will “hit the U.S.” — and refer to Florida, when the storm is bearing down on a part of the U.S. — Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

Was glad to see these tweets:

TV keeps saying #Irma could hit US next week. But it will hit Puerto Rico this week. Perhaps someone could remind them that Puerto Rico...

— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) September 5, 2017

Dear mainstream newscasters, if Irma is hitting Puerto Rico, it is in fact, touching U.S. soil. #colonialproblems

— camille pd (@CamiHabla) September 5, 2017

#HurricaneIrma I only see people tweeting about Florida? Tf? What about Puerto Rico, Haiti, DP, and Cuba? They dont exist? pic.twitter.com/E2zjZRqDB2

— . (@SoloAngel__) September 5, 2017

Thank you Virginia Task Force:

Virginia task force team deploys to Puerto Rico ahead of Irma hitting - https://t.co/XpYZMP7MAf via https://t.co/tF0CQp1msu

— Denise Oliver-Velez (@Deoliver47) September 5, 2017

I’m also following the twitter stream of Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Rossello:

[Mañana] El gobernador @ricardorossello junto @DirAEMEAD ofrecerá rueda de prensa con los últimos detalles del huracán Irma. #IrmaPR pic.twitter.com/l0FLa2NoVX

— La Fortaleza (@fortalezapr) September 5, 2017

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello declares state of emergency, activates national guard ahead of Hurricane #Irma https://t.co/BbTfzqZ38z

— BuzzFeed Storm (@BuzzFeedStorm) September 4, 2017

Anyone with news — check-ins or friends and family in the Caribbean please post info in comments.

Tuesday, Sep 5, 2017 · 10:53:41 AM +00:00 · Denise Oliver Velez

Irma is now approaching Cat 5.

Tuesday, Sep 5, 2017 · 12:03:53 PM +00:00 · Denise Oliver Velez

Update #2 — Irma is now Cat 5

Tuesday, Sep 5, 2017 · 4:00:19 PM +00:00 · Denise Oliver Velez

Update #3

A Category 5 storm, which starts at 157 mph winds, is the strongest classification on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. "Catastrophic damage will occur" with Category 5 storms, the National Hurricane Center said.

"A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse," according to the National Hurricane Center. "Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months."