Maria Cuases Destruction in Puerto Rico

Anyone that has visited Puerto Rico knows what a special place it is, and how gracious the people are to visitors.

Hurricane Maria did a number on Puerto Rico yesterday.

Isabela and Aguadilla

Spent yesterday touring around the neighboring cities.

First to the small town square of Isabela.

And then on to the emerging tourist destination of Aguadilla. A lot is going on in Aguadilla. Met the Mayor and toured a lot of the town.

Royal Isabela

It's beautiful.

The northwest corner of Puerto Rico.

The resort is Royal Isabela and it's an unspoiled luxury property that doesn't feature a hotel.  Just 20 casitas and one restaurant. Also a beatutiful golf course that really is oceanside.

I recommend.

Tropical Storm Emily Heading to Florida

Tropical storm Emily has been strengthening as it moves on its northwestern path and pushes its way through the Caribbean.

Earlier this morning, Emily was about 265 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico traveling around 17 miles an hour but it is expected to speed up as it moves across the Caribbean Sea today and moves closer towards the Dominican Republic, where there is a tropical storm watch.

By evening, it is projected that Emily will make its way to the island of Hispaniola.

In the latest advisory by the US National Hurricane Centre, Haiti, the US Virgin Islands, and the islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and Antigua were also under a tropical storm watch.

Emily has yet to be defined as a Category 1 hurricane, the weakest type of hurricane where damage is typically leads to broken windows, destruction of older homes and roofs.

Thus far, Emily's maximum winds were up to 40 miles per hour. They should get stronger.

Hurricane Earl Gaining Strength

Hurricane Earl continues to pick up more power in the Atlantic Ocean, with winds whipping at about 105 mph and forcing even stronger gusts.

As of Monday morning, the Category 2 hurricane was centered east of Puerto Rico, about 50 miles east-northeast of St. Martin, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. It was headed west-northwest at about 15 mph.

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Leeward Islands could get up to eight inches of rain and as much as 12 inches in isolated areas with higher elevations, the hurricane center said. "These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," the center said.

Earl is expected to gain more force and "become a major hurricane," by late Monday or early Tuesday, the weather agency said.

Storm surging is expected to raise water levels by up to four feet above ground level in the hurricane warning area, the weather agency said. The surge "will be accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves," according to the hurricane center.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect for Puerto Rico.

Earl could impact the entire East Coast over the Labor Day weekend.