SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- As Tropical Storm Dorian continues to strengthen, the Governor of Puerto Rico has declared a state of emergency.
Forecasters are predicting near-hurricane force winds when Dorian reaches Puerto Rico Wednesday evening, which means it could be a Category 1 hurricane.
Right now, the governor said more than 350 shelters and 70 hospitals are open and ready. The southwestern part of the island is expected to get significant impact.
A Florida restaurant owner said she's watching the storm closely because she still has family in the area. She said her sister and her two daughters survived Hurricane Maria which devastated Puerto Rico almost two years ago. Maria killed nearly 3,000 people.
Her sister, Zaida Garcia remembers vividly what happened afterwards. "It was horrible. When that day came, we used to see trees falling down, everything flying around, the water went out, the light went out right away before it even started and we were out here, like months without water and light. It was terrible, it was horrible," said Garcia.
With the island still in recovery from Maria, Garcia said people there are racing to prepare for a potential hurricane and scrambling to stock up on supplies.
Right now, they're doing what they can to get ready for Dorian.
