Hurricane Elsa batters Barbados, St. Vincent
Hurricane Elsa pounded the Caribbean island of Barbados on Friday, ripping roofs off of homes, toppling trees and cutting power for many of its residents.
Elsa later battered neighboring St. Vincent, as it tears through the Caribbean, packing maximum winds of 85 miles per hour, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Heavy rains sparked major flooding across many areas, prompting St. Vincent's water and sewage authority to cut water supply as a precaution for potential mudflows.
Meanwhile government officials in Barbados urged residents to shelter in place and only leave their homes if the structures were damaged.
Emergency services were unable to reach people, but there were no reports of injuries or deaths as of Friday.
Weather officials expect little change in Elsa's strength in the coming days.
Its storm surge is expected to raise water levels by as much as 1 to 4 feet above normal tide levels in some areas.
The National Hurricane Center says hurricane conditions are expected in Haiti and possibly in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica later this weekend.
