SPREADS

Fight to warn thousands of crippled dam

Rico’s 1,600 cell phone towers were knocked out by Maria, along with 85% of phone and internet cables on the island.

“We haven’t seen the extent of the damage,” said the governor. Power remained out across all of Puerto Rico, with dire warnings that electricity might not be restored for months.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said an effort was underway to provide satellite phones to all of Puerto Rico’s towns and cities.

Officials said more than 15,000 Puerto Ricans remained in shelters. An overnight curfew also remained in effect.

The only good news Saturday came courtesy of ex-NYPD Detective Rick Colon, who was in contact with a ham radio operator in Puerto Rico.

The amateur broadcaster in the hurricane-ravaged nation, using power from a generator, contacted Colon in Palm Bay, Fla., to relay messages from Puerto Ricans eager to let U.S. relatives know they were alive.

“I made about 100-plus calls,” said Colon. “Calling the family members was very emotional. They started screaming and crying and thanking me.”

Colon said the fellow ham operator relayed the phone numbers for him to dial on behalf of the people stranded in Puerto Rico without any phone service.

“I’m not going to lie,” said Colon, who retired in 2006 after 21 years on the job. “I had tears in my eyes calling several of these people. It takes an emotional toll on me.”

The National Weather Service forecast indicated the rainfall that caused massive flooding and mudslides was abating Saturday, with only passing showers and isolated thunderstorms expected.

The winds on the island were down to about 17 mph, and skies were expected to remain cloudy.

But meteorologists acknowledged it was difficult to report on the impact of the weather because many of its recording devices were powerless.

In the U.S., forecasters warned that Maria was whipping up dangerous surf and rip currents along the East Coast. The Category 3 storm, with winds still whipping at 115 mph, was expected to steer well clear of the mainland.