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12 13 Sept 18 at 10:48am As at 11:00am today, Monday, September 18th, 2017, the National Hurricane Center based in Miami, Florida reported that Hurricane Maria had rapidly intensified into a major hurricane, with the eye expected to move through the Leeward Islands late this afternoon or this evening. A hurricane warning is in effect for St. Kitts and Nevis,meaning that “hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area” and “preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” according to the National Hurricane Center. With maximum sustained winds near 120 miles per hour,Maria is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saf- fir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.“Additional rapid strengthening” is forecast during the next 48 hours, the National Hurricane Center also reported.Hur- ricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. All schools in the Federation will close at 12:00pm and all Government offices will close at 2:00pm today to facilitate preparation for Hurri- cane Maria. All Government Independence activ- ities scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 19th, Independence Day, have been postponed until further notice. HURRICANE IRMA / HURRICANE MARIA PHOTOS: DIGITALGLOBE BARBUDA in 2014 BARBUDA AFTER IRMA TOTAL DEVASTATION ON BARBUDA… YET, REBUILD THEY WILL. FB: Business View Magazine shared USAToday post. Sept 14 ‘For the first time in 300 years, there’s not a single living person on the island of Barbuda.’ An estimated 95% of structures are damaged and the entire island of 1800 people has been evacuated. “Barbuda’s not going to be rebuilt in a hurry, and when we do rebuild it, we’re going to have to rebuild to massive hurricane standards. There is no electricity there, there is no potable water anymore, there is no structure in which people can survive.We have a mammoth task on our hands.” Ambassador to Barbuda & Antigua, Ronald Sanders.