SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Search-and-rescue efforts on this storm-ravaged island redoubled

Thursday as residents took stock of the devastation left by Hurricane Maria, which continued
to plague the U.S. territory in the form of dangerous flash floods even as its core drifted
northwest to deliver a weaker but still punishing blow to the Dominican Republic.

The powerful storm knocked out power to the entire island and felled cellphone towers,
leaving many residents unable to call for help or communicate with family members.
Downed trees blocked roadways, some of which were turned into fast-flowing, muddy
rivers. The obstacles made it difficult for authorities to assess the full scope of damage, but
they were already estimating that the potential cost to reach into the billions.

“Today, we’re working on that assessment, evaluating what in terms of money what is the
real cost of the aftermath of the hurricane,” said Carlos Mercader, a Washington-based
spokesman for Gov. Ricardo Roselló. “But I can tell you, from what I’ve been hearing from
the governor, there’s total devastation.”

A more immediate concern for many here, however, is the flooding as the hurricane’s trailing
bands continue to deliver waves of heavy rainfall. “Catastrophic flooding is occurring on the
island, especially in areas of mountainous terrain, and everyone in Puerto Rico should
continue to follow advice from local officials to avoid these life-threatening flooding
conditions,” the National Hurricane Center said in its mid-morning advisory.

Maria — now a Category 3 hurricane — was expected to gather some fresh strength over
open water before taking aim at the Turks and Caicos Islands, which were battered earlier
this month by Hurricane Irma on its deadly path toward Florida.

Maria may spare the U.S. mainland. The current National Hurricane Center forecasts show it
veering sharply to the north and spinning up the Atlantic in the corridor between Bermuda
and the Atlantic seaboard. But the ultimate path — either closer or farther from the U.S.
coast — was still unclear and influenced by weather forces from the remnants of Hurricane
Jose now off New England.

Before striking Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria pummeled parts of the U.S. Virgin Islands,
where authorities also continued to arduous task of assessing and clearing out the damage
wrought by both Maria and Irma. Kenneth E. Mapp, governor of the territory, on Thursday
morning announced an immediate, indefinite curfew on St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and
Water Island to give space to repair crews.

“Your presence on the roads during the curfew hours will only hamper clean-up efforts, and
could delay the distribution of critically needed supplies,” he said in a statement.