Hurricane Maria, the latest in a string of storms that has devastated island countries and states within the United States has wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico. Governor, Ricardo A. Rosselló stated on Monday that the “island was on the brink of a “humanitarian crisis, “ according to The New York Times.
He underscored the importance of the United States in helping with relief efforts and noted the country is a United States commonwealth and therefore should receive the same resources, supplies and relief workers as states that were affected by the storms in prior weeks.
“To avoid that, recognize that we Puerto Ricans are American citizens; when we speak of a catastrophe, everyone must be treated equally," Rosselló said.
Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, their entire electrical system operates on a grid which was destroyed in the wake of the storm.
According to MSN, “Six days after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, officials were still taking stock of what is expected to be a months-long effort to rebuild the island's power system, keeping much of its 3.4 million people in darkness for an extended period.” Therefore, without power, resources are limited even more, and locals are becoming increasingly frustrated.
While the country is an island, water is scarce at the moment. 60 percent of the residents are without the life source and President Donald Trump and his White House staff are not showing any signs that their sending immediate help.
In a series of tweets on Monday, President Donald Trump said, “Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with. Food, water and medical are top priorities — and doing well.”
However, Congressional leaders on both sides are stepping up.
“Some Democrats want Congress to quickly approve a relief bill but also to temporarily forgive Puerto Rico’s loan repayments and remove a requirement that Puerto Rico make a contribution into the federal emergency pot, a cost-sharing arrangement that is typical for disaster-affected states,” Senator Chuck Schumer stated, per The New York Times. “The situation is desperate. Puerto Rico has taken a serious punch to the gut. They need our help. They need it now.”
