Most of the 3.4 million residents in Puerto Rico are without power, phone services, food and medicine according to CBS News and CNN. Meanwhile, rescuers are still finding and removing people stuck in the debris. Hurricane Maria hit a little over a week ago while many Caribbean islands were still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. With infrastructure destroyed, roads torn up and fallen trees everywhere, “the devastation is described as apocalyptic” according to one CNN report.
San Juan mayor, Carmen Yulín Cruz, says that they are suffering a humanitarian crisis. Hospital patients and staff are scared because the power is out and they do not have a plan to keep those people on ventilators or oxygen tanks safe and alive according to Domingo Cruz Vivaldi, the executive director of the children’s hospital in San Juan.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Energy Department, approximately 1.6 million electric customers are without power. According to CBS News, only 21 out of the 69 hospitals have power. Vivaldi’s main concern right now is to get the power back on in the hospitals on shore so they can get treatment to those in need.
Donald Trump has sent rescue efforts to Puerto Rico including the USNS Comfort hospital ship. The ship is a hospital on the water. It treats patients on board and transports them back to the states.The US Navy also is sending assets to Puerto Rico to help rebuild their decimated infrastructure. They have been sending a countless amount of relief supplies through the US Navy and the US Air Force according to CNN. “Our bodies are so tired, but our souls are so full of strength, that we will get to everyone that we can get to,” Mayor Cruz said. Everyone is putting their best efforts into helping them get back to a stable state with everyone safe.
Governor Ricardo Rosselló said, “There are some challenges and we need more resources,” despite all the effort that the US and Trump have done to support Puerto Rico. Many efforts have been sent to Puerto Rico to help them recover from the “apocalyptic” damage and all people can do is just keep their strength and hope for the best.
Xavior Rojas • Oct 6, 2017 at 8:53 am
I would like to send my prayers to the people of Puerto Rico. They are going through a very rough time, and they need all the help they can get.