Crisis in Puerto Rico

[tfcrew]

By now, there should be supplies being parachuted in from everybody in all directions!

NEW ORLEANS — A group of New Orleans-based pilots, controllers and aviation enthusiasts are working to bring much-needed supplies and relief to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Cajun Airlift formed in late August to help deliver supplies to victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
Pilots and plane owners came together, collected thousands of donations, and flew the materials over to areas that needed them most.
Now, the group has shifted its focus to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, both of which are reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

http://wgno.com/2017/09/25/cajun-airlift-group-securing-plane-to-deliver-supplies-to-puerto-rico-virgin-islands/

[Anotherkiwi]

By now, there should be supplies being parachuted in from everybody in all directions!
http://wgno.com/2017/09/25/cajun-airlift-group-securing-plane-to-deliver-supplies-to-puerto-rico-virgin-islands/

What about St Maarten, Barbuda and Dominica?  Do they not count because they're not US territories?

Seriously, this is the perfect opportunity for the United Nations to get off its collective butt and show some leadership to the world.  So much is needed, right throughout the Caribbean, and right now.  I know that British Police and troops have already been sent to help out, but it's food, fuel and the rebuilding of the infrastructure in each place that is desperately needed.

[GQBlues]

Actually I am somewhat curious about what is going on during these times of 'need'...

I can understand the 'lack' of fresh water, and supply should urgently be provided immediately.

However, I do not understand the 'lack' of food. What happened to the 'available' food supply just before the hurricane hit? Did it just mysteriously disappeared, blown out by the hurricane out unto the sea?

Also, I read a mass exodus to the US continent. I thought now is the time for the residents to stay put, despite challenges, to help one out another, and the state as a whole to get their island nation back in shape. Why leave it? Who gets to help clean out the hurricane mess?

[tfcrew]

Wall Street Got a Bailout, Why Not Puerto Rico?



 Posted on September 28, 2017  by  Yves Smith  Yves here. As this Real News Network interview underscores, Puerto Rico is well on its way to looking like a textbook case of Naomi Klein’s disaster capitalism. Almost half the island’s population has no drinking water. Drugstores and grocers are closing due to a lack of diesel fuel. This is a public health crisis in the making.



From an article in the New York Post:


 <blockquote>The island of 3.4 million people is without electricity, and water, and looters have taken over as police and the National Guard enforce a strict 6 pm to 6 am curfew — leaving Americans in chaos, abandoned by their government.
“It’s a war zone,” [former New Yorker Christina] Beckles said by email. “There is no power or water. We are under curfew from 6 pm to 6 am. Food is becoming scarce and people are getting desperate. Looting has already begun. The lines to get gas are seven to ten hours long — to receive $10 worth of gas.”</blockquote> And the Administration hasn’t been giving Puerto Rico the same emergency relief that it did to Houston and Florida. From Amy Goodman at Democracy Now!:
One week after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, President Donald Trump says he’ll visit the island next Tuesday, under withering criticism. Maria was the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. territory in nearly a century, coming just after Hurricane Irma, and destroyed the island’s entire electrical grid, caused severe flooding, widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. Most of the three-and-a-half million U.S. citizens who live in Puerto Rico remain in the dark, without access to power, clean water, food and fuel. It took President Trump five full days to respond to the plight of Puerto Rico. He did not tweet about it over that period. Over the weekend, he tweeted 17 times about athletes protesting police violence and refusing to visit the White House. Facing criticism, Trump held a news conference Tuesday in which he congratulated himself on his response to Puerto Rico’s disaster, repeating nearly a dozen times that he was doing a “great,” “amazing,” “tremendous” and “incredible” job. He denied he had neglected Puerto Rico…

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/09/wall-street-got-bailout-not-puerto-rico.html

[wallm]

Puerto Ricans are US Citizen. Hence it becomes our responsibility to save them. They have a significant problem with the grid being destroyed. You can't be serious about the food...it was probably bought in preparation of the arrival of hurricane. In the US there may be at most 3 days of food in grocery stores in the cities. People in Florida ransack the stores when a hurricane is approaching.

Better option is for everyone to prepare ahead. Far ahead of time. It is comical watching these people fighting each other for the last bottle of water or Jack Daniels. I am always prepared. I have 90 days of non-perishable food and 1 month of supply of water and water filters to use after that. And lighting and stove with fuel to cook with in case gas goes out too. (and guns to protect what I have  ) Lessons I learned after hurricane Sandy.

As for the Caribbean, the Dutch should fix St. Maarten. Perhaps the Chinese and Russians would do more to help out. They are aspiring superpowers, aren't they? I am sure we will help too.

[msmob]

Why am I surprised wallm'art' has a gun to protect his stash ?  Didn't you ever watch a disaster movie ... the mob normally makes for the guy with the stash - reasons with him for help - he shoots one and then is over-whelmed - but you'll die 'righteous' ...

Have you built your nuke bunker, yet ?

[BC]

Actually I am somewhat curious about what is going on during these times of 'need'...

I can understand the 'lack' of fresh water, and supply should urgently be provided immediately.

However, I do not understand the 'lack' of food. What happened to the 'available' food supply just before the hurricane hit? Did it just mysteriously disappeared, blown out by the hurricane out unto the sea?

Also, I read a mass exodus to the US continent. I thought now is the time for the residents to stay put, despite challenges, to help one out another, and the state as a whole to get their island nation back in shape. Why leave it? Who gets to help clean out the hurricane mess?

GQ,

With all the logistics involved and especially lack of electricity for refrigeration and food production lines, blocked roads and possibly fuel problems, food may well be a problem. Anything in a fridge or freezer is rotting. There would have been extensive damage to crops like papaya, bananna, mango etc that are all probably rotting on the ground now.  Sure there might be some warehouses that survived with undamaged staples, but how many are now without a paycheck or access to funds to buy?  Yes, plenty of fish left in the ocean, but how many fishing vessels are still operating considering a now devastated economy and little if any refrigeration in many areas.  Ports were damaged and they also need electricity and communications to operate.  Folks can't even communicate their needs with phone lines down and cell phone systems not working.

It's already been a week now and I doubt much improvement.  The next challenges will be disease and keeping folks left there from getting desperate and maybe even violent.  I think it's probably wise for those that can, to get out.

I think many think disaster recovery is similar to other 'mainland' experiences.  It's not.  There are many additional hurdles to overcome in PR.  Each additional hurdle adds layers of overall complexity.

[BC]

Thousands of containers of relief supplies have been languishing on the island’s main port in San Juan thanks to a shortage of truck drivers and badly-damaged roads.

http://nypost.com/2017/09/28/three-star-general-to-spearhead-relief-efforts-in-puerto-rico/

[GQBlues]

These cyclonic types of disasters had always come knocking of my door. Andrew, Katrina, Sandy, Iniki, Haiyan, etc..and the more recent scourges of Harvey, Irma and Maria..

Growing up in the Philippines, I know the debilitating effects of super typhoons/hurricanes. Even your ordinary monsoons that dump rivers of water in a 24 hour period. I'm no stranger to the plights of Houstonites, Puerto Ricans et all, and what exactly these people are going through today....

It is the pre-landfall and the aftermath, and the way *people* in these areas react to them, that I observe with fascination. I fully relate to the urgencies, the panic, the resourcefulness, the patience and the ensuing choice all of us make when the sun comes shining again in the days that follow. I watch and read what people do...

What is happening in Puerto Rico is sheer apocalyptic. That is what prompted my post. I understand the logistics that must be put in place to face these types of challenges. Puerto Rico's devastation goes beyond the two hurricanes. The devastation had taken roots way before Irma and Maria became a bleep on the radar. That is likely a much bigger tragedy to Puerto Ricans than what Irma and Maria brought to the island nation combined.

Non-politicized reality of Puerto Rico today:
 http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/9/26/16365994/hurricane-maria-2017-puerto-rico-san-juan-humanitarian-disaster-electricty-fuel-flights-facts

The Jones Act of 1920:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_Marine_Act_of_1920

Folks need to understand, Puerto Rico, despite its citizenry and being a territory of the US, is still responsible for its internal affairs. Just like any of the 50 states in the union. The federal government, cannot and will not, intervene in these times without the approval and request of its governor. Such was the case with Katrina under GWB. This is why the governors of Texas, LA and Florida declared states of emergencies prior to the hurricane landfall so that they can mobilize 'federal assistance' immediately and without the formalities. The same should've been the same with Puerto Rico.

What ail Puerto Rico, that those mentioned states didn't have to deal with, are two facts. The Jones Act of 1920 AND the fact it lacked congressional representation.

As for PR's current deteriorated infrastructure states - I dare say blame that on Puerto Ricans themselves. Its youth have been opting to move itself to the US continents, and a large swat of the aging population had been rushing for retirement to secure their pension.

My wife and I are no stranger to the American Red Cross and a few more charitable organization in our community. Certainly, these recent string of hurricanes in the southeast AND PR, had made us frequent 'visitors' in this organization's website. My two younger brothers, who recently moved to LA close to Lake Hughes; are well over a month now volunteering their time, tools and equipment to those struck by the flood waters and surges. Effort to help out in these times had always been rooted in our blood.

Some people help each others out during times like these. Sadly, there are those who look at these moments as times of opportunity.

I feel for all these folks

[2tallbill]

What about St Maarten, Barbuda and Dominica?  Do they not count because they're not US territories?

Seriously, this is the perfect opportunity for the United Nations to get off its collective butt and show some leadership to the world. 

You are joking right? If the UN were given a billion dollars they would steal 75% of it
then waste the rest on something that didn't work. Maybe they would build a sauna
or spa in the only area not hit by the hurricane and it would fall apart 2 years later.

Maybe the Clinton foundation should get involved? they can steal just 65% of the money
waste only 25% that way at least 10% would do some good?

[2tallbill]

http://nypost.com/2017/09/28/three-star-general-to-spearhead-relief-efforts-in-puerto-rico/

That actually sounds like a good idea.

[BillyB]

Although the liberal media and Puerto Rican politicians have beaten up Trump over his handling of the disaster, Trump actually signed an emergency declaration to help Puerto Rico with money and assistance days before the hurricane hit. Politicians and those who reside in hurricane alley are responsible for their own lives more than POTUS is.


http://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/18/president-donald-j-trump-signs-emergency-declaration-puerto-rico


http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/19/americas/hurricane-maria-caribbean-islands/index.html