Puerto Rico is in crises. 3.4 million US citizens cut off from the outside world. Where is the USA support? Do we not look out for our own? Puerto Rico is the US. As a territory of the USA, we are talking about US citizens. Where is the military? Where is the aid?
Trying to escape their Airbnb rental, entrance blocked by fallen trees.
Yes, Hurricane Maria caused significant damage and loss. This can be reported to insurance later and items replaced. The problem is much more serious. Almost 60% of Puerto Rico still does not have running water. One week after the storm hit. Electricity is out islandwide. While it is being reestablished, this will take months! No electricity means no way to pay with credit cards. ATM with no electricity? It’s not going to work. With no electricity, this means no communications. No way to let loved ones know you are ok. No way to book a hotel. No way to find a flight. Etc. Is help coming?
As money is almost not available, some have resorted to survival and stealing/raiding stores for food. As entire neighborhoods are now eerily dark, there are those that are coming house to house and either breaking a window or following a resident back to their home. As there are virtually no police nor National Gard present, it has become survival for each person. Those with guns can take what they want. Call 911? Not with no cell phone battery. Even with a battery, there is very poor cell service due to the cell towers that were destroyed. The infrastructure that survived the hurricane is now being destroyed by looters or neglect. If there is no action NOW Puerto Rico will suffer needlessly for decades to come.
Dead cat floating in the flooded streets of prestigious Condado
As there are still many areas flooded, the only way to get through some streets is on foot (up to waist high). In the prestigious Condado, Ocean Park and Isla Verde avenues, you may have to wade through water steaming with dead rats, dogs, cats, feces, gasoline, and garbage. And this is in the capital. Imagine how Vieques island or St Thomas are coping, or the other smaller cities of Puerto Rico?
Where are the journalists? Why is the humanitarian disaster that is happening NOW not being covered 24/7 on every channel? Why is Trump twitting about taking a knee and why on earth are journalists making this the front page news? The entire USA needs to wake up to realize that Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are in need of help. Desperately and now. What is the Trump Administration waiting for? The National Gard needs to be mobilized in full force. Aircraft carriers and hospital ships need to be encircling the island. The cruise ships need to step in and host those that no longer have homes.
Cars in Ocean Park, Puerto Rico. There are many streets that suffered much worse flooding.
over the island but the humanitarian disaster is only just beginning. If there is not significant and immediate action, including on the federal, state, and private sectors, then Puerto Rico will be forgotten forever.
What is the Trump Administration waiting for? The National Gard needs to be mobilized in full force. Aircraft carriers and hospital ships need to be encircling the island. It has been one week since Hurricane Maria passed over the island but the humanitarian disaster is only just beginning. If there is not significant and immediate action, including on the federal, state, and private sectors, then Puerto Rico will be forgotten forever.
Please call your congressmen. Write your papers. Coordinate food drives and relief efforts. Give or volunteer to the Red Cross. We have set up a fun as well, for local distribution of solar powered and hand crank charging batteries for cell phones and flashlights. https://www.youcaring.com/hurricanemaria
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