Federal Government Is Not Responding Fast Enough
Every day, every hour, the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico grows worse. The U.S. territory, an island of about 3.5 million people, is without electricity. More than a week after Hurricane Maria, for many there is no food, water, gas, or medicine. But as CBS News’ David Begnaud reports, there are 3000 shipping containers containing critical, life-saving supplies – food, water, and medicine – sitting on the docks in Puerto Rico, waiting to be distributed. Some have been there since Saturday, some even for weeks. Those containers contain enough supplies for a half-million people.
(UPDATE: 11:47 AM – MSNBC on air just reported there are now 9500 shipping containers in the Port of San Juan, waiting to be distributed.)
What’s the holdup?Â
There are not enough truck drivers, and the ones who are there are finding many roads impassable.
Begnaud, who daily has been reporting on the humanitarian crisis, calls it “maddening.”
Because there are not enough truck drivers, or the governor cannot get in touch with them because landline and cell phone service has been destroyed, they are urging anyone who has a license to drive a truck to come help. Here’s how that works:
What clearly appears to be missing is co-ordination and logistics strategy from the federal government.
PBS NewsHour reports on the lack of federal disaster aid:
President Donald Trump, after saying shipping companies did not want him to waive a federal law, known as the Jones Act, that is making it exponentially harder to get supplies to the island, Thursday morning finally agreed to lift it.
Trump, who is slated to visit Puerto Rico next Tuesday, has been claiming his administration has been doing a great job.Â
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