FEMA Director Brock Long is heading to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Monday to survey the damage from monster storm Maria:
I'm Headed To PR and VI tomorrow. https://t.co/6owcl0s8JU
— Peter Gaynor (@FEMA_Pete) September 24, 2017
And when he gets there, this is what he’ll be greeted with at the airport:
The situation at the San Juan airport is chaotic. Hundreds of people are sleeping there, in the departure terminals… (1/5)
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Passengers tell us they're not being provide cots, food, or water. There is food to purchase and we met one family trying to get to.. (2/5)
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Texas … their flight isn't confirmed until October 1st. A family of 5 from the U.K. has enough money to buy one sandwich per person (3/5)
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Per day. They told us they were unable to withdraw money from the ATM. Many ATMS on the island aren't working. (4/5)
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Some people we spoke to said they're trying to sleep on the conveyor belts at baggage claim because it's softer than the hard ground. (5/5)
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Just getting to the airport is treacherous:
The road heading in to the main airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico is flooded but passable pic.twitter.com/A9Ls4czwfz
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Hillary Clinton tweeted that President Trump should “send the Navy”:
President Trump, Sec. Mattis, and DOD should send the Navy, including the USNS Comfort, to Puerto Rico now. These are American citizens. https://t.co/J2FVg4II0n
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 24, 2017
Communication with the island is still down as well, leaving family members in the U.S. to ask media members on the ground for help:
"Please!"
I'm averaging 10 messages a minute from people asking us go go and check on their family member in Puerto Rico.— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Most of the island is still without power and dealing with floodwaters that have yet to recede:
still not wrapped my mind around this:
THE ENTIRE ISLAND of Puerto Rico could be without electricity for MONTHShttps://t.co/nWSo9O8qiV
— Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott) September 24, 2017
The damage is Loiza is catastrophic. This is one of the poorest towns in Puerto Rico. pic.twitter.com/noM1Ui8p5K
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Flooding, four days after Maria, in the heart of San Juan Puerto Rico pic.twitter.com/joXjLCFUaL
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Food is scarce, as evidenced by this mile-long line for supplies:
In Carolina, Puerto Rico people are lined up for nearly a mile to buy fuel pic.twitter.com/kRHkfp8WDO
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
Help is already arriving in Puerto Rico, but the scale of the devastation is something that really hasn’t set in yet, at least in the U.S.:
Sunday morning shows spent less than 60 sec on Puerto Rico, one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in US history:https://t.co/wJXzkM4i85
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) September 24, 2017
Puerto Ricans aren't talking about politics, the NFL or people who feel the need to kneel; they're desperate for water, power, fuel & food
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 24, 2017
So far, +1.5 million meals, 1 million liters water, infant/toddler kits, emergency roofing kits provided to USVI, PR for public distribution https://t.co/qoirIT0rCE
— Lizzie Litzow (@FEMAspox) September 24, 2017
.@USCG Cutter Forward brings supplies and assistance to Puerto Rico following #HurricaneMaria pic.twitter.com/ouZpKVgwNm
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 24, 2017
But much, much more will be needed:
Spoke tonight with the governor of #PuertoRico, @ricardorossello. He described a dire situation and is calling for much more federal aid.
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) September 25, 2017
Prediction: By Tuesday this will be the talking point of every Democrat:
What do millions of people facing disaster in Puerto Rico need to do to get Pres. Trump's attention: take a knee?
— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) September 24, 2017
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Related:
ICYMI: UFC fighter Angela Magaña shares photo of Jesus painting that survived Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico https://t.co/rQk1FPBepO
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 23, 2017
Prayers up for Melissa Joan Hart who had to cancel her vacation because of Maria https://t.co/Zx1rdoA3jO
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 20, 2017
Hurricane Maria about to make landfall in Puerto Rico as a Cat 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph https://t.co/FDiWJZ8PKb
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 20, 2017
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