Opinion: Puerto Rico Is American. We Can’t Ignore It Now.

[Umka36 781]

One of my employee was trying to fly back this past Wednesday, but her flight was cancelled. She's rescheduled next Thursday, so I hope makes it. From what she explains it's quite bad there due to shortages of basic necessity, and people are dying. The good news for her was that so far all her family are safe as she was finally able to contact her/husband's parents.

 

While I understand our government can be slow to act, but it's been over a week now. I'm quite surprise the US hasn't activate the national guard/military (NG) and support the people of PR, especially when they have helicopters that can do mass supply drop at locations that are inaccessible while they work on a long term solution. She tells me is that they have the NG protecting the armored cars holding the cash. I have to give President Trump a bad mark for not responding sooner and his cabinet for putting a positive spin on this disaster.

 

FWIW, she tell me that this is nothing new for PR and they are use to it (I guess she implies they are like a step child not being a US State).

[Merrytooth 5,748]

59 minutes ago, Umka36 said:

One of my employee was trying to fly back this past Wednesday, but her flight was cancelled. She's rescheduled next Thursday, so I hope makes it. From what she explains it's quite bad there due to shortages of basic necessity, and people are dying. The good news for her was that so far all her family are safe as she was finally able to contact her/husband's parents.

 

While I understand our government can be slow to act, but it's been over a week now. I'm quite surprise the US hasn't activate the national guard/military (NG) and support the people of PR, especially when they have helicopters that can do mass supply drop at locations that are inaccessible while they work on a long term solution. She tells me is that they have the NG protecting the armored cars holding the cash. I have to give President Trump a bad mark for not responding sooner and his cabinet for putting a positive spin on this disaster.

 

FWIW, she tell me that this is nothing new for PR and they are use to it (I guess she implies they are like a step child not being a US State).

 

I read that supplies are already sent but not yet distributed.

 

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/28/554297787/puerto-rico-relief-goods-sit-undistributed-at-ports

 

 

 

So whose fault? Trump's fault again , for not sending drivers, trucks there as well?

 

I think the local government has a big part to play on how well prepare they are for the disaster.

e.g. 

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/348284-governor-activates-entire-texas-national-guard-in-response-to-harvey

 

If Puerto Rico is prone to hurricanes/storms, should not they be very well versed in disaster handling already?

[TBoneTX 45,324]

It's probably a little bit of a lot of factors that are slowing the deployment of relief.  Hopefully, it will be only a short time before things accelerate to a maximal pace.

[Umka36 781]

19 minutes ago, Merrytooth said:

 

I read that supplies are already sent but not yet distributed.

 

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/28/554297787/puerto-rico-relief-goods-sit-undistributed-at-ports

 

 

 

So whose fault? Trump's fault again , for not sending drivers, trucks there as well?

 

I think the local government has a big part to play on how well prepare they are for the disaster.

e.g. 

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/348284-governor-activates-entire-texas-national-guard-in-response-to-harvey

 

If Puerto Rico is prone to hurricanes/storms, should not they be very well versed in disaster handling already?

The issue is not about supplies, but how to get it to the folks. That's why I implied the military are better equipped to do drop offs. Waiting for FEMA/DHS to figure a plan takes time, and it's been over a week now and people are desperate. If my employee makes it there next week, and when she returns, I'll give her account of what's going on there.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

 

I also read that "Puerto Rico Trucking Union Refuses to ship goods until their demands are met."  The comments are all in Spanish, so I use the translation function to get bits and gist of other people comments.

 

https://www.facebook.com/noticias247pr/videos/10155680837074857/

There are certainly some local politicking going on too, regarding rescue/relief efforts.

[CaliCat 3,957]

53 minutes ago, Umka36 said:

The issue is not about supplies, but how to get it to the folks. That's why I implied the military are better equipped to do drop offs. Waiting for FEMA/DHS to figure a plan takes time, and it's been over a week now and people are desperate. If my employee makes it there next week, and when she returns, I'll give her account of what's going on there.

 

There are several issues related to relief that are hindering the process, and they have to do with lack of planning. Power is at the center of it. To make the food deliveries count, they'll need power for the items that require refrigeration. The same is true for some types of medication, which means they need fuel to get the generators moving, to produce electricity. Fuel delivery is an issue because of the state of the roads, some of which are still impassable, or no longer existent. I am still surprised our military is not doing drops as we did in some war zones. 

So, things need to happen in a certain sequence, and it seems that planning is still wanting, which is really not surprising. 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

2 hours ago, Umka36 said:

One of my employee was trying to fly back this past Wednesday, but her flight was cancelled. She's rescheduled next Thursday, so I hope makes it. From what she explains it's quite bad there due to shortages of basic necessity, and people are dying. The good news for her was that so far all her family are safe as she was finally able to contact her/husband's parents.

 

While I understand our government can be slow to act, but it's been over a week now. I'm quite surprise the US hasn't activate the national guard/military (NG) and support the people of PR, especially when they have helicopters that can do mass supply drop at locations that are inaccessible while they work on a long term solution. She tells me is that they have the NG protecting the armored cars holding the cash. I have to give President Trump a bad mark for not responding sooner and his cabinet for putting a positive spin on this disaster.

 

FWIW, she tell me that this is nothing new for PR and they are use to it (I guess she implies they are like a step child not being a US State).

The National Guard has been very active in the PR.  Understand the National Guard is a state level function unless activated for federal service.

 

There is a lot of military already active in the PR and massive military assistance on the way

 

any reports to the contrary is just political Bull designed to attack the President and make political hay. disgusting and vile 

 

 

[Boiler 45,541]

10 minutes ago, CaliCat said:

 

There are several issues related to relief that are hindering the process, and they have to do with lack of planning. Power is at the center of it. To make the food deliveries count, they'll need power for the items that require refrigeration. The same is true for some types of medication, which means they need fuel to get the generators moving, to produce electricity. Fuel delivery is an issue because of the state of the roads, some of which are still impassable, or no longer existent. I am still surprised our military is not doing drops as we did in some war zones. 

So, things need to happen in a certain sequence, and it seems that planning is still wanting, which is really not surprising. 

Could I not just not blame Trump?

 

Much easier.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

10 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Could I not just not blame Trump?

 

Much easier.

Since the Russian sheeple coma hysteria fizzled and the ALT Left fake news zombies have nothing of substance to soothe the ongoing butthurt, any fake crisis will do. 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

National Guard leaders says he's seen no delay in federal help to Puerto Rico

 

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/352444-national-guard-leaders-says-hes-seen-no-delay-in-federal-help-to-puerto-rico

[CaliCat 3,957]

19 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Could I not just not blame Trump?

 

Much easier.

I guess you could. Why not just get back on topic, rather?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

More CT National Guard guardsmen headed to help Puerto Rico

 

http://www.wfsb.com/story/36478693/more-ct-national-guard-guardsmen-headed-to-help-puerto-rico

 

As of Sept. 22, Connecticut National Guard has been sending guardsmen to Puerto Rico. In previous missions, multiple Connecticut National Guard C-130H cargo planes have flown to Puerto Rico to drop off equipment. On Tuesday morning, a crew of 13 Guardsmen from the Connecticut National Guard left for the island.  

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

2 minutes ago, CaliCat said:

I guess you could. Why not just get back on topic, rather?

I thought the MDL blaming Trump was the topic 

[Boiler 45,541]

5 minutes ago, CaliCat said:

I guess you could. Why not just get back on topic, rather?

Isnt that always the topic?

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

As of yesterday:

US Navy/Marine Corps Assets currently on station, or enroute to the Caribbean AOR:
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with Battalion Landing Team 2/6
Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group
Amphibious Assault Ship USS Wasp
Amphibious Assault Ship USS Iwo Jima
Amphibious Assault Ship USS Kearsarge
Amphibious Transport Dock USS New York
Amphibious Landing Ship USS Oak Hill
Hospital Ship USNS Comfort
Aviation Logistics Support Ship USNS Wright
Dry Cargo Ship USNS William McLean
The above is enough assets to land an entire USMC Marine Expeditionary Brigade, with combat logistics elements. For those that don't know what that is, thats several thousand Marines, with all their gear. All of the above, with the exception of the hospital ship, are capable of independent air operations.
Note: MEDEVACs are ALREADY being done, and began IMMEDIATELY by the US Coast Guard, and US Navy aviation.
Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is producing purified potable water, at the rate of 400,000 gallons a day. Full capacity.
The carrier, all 3 assault ships, the LSD, and LPD, all have operating rooms to stabilize critical medical/trauma cases, prior to evacuation to either the hospital ship, or land based medical treatment facilities.
The hospital ship is capable of handling a patient load of up to 1000 patients, with full OR, ICU, and Recovery wards.
In addition, fleet refueling ships are also enroute to provide fuel specifically for public safety equipment on the ground.

 

Also:

Another problem is that the relief supplies needed so badly are beginning to pile up in port.

Close to 10,000 containers filled with food, water and supplies are sitting there, but there are no truckers to deliver them. Only about 20 percent of the truckers needed to move them have returned to work, and many can't be contacted because cell service is down.

Barges are arriving every day with containers, but there are no truckers to deliver them.

Truck drivers are the country's greatest need, Governor Rossello said.

 

And the US army is sending in Blackhawks via the 101st:
http://clarksvillenow.com/local/101st-cab-deploying-to-puerto-rico-for-hurricane-maria-relief-efforts/

 

And let’s not forget that PR has been struggling for years with weak infrastructure.  Decades behind what TX and FL enjoy today.  That is the main reason behind the delay of supplies (yanno, those hundreds of containers in port that have been there for a while already?)   Won’t get into the politics behind that, but it certainly plays a part as to the delays of supply distribution.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/22/552990598/puerto-rico-s-weak-infrastructure-creates-big-challenges-for-recovery