Trump is dropping the ball in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

[Crepitus]

Sure he signed the disaster declaration, but this one is gonna take more than that. Our so-called leader is gonna hafta actually lead.

I don't think he's up to it. He's too busy feuding with professional football players.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-criticised-for-silence-over-puerto-rico-disaster-a7965356.html

http://www.salon.com/2017/09/25/trump-fixates-on-nfl-protests-while-ignoring-the-disaster-in-puerto-rico/

Puerto Rico is a disaster area, the Virgin Islands are a disaster area, but the White House is a disaster in progress.

[Common]

Puerto Rico is not a state and yes we should help but they shouldnt expect what texas and florida recieves. Remember, Texans and Floridians pay taxs, Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico do not and thats why for decades they voted down statehood, just recently they voted for it when the country went bankrupt, so of course we have to pay all their bills.

[Crepitus]

while they may not pay personal federal income tax, they do pay plenty of federal taxes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Puerto_Rico

Also, they are US citizens.

[del]

it's unfair to expect trump to actually govern

that's not why he was elected

[DGUtley]

Jumped on that fairly quickly, eh? The first two recoveries the feds were right on despite predictions of disasters. They are on this but it'll take a bit more b/c of the devastation. Yes, the PR's should get all we can give.

[Green Arrow]

Puerto Rico is not a state and yes we should help but they shouldnt expect what texas and florida recieves. Remember, Texans and Floridians pay taxs, Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico do not and thats why for decades they voted down statehood, just recently they voted for it when the country went bankrupt, so of course we have to pay all their bills.

Puerto Ricans are Americans, period. And they do pay taxes, just not payroll taxes.

[resister]

Crepitus, what is he not doing that you feel he should?

[Crepitus]

Crepitus, what is he not doing that you feel he should?

Assisting! We have resources, particularly a couple of naval vessels specifically designed for this kinda situation. Huge power plants, fresh water, food and medical supplies, you name it, set up specifically to send to disasters sites. They went to Hati after the earthquake.

[stjames1_53]

Puerto Ricans are Americans, period. And they do pay taxes, just not payroll taxes.

I gotta chuckle, bubba...it is a territory. Those payments are tribute, not leverage..........and they are Puerto Ricans. By birth and by choice

[Green Arrow]

I gotta chuckle, bubba...it is a territory. Those payments are tribute, not leverage..........and they are Puerto Ricans. By birth and by choice

Citizens of that territory are Americans.

[stjames1_53]

Assisting! We have resources, particularly a couple of naval vessels specifically designed for this kinda situation. Huge power plants, fresh water, food and medical supplies, you name it, set up specifically to send to disasters sites. They went to Hati after the earthquake.

it'll have to raised from nothing. There's not a whole lot left.
How do you build an entire country?

[stjames1_53]

Citizens of that territory are Americans.

you're splitting hairs. They are not American citizens

[jimmyz]

Having the sea between the US and the island can slow the delivery of aid. I would think FEMA is handling this not Trump personally. This is a hit-piece anti-Trump OP.

[Captain Obvious]

Having the sea between the US and the island can slow the delivery of aid. I would think FEMA is handling this not Trump personally. This is a hit-piece anti-Trump OP.

Yeah, same old same old from the same crowd who will never, ever say anything constructive about this administration.

How anyone pays a **** hair of attentiln to this stuff is beyond me. If these people showed even a minimal amount of objectivity I might consider their points but when it's nothing but hit pieces, why would I waste my time?

[Common]

while they may not pay personal federal income tax, they do pay plenty of federal taxes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Puerto_Rico

Also, they are US citizens.

I didnt say they werent citizens and they I will repeat they pay no federal taxs and they are not a state. The US tried many times to incorprate them into statehood and they outright turned it down.

I also said we should help them in my post and we should

[Common]

Having the sea between the US and the island can slow the delivery of aid. I would think FEMA is handling this not Trump personally. This is a hit-piece anti-Trump OP.
Thats true and I hadnt thought of it in that way

[Green Arrow]

you're splitting hairs. They are not American citizens

3.4 million of them are.

[Captdon]

Assisting! We have resources, particularly a couple of naval vessels specifically designed for this kinda situation. Huge power plants, fresh water, food and medical supplies, you name it, set up specifically to send to disasters sites. They went to Hati after the earthquake.

And they are in Puerto Rico. We have delivered millions of MRE's. Not much we can do when the whole place is without power. FEMA was in place before the hurricane hit.What else should he do?

To people like you nothing he does is ever enough.

[Kalkin]

Jumped on that fairly quickly, eh? The first two recoveries the feds were right on despite predictions of disasters. They are on this but it'll take a bit more b/c of the devastation. Yes, the PR's should get all we can give.

The anti-Trump hacks are out in force, once again constructing mountains out of molehills. It'll be fun watching them lose yet again in 2018 and 2020.

[Captdon]

you're splitting hairs. They are not American citizens

They certainly are.

[resister]

Assisting! We have resources, particularly a couple of naval vessels specifically designed for this kinda situation. Huge power plants, fresh water, food and medical supplies, you name it, set up specifically to send to disasters sites. They went to Hati after the earthquake.So you are saying that is not happening?

[resister]

FOX news just reported that one million and a half gallons of water has been delivered.

[Peter1469]

The federal government's response to all of these recent storms has gone well. Better than past responses.

[resister]

The federal government's response to all of these recent storms has gone well. Better than past responses.But it's Trump, so...:rollseyes:

[Peter1469]

But it's Trump, so...:rollseyes:

Silence from the media.

[hanger4]

3 days ago;

https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/23/federal-government-moving-resources-support-puerto-rico-and-us-virgin

Airports needed to be repaired, ports needed to be repaired to deliver needed supplies. This doesn't happen over night. The bashers are succumbing to their TDS.

[Dr. Who]

FOX news just reported that one million and a half gallons of water has been delivered.

That's not much for 3.4M people.

[hanger4]

That's not much for 3.4M people.

How much has already been delivered ?? How much is being off loaded as we speak ?? How much is on the way ??

[Dr. Who]

How much has already been delivered ?? How much is being off loaded as we speak ?? How much is on the way ??

I have no idea. However, no disaster relief package has been announced for PR or the USVI's. Meanwhile, the Guajataca Dam is damaged and it if fails, is likely to flood the NW part of the island with 11 billion gallons of water.

These islands need fresh water and power or people are going start dying. Most immediately the navy needs to bring in both fresh water treatment equipment and desalinization plants that can be docked and hooked into Puerto Rico’s water systems. Note they brought in these desalinization plants in 2015 when PR was experiencing a drought. I would also suggest Bloom Energy servers for the hospitals until the grid can be rebuilt.

[Crepitus]

it'll have to raised from nothing. There's not a whole lot left.
How do you build an entire country?

It's not an entire country, it's part of the US. American citizens.

[Crepitus]

So you are saying that is not happening?

No word on anything like that. I've looked.

[Crepitus]

FOX news just reported that one million and a half gallons of water has been delivered.

That's not enough to keep them going for a day.

[resister]

I have no idea. However, no disaster relief package has been announced for PR or the USVI's. Meanwhile, the Guajataca Dam is damaged and it if fails, is likely to flood the NW part of the island with 11 billion gallons of water.

These islands need fresh water and power or people are going start dying. Most immediately the navy needs to bring in both fresh water treatment equipment and desalinization plants that can be docked and hooked into Puerto Rico’s water systems. Note they brought in these desalinization plants in 2015 when PR was experiencing a drought. I would also suggest Bloom Energy servers for the hospitals until the grid can be rebuilt.
So do you think that is not underway? Link?

[resister]

No word on anything like that. I've looked.
I doubt it.

[Crepitus]

And they are in Puerto Rico. We have delivered millions of MRE's. Not much we can do when the whole place is without power. FEMA was in place before the hurricane hit.What else should he do?

To people like you nothing he does is ever enough.

If they are in Puerto Rico I haven't seen anything confirming it.

You gotta link?

[resister]

I doubt it.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/09/24/clueless-hillary-clinton-tweets-about-u-s-military-hurricane-relief-efforts-in-puerto-rico/

[Crepitus]

I doubt it.

You may doubt all you want, as usual it still won't change the truth of my statement.

[resister]

You may doubt all you want, as usual it still won't change the truth of my statement.
lol, sometimes lol is perfectly appropriate, this is certainly, one of those times. lol

[Dangermouse]

while they may not pay personal federal income tax, they do pay plenty of federal taxes.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Puerto_Rico

Also, they are US citizens.

Warn him that if he doesn't help, they all 3 million of them have the right to come to America!

[resister]

Warn him that if he doesn't help, they all 3 million of them have the right to come to America!Try to keep up, at least one million have already done so!

[Dr. Who]

So do you think that is not underway? Link?
I said I have no idea. The people of PR feel like they have been abandoned and are starting to panic.

[Dangermouse]

Try to keep up, at least one million have already done so!

Way ahead of you, and not even breathing heavily.

[resister]

Way ahead of you, and not even breathing heavily.
Sure! OK your post say's other wise!

[resister]

I said I have no idea. The people of PR feel like they have been abandoned and are starting to panic.
I have asked several people this, as an arm chair QB, can you tell us what is not happening that needs to? Your admission you have no idea is a good admission.

[hanger4]

I said I have no idea. The people of PR feel like they have been abandoned and are starting to panic.

"abandoned and are starting to panic"

Stop it Dr. Who, hyperbole is so unbecoming of you.

[Dr. Who]

I have asked several people this, as an arm chair QB, can you tell us what is not happening that needs to? Your admission you have no idea is a good admission.

Getting power to the hospitals, so that all of those on dialysis and various levels of life support don't die, and so the operating rooms are not dripping in condensation and any remaining patients don't expire. Getting power to the water treatment plants so people at least have fresh water. Getting power to places where the elderly and people with breathing problems can go and not die of heat exhaustion or athsma.

I know that the military is working on clearing the roads, and airports but if this were a battle situation, they would be air dropping supplies and equipment. Many people in PR no longer even have shelter. They need tents and portapotties so that disease and infection doesn't start making a bad situation worse. I'm sure that I haven't covered a tenth of what they need.

[resister]

Getting power to the hospitals, so that all of those on dialysis and various levels of life support don't die, and so the operating rooms are not dripping in condensation and any remaining patients don't expire. Getting power to the water treatment plants so people at least have fresh water. Getting power to places where the elderly and people with breathing problems can go and not die of heat exhaustion or athsma.

I know that the military is working on clearing the roads, and airports but if this were a battle situation, they would be air dropping supplies and equipment. Many people in PR no longer even have shelter. They need tents and portapotties so that disease and infection doesn't start making a bad situation worse. I'm sure that I haven't covered a tenth of what they need.
As you know, Hospitals are first priority and your post implies these things are not happening.

As stated, hyperbole does not become you, shame!

[hanger4]

Getting power to the hospitals, so that all of those on dialysis and various levels of life support don't die, and so the operating rooms are not dripping in condensation and any remaining patients don't expire. Getting power to the water treatment plants so people at least have fresh water. Getting power to places where the elderly and people with breathing problems can go and not die of heat exhaustion or athsma.

I know that the military is working on clearing the roads, and airports but if this were a battle situation, they would be air dropping supplies and equipment. Many people in PR no longer even have shelter. They need tents and portapotties so that disease and infection doesn't start making a bad situation worse. I'm sure that I haven't covered a tenth of what they need.

You're right Dr. Who everyone's sitting around twiddling their thumbs. :rollseyes:

[hanger4]

As you know, Hospitals are first priority and your post implies these things are not happening.

As stated, hyperbole does not become you, shame!

Not to mention the hospitals have generators and they're being fueled.

[resister]

Not mention the hospitals have generators and they're being fueled.
Liberals never let a tradgedy go to waste to score political points on the backs of the victims, F'n disgusting... bout done replying to that shit:rollseyes:

[Dr. Who]

"abandoned and are starting to panic"

Stop it Dr. Who, hyperbole is so unbecoming of you.
That is what I read. It has been almost a week since the hurricane hit. The island is devastated and people cannot simply drive away to somewhere more hospitable. They are getting desperate. Many are down to very minor amounts of fresh water. The stores are running out of supplies and the gas stations are running out of fuel. People are panicking and wondering where FEMA is.

Read it yourself and then imagine how you might feel in the circumstances: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/9/25/16360488/hurricane-maria-2017-puerto-rico-recovery-san-juan-hospitals-electricty-cell-service
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/25/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico/index.html
http://abcnews.go.com/US/chopper-ride-puerto-rico-shows-dire-situation-maria/story?id=50075482

[Dr. Who]

Not to mention the hospitals have generators and they're being fueled.
Not all of them.

[Dr. Who]

Liberals never let a tradgedy go to waste to score political points on the backs of the victims, F'n disgusting... bout done replying to that shit:rollseyes:
Right. Because I have a vested interest in PR? It's a humanitarian tragedy and I don't like to see people suffer. I just think that help could be mobilized faster if there was a will to do so.

[resister]

Not all of them.
Any hospital not in a 3rd world country has massive generators with huge stores of fuel, could you link us to one that has a failed generator or a leaky, fuel tank?

[resister]

Right. Because I have a vested interest in PR? It's a humanitarian tragedy and I don't like to see people suffer. I just think that help could be mobilized faster if there was a will to do so.
You keep saying that but consistently fail to back your hyperbole...:rollseyes:

[Dr. Who]

As you know, Hospitals are first priority and your post implies these things are not happening.

As stated, hyperbole does not become you, shame!

There are hospitals reporting being without power and water. Are you suggesting that they are lying or are you making this political just because you can?

Shame on anyone who is trying to score political points over a tragedy.

I'm out.

[resister]

There are hospitals reporting being without power and water. Are you suggesting that they are lying or are you making this political just because you can?

Shame on anyone who is trying to score political points over a tragedy.

I'm out.
No, I just don't believe you without a link, I would dip out from this thread too, if I had made so many polite insults and unsubstantiated, hyperbole! Cant blame ya!

[Dr. Who]

Any hospital not in a 3rd world country has massive generators with huge stores of fuel, could you link us to one that has a failed generator or a leaky, fuel tank?
Read the links I provided to Hanger4. I'm no longer debating this. You all can talk among yourselves.

[resister]

Read the links I provided to Hanger4. I'm no longer debating this. You all can talk among yourselves.Thought you were out? By By!

[Peter1469]

Here is some accurate information:

Navy, Marine Corps Providing Around-the-Clock Hurricane Maria Relief (https://news.usni.org/2017/09/25/navy-marine-corps-providing-around-clock-hurricane-maria-relief)

Navy and Marine Corps are working to reopen airfields and clear debris from the main roads of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as part of the ongoing Hurricane Maria relief efforts.
“We continue to conduct 24-hour operations, aggressively conducting search and rescue operations, bringing additional essential commodities to the islands, and restoring power at critical facilities with generators and the fuel needed to operate them,” said Col. Rob Manning, director of Defense Press Operations, while speaking with the media Monday.
USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), USS Wasp (LHD-1) and USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) had been in the region providing humanitarian aid to the region, including to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, following the Hurricane Irma.
Hurricane Maria made landfall early Wednesday with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, and shortly after it moved out to sea, the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group was back on the scene providing medical and technical assistance, according to a Navy statement.
Rear Adm. Jeff Hughes, commander of the Kearsarge ARG, is in contact with the government of Puerto Rico, and Manning said is on the ground to also respond to requests for assistance.
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit has air control teams working to open airfields at both St. Croix and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where locations, according to a Navy statement. Opening the airfields will make it easier for disaster relief teams to bring supplies onto the islands.
The Kearsarge ARG also transported the Army’s 602nd Area Support Medical Company and the Civil Authority Information Support Element to St. Thomas. The teams are also transporting supplies between St. Croix and St. Thomas.
https://news.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/170923-A-PF443-0008.jpg (https://news.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/170923-A-PF443-0008.jpg)U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 602nd Area Support Medical Company, 261st Medical Battalion, 44th Medical Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, depart the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) aboard a landing craft, utility in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 23, 2017. US Army Photo

As Maria approached, the ships sailed out to locations away from the storm’s expected path, according to a Navy statement. The ships remained available to respond to the region if asked. Kearsarge, Oak Hill and Wasp returned as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is in charge of relief efforts, surveyed the scope of damage to the islands,
Since the returning to Puerto Rico, Manning said the ARG conducted eight medical evacuations, 123 airlifts and delivered 22,200 pounds of relief supplies and cargo to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“This is a long-term effort, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, so DoD will continue to support them as long as support is needed,” Manning said.

[Peter1469]

I said I have no idea. The people of PR feel like they have been abandoned and are starting to panic.
And a lot of them are going to die regardless of our best efforts.

Diabetes is big on the island.

[Dr. Who]

And a lot of them are going to die regardless of our best efforts.

Diabetes is big on the island.
Ensuring a supply of insulin at hospitals, dialysis for those who have kidney failure and treatment for infection would mitigate mortality.