Fire At Puerto Rico's Main Power Plant Plunges Island Into Darkness

 

CNN: Puerto Rico crews scramble to restore power after island-wide outage 

(CNN)Electric service should be restored across Puerto Rico by Thursday evening, a utility official said, a day after the start of an island-wide outage that left many people in the dark overnight and prompted school cancellations and other interruptions across the US territory. 

Most customers on the island of about 3.2 million residents still were without power Thursday morning, officials said. 

An unspecified failure led to a fire at the Costa Sur power plant outside the town of Guayanilla on the southwest coast around 8:45 p.m. 

Wednesday, cutting power across the island, Kevin Acevedo, vice president of the Puerto Rican utility company LUMA Energy, said at a news conference. Firefighters have since extinguished the flames.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: An American friend of mine moved from New Jersey to Puerto Rico 18 months ago. Warm weather, low tax rates, and an entrenched political system that he despised were the reasons for his move. He lasted about 9 months. He found the same government incompetence and corruption coupled with the inability to get things done in Puerto Rico that he experienced in New Jersey. He is now in Florida, and is very happy with this move. 

Fire At Puerto Rico;s Main Power Plant Plunges Island Into Darkness  

Puerto Rico power outage plunges over 1 million into darkness -- The Guardian/AP  

Fire at Puerto Rico Power Plant Plunges Island into Darkness -- Bloomberg

"Island-Wide Blackout" Strikes Puerto Rico After Major Power Station Erupts In Flames -- Zero Hedge

Puerto Rico's Supreme Court Overturns The New Governor's Appointment

CNN: Puerto Rico's Supreme Court overturns Pedro Pierluisi as new governor

Puerto Rico's Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the oath given to former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló's handpicked successor was unconstitutional, clearing the way for Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez Garced to become governor and prolonging the US territory's political crisis.

The unanimous decision said last week's swearing in of attorney Pedro Pierluisi was unconstitutional because he had not been confirmed as secretary of state by both chambers of the legislature.

The court said the ruling will take effect at 5 p.m. to ensure an orderly succession.

Pierluisi was expected to replace the disgraced Rosselló, who stepped down as governor following weeks of protests. Rosselló named him Puerto Rico's secretary of state, placing him next in line to become governor.

But a legal challenge by Senate president Thomas Rivera Schatz, a Rosselló rival who himself has sights on the governorship, had asked island's highest court to intervene.

Read more ....

More News On Puerto Rico's Political Crisis

Puerto Rico thrown into turmoil as supreme court ousts new governor -- The Guardian/AP
Per Puerto Rico's Supreme Court, Pedro Pierluisi is out, Wanda Vázquez will become new governor -- NBC
Puerto Rico's top court invalidates governor's appointment -- The Hill
Puerto Rico's Supreme Court Rules Pierluisi Unconstitutionally Sworn In As Governor -- NPR

After Two Weeks Of Protests, Puerto Rico's Governor Announces His Resignation

AFP: Puerto Ricans celebrate after governor says he will resign

San Juan (AFP) - Puerto Ricans waved flags and danced to thumping drum beats Thursday as they celebrated the resignation of the US territory's governor, who is embroiled in a scandal over homophobic and misogynistic messages he and his aides exchanged.

After staying up to welcome Ricardo Rossello's midnight announcement on Facebook that he would step down on August 2, hundreds headed into the streets of San Juan to express their jubilation.

The announcement -- which Rossello put into writing Thursday -- capped two weeks of popular anger against the 40-year old leader.

Rossello is to be replaced by justice secretary Wanda Vazquez, who is considered close to the governor.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: His successor is being scrutinized for corruption .... Likely successor of Puerto Rico's disgraced governor in crosshairs of wary protesters (CNN). More here .... Puerto Rico's next governor will be investigated over claims she refused to probe the mishandling of hurricane relief after trailers of spoiled goods - including food and medicine - were found abandoned more than a year after the island was devastated (Daily Mail).

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Faces Impeachment If He Does Not Resign

CNN: Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló expected to resign, source says. If he doesn't, he may face impeachment proceedings

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló is expected to resign Wednesday after more than a week of protests, according to a source familiar with the situation, but Rosselló's own party says it's prepared to begin impeachment proceedings if he committed any crimes.

"The (impeachment) report is in the Capitol building. At any moment we will have it in our hands," said Puerto Rico Rep. Jose Melendez, a member of the governor's New Progressive Party. "As soon as we receive it, if there are illegal acts in the chats, we will begin impeachment unless the governor resigns beforehand."

House Speaker Carlos Johnny Mendez told reporters Wednesday afternoon, "I just received the document, I haven't read even the first line." Enrique Colón, one of the lawyers Mendez appointed to deliver the report, said the legal group's recommendation "effectively" is to proceed with impeachment.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Puerto Rico's Governor is denying reports that he is resigning .... Homophobic Puerto Rico governor DENIES reports that he has stepped down amid island-wide protests sparked by his leaked phone chats with aides mocking gays and hurricane victims (Daily Mail).

More News On Reports That Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Is Expected To Resign

Spokesman: Puerto Rico governor hasn’t resigned -- AP
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló to resign: sources -- FOX News
Embattled Puerto Rico governor may resign soon, media reports -- Reuters
After 11 days of 'Rickyleaks' protests, Puerto Rico governor mulls future -- Reuters

Protests Continue In Puerto Rico

Time/AP: Puerto Rico's Political Crisis Deepens as Massive Protests Fail to Oust Governor

(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — The political crisis in Puerto Rico has escalated to a point where many wonder how Gov. Ricardo Rosselló will be able to govern the U.S. territory in the coming days and possibly weeks amid the massive protests to oust him.

Rosselló dug his heels in late Monday after what seems to have been the biggest protest the island has seen in nearly two decades, telling Fox News that he has already apologized and made amends following the leak of an offensive, obscenity-laden online chat between him and his advisers that triggered the crisis.

But Puerto Ricans remained unsatisfied and vowed to keep protesting until he steps down, no matter how long it takes.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Governor feels confident that he can weather the storm.

More News O Protests Continuing In Puerto Rico

Tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans demand governor resign -- AP
Hundreds of thousands protest in Puerto Rico, calling for governor to resign -- France 24
Massive protests held in Puerto Rico after governor refuses to step down -- BBC
Puerto Rico: Thousands urge governor's resignation in massive protests -- DW
A New Power Blackout Hits Most Of Venezuela -- New York Times
Puerto Ricans launch massive protest against governor -- AFP
'He must resign': Thousands shut down Puerto Rico streets demanding Gov. Ricardo Rosselló step down -- USA Today
Mayor in Puerto Rico rebuts embattled Gov. Ricardo Rosselló's claim of support -- FOX News
Hundreds of thousands demand Puerto Rico's governor resign -- Al Jazeera
Puerto Ricans worry about future if embattled governor stays -- AP

Puerto Rico Protests Calling For The Resignation Of Gov. Rosselló Conitnue

Daily Mail: Thousands of protesters march on the home of the Puerto Rico governor demanding he resign amid corruption probe and vulgar chat messaging scandal - as US presidential candidates weigh in calling for him to step down

* Thousands of Puerto Ricans marched on Rossello's residence Friday
* Several lawmakers tweeted that they stand with the protesters and also called for Rossello to resign
* The protests have been ongoing since July 13, when Rossello's leaked chat messages were published
* Some of the messages were vulgar, misogynistic and homophobic
* The messages were unearthed during a federal corruption probe
* Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, Rick Scott and others were among the lawmakers who said Rossello should step down

Congressional lawmakers have added their voice to those of protesters calling for Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rossello's resignation in the wake of a federal corruption probe that unearthed hundreds of pages of vulgar and offensive leaked chat messages.

Thousands of Puerto Ricans, led by protesters on horseback with some banging drums and singing, marched on the governor's residence in San Juan on Friday, demanding that Rossello resign over the messages, which attacked political adversaries, many using misogynistic and homophobic language.

The chats on a Telegram message group were published on July 13, adding to Rossello's woes the same week that two of his former officials were arrested by the FBI as part of a federal corruption probe in the bankrupt U.S. territory.

Read more ....

More News On The Continuing Protests In Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico protests: Demonstrations resume Saturday outside Gov. Rosselló's official residence -- CNN
Puerto Rico's governor goes AWOL as protesters gather outside his residence, US officials call to step down -- FOX News
U.S. lawmakers demand Puerto Rico governor resign as protests roil island -- Reuters
Puerto Rico’s week of massive protests, explained -- VOX

Protests Continue Against The Governor Of Puerto Rico

The Guardian: Puerto Rico police clash with protesters in wake of governor's sexist texts

Teargas and rubber bullets used to disperse demonstration urging Ricardo Rosselló to quit

Thousands of protesters in Puerto Rico have clashed with riot police, as volleys of teargas and rubber bullets were used to disperse a mostly peaceful protest that descended into chaos just yards from the governor’s residence in San Juan.

The capital has seen days of sustained protest following a leak of hundreds of pages of text messages, many including homophobic and misogynistic slurs, between the Puerto Rico governor, Ricardo Rosselló, and 11 members of his inner circle. A number of people in Rosselló’s administration have quit after the leak, but the governor has refused to tender his resignation despite continuing violence on the streets.

On Thursday morning one of the largest protest collectives on the island issued an ultimatum for Rosselló’s resignation by midnight on Sunday.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. These protests are not going to end anytime soon.

More News On The Protests Continuing Against The Governor Of Puerto Rico

Protests Continue Against The Governor Of Puerto Rico -- Zero Hedge
Trump blasts 'corrupt' Puerto Rico's leaders amid political crisis -- The Hill
Trump tweets about Puerto Rico being 'under siege' amid violent protests over governor -- ABC News
Civil unrest in Puerto Rico forces multiple cruise ships to alter routes -- FOX News
Why Puerto Ricans have taken to the streets to oust their governor -- Ramón Luis Nieves, The Hill

New Study Says Nearly 5,000 Died In Puerto Rico Due To Hurricane Maria

The Hill: Puerto Rico hurricane death toll 70 times higher than official government estimate, says study

Nearly 5,000 people died in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria, more than 70 times more than the official government death toll, according to a new study from The New England Journal of Medicine.

The study, released Tuesday, calls the official government estimate a "substantial underestimate" while saying that an adjusted statistic could point to as many as 5,740 more deaths than the official estimate.

The death toll according to Puerto Rico’s government is 64.

Read more ....

Update #1: Puerto Rican death toll from Hurricane Maria 73 times official tally: study (Reuters)
Update #2: Study Puts Puerto Rico Death Toll From Hurricane Maria Near 5,000 (NPR)

WNU Editor: This is how they came to this number ....

.... The research team randomly selected 3,299 households in Puerto Rico. Local scientists surveyed them over the course of three weeks in January. People in those homes reported a total of 38 deaths. The scientists then extrapolated that finding to the island's total population of 3.4 million people to estimate the number of deaths. The researchers then subtracted deaths recorded during that same period in 2016 and concluded that the mortality rate in Puerto Rico had jumped 62 percent in the three months following the storm.

This reminds me of how they calculated births 9 months after an power failure .... and find that there is usually an increase. But in the case of births .... we do know officially the exact number, in this case we do not .... its a random sample using a computer model to project how many people died during a certain period of time, and comparing that to the numbers from the previous year.

The findings are being published today by The New England Journal of Medicine.

Update: 95% of the grid has been restored in Puerto Rico, but power-blackouts do occur .... Puerto Rico Says New Electric Grid Will Be Easier To Fix, Maintain (Newsy).

The Work To Restore Puerto Rico's Power Grid Is Taking Its Time

A car drives under downed power lines. Ricardo Arduengo for NBC News

NBC: Why does restoring full power in Puerto Rico seem like a never-ending task?

About a third of Puerto Rico's residents — over 900,000 — are still living without electricity five months after Hurricane Maria battered the island on Sept. 20th of last year.

As power restoration efforts continue against all odds, it's still hard for officials to say when the power will be fully restored — the question on everyone's mind.

“I would hesitate to give you a date,” said Lt. Col. John Cunningham of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the deputy commander for the Task Force Power Restoration on the island. “We would like to go faster, but right now we’re going as fast as we can.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Considering the history of the utility and the financial woes on the island .... 2/3 of its residents having some power restored is quite an accomplishment.

Most Homes In Puerto Rico Do Not Qualify For Disaster Relief

Miami Herald: Half of Puerto Rico’s housing was built illegally. Then came Hurricane Maria.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico

Gladys Peña built a home the way many thousands of people in Puerto Rico, maybe most, did for decades: in makeshift fashion.

Every week for years, Peña, a cafeteria cook, set money aside until she had enough to buy a vacant wooden shack in a densely packed working-class barrio, a one-time squatters’ community a short stroll from the towers of San Juan’s Golden Mile financial district. She knocked down most of the flimsy house, bought building materials bit by bit and gradually built herself a concrete-block first floor with little more than a kitchen in it, and then a wooden second story topped by a corrugated zinc-metal roof.

Her builders were guys from the neighborhood. Her son salvaged a rusty steel stair from an abandoned building nearby and affixed it to the front of the tiny house so she could get from the kitchen to her second-story bedroom suite, which requires going outside. To hook up to electrical power, she took out a $2,000 bank loan.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I cannot imagine how these people must feel that after spending years building their home .... they now must start all over again.

Half of Puerto Rico Remains Without Power 100 Days After Hurricane Maria

A car drives under downed power lines. Ricardo Arduengo for NBC News

Time: Anger Grows as Half of Puerto Rico Remains Without Power Months After Hurricane

(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — The revelation that more than 660,000 power customers across Puerto Rico still lack electricity more than three months after Hurricane Maria has sparked outrage, surprise and resignation among some islanders who accuse officials of mismanaging their response to the Category 4 storm.

It’s the first time the government of the U.S. territory has provided that statistic, which was released as authorities warned that a lot of work remains and that crews were still finding unexpected damage after Maria hit on Sept. 20 with winds of up to 154 mph, knocking power out to the entire island. Officials said 55 percent of Puerto Rico’s nearly 1.5 million customers have power.

Read more ....

Update #1: Puerto Rico: Power restored to 55% of customers, governor's office says (CNN)
Update #2: Anger grows and hope fades as Puerto Rico’s ground zero remains without power (NBC)

WNU Editor: 55% electricity restored after 100 days is actually quite an accomplishment in view of the damage that was done to the grid when Hurricane Maria hit. And while this is no comfort for those who still do not have power, the sad fact is that it is going to take probably another 4 - 6 months before everything is restored.

Recovery Efforts In Puerto Rico Are Going To Take A Very Long Time

The Hill: House passes $36.5 billion disaster relief package

The House easily passed legislation on Thursday to provide $36.5 billion in aid for communities affected by recent hurricanes and wildfires, despite concerns from some conservatives about the growing cost of disaster aid.

All of the votes in opposition were from Republicans in the 353-69 vote.

The package includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund — including $4.9 billion for a disaster relief loan account — $16 billion to address national flood insurance program debt and $576.5 million for wildfire recovery efforts. It also provided $1.27 billion for disaster food assistance for Puerto Rico.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Hyperbole aside .... San Juan mayor accuses Trump of ‘genocide’ after hurricane (Washington Times) .... Puerto Rico's recovery efforts are going to take a very long time. Puerto Rico's infrastructure needed to be rebuilt before Hurricane Maria arrived .... so the expectation that the U.S. will now step in and build an entirely new network in a very short period of time .... is sadly .... and I am saying this because I know how these things work .... a pipe-dream. To put everything in perspective. I live in Quebec and we probably have the best electrical infrastructure network in the world. The people who manage this system know what needs to be done. A few years ago on my country property we had to build a 3/4 mile electrical line from the main road to where my new chalet was to be built. From the day that I signed the contract, poles ordered, transformers ordered, wire ordered, crew to put the poles in the ground, crew to connect everything, etc. .... it took two and a half months. Puerto Rico is waaaayyyy bigger than my property .... but as I said .... this is my perspective, and many in Puerto Rico are dreaming if they think that their grid is going to be put up soon. That is why I am amazed that FEMA and the U.S. military have been able to put at least a fifth of the grid up in Puerto Rico in 3 weeks. I do not know how they were able to do it, but they did and are still working to restore the rest of the grid as best as they can. I am not there but I am sure that those who are working around the clock must feel disappointed that their efforts are being criticized as being "too slow" .... or worse .... being accused of committing genocide. But that is the America of today .... everything has become politicized .... and giving credit when credit is due is not going to happen if it goes against a media or political narrative.

More News On The Slow Recovery Efforts In Puerto Rico

Trump: FEMA, first responders can't be in Puerto Rico 'forever' -- ABC News
U.S. House approves disaster funds as Trump criticizes Puerto Rico -- Reuters
Three weeks since Hurricane Maria, much of Puerto Rico still dark, dry, frustrated -- Houston Chronicle/Washington Post
House approves $36.5 billion disaster aid bill -- CNN
Puerto Rico toll hits 44 as governor asks Congress for more aid -- AFP

Puerto Rico Before The Hurricane

Activists protest at a Federal Reserve event in Manhattan, asking for relief for Puerto Rico's debt. Daniel Marans/The Huffington Post

The Economist: Puerto Rico: Trouble on Welfare Island

Overbearing government and the welfare state are hurting the United States' poorest citizens.

AS THE mayor of Aguadilla, on Puerto Rico's north-west coast, Carlos Méndez is proud of his town. He likes to take visitors onto the balcony of the town hall and challenge them to spot a scrap of paper in the plaza. There are none; but here, and all around the centre of town, there are no busy people either. The shops and offices are shabby, with little going on in them. The buildings along the beautiful beachfront look run-down. A few men sit in the shade, and have apparently been planted there as long as the tree has.

Puerto Rico has been a United States territory for more than a century, and its people have been citizens since 1917. They do not vote in national elections or pay federal income taxes, but those are not the biggest differences between Puerto Rican residents and their fellow American citizens. The island is distinguished by its poverty and joblessness, which are far worse than in any of the 50 states. The territory's economy, moreover, has fallen further behind the national one over the past three decades. Bad government—not just locally, but also federally—is largely to blame. Yet most Americans are oblivious to the Caribbean island's problems.

The place did earn a rare and brief mention in some mainland newspapers earlier this month. Its government had hit a borrowing limit and partly shut down for a couple of weeks, putting 95,000 civil servants out of work. Then leaders in San Juan—the commonwealth's capital—agreed on a budget deal that let the government borrow more and resume paying people. The drama ended, and life there reverted to its depressing former state.

Read more ....

WNU editor: A brutal assessment on what ails Puerto Rico before Hurricane Maria came and changed the landscape. On a side note, the last paragraph caught my eye ....

.... As he walked through Aguadilla's town hall recently, Mr Méndez boasted about each employee's university or graduate-school credentials as he introduced them. The trouble, he says, is that “All they want to do is find security only. They have no ambition...Everybody wants to work for the government.” Manuel Reyes, of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association, also sees little hope that the government's role will shrink. “There is no light at the end of the tunnel,” he says, “because we are still in denial.” And the rest of America is still indifferent.

I live in Quebec, and we are starting to experience the same cultural mindset as in Puerto Rico. A poll was done last year on what did French Quebecers between the ages of 18 to 25 expected in life. The result .... over 70% wanted to work for the government, long vacations, and to retire at 55 with a fully indexed pension. Is this the current trend in the West? I hope not, because in the end it cannot be sustainable .... as Puerto Rico has found out.

Puerto Rico's Government Is Running Out of Money

Bloomberg: Puerto Rico Is Running Out of Money

* Before tackling a $74 billion debt, a liquidity crisis looms
* If Congress doesn’t send money, ‘it will be a disaster’

Puerto Rico faces a government shutdown on Oct. 31, including halting its hurricane recovery, if Congress doesn’t provide billions in emergency funds, said Treasury Secretary Raul Maldonado.

The U.S. commonwealth’s bankrupt government is burning through the $1.6 billion it had on hand before Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, destroying decayed infrastructure and killing 34 people. With widespread damage to telecommunications systems and the electricity grid, Maldonado doesn’t expect to begin collecting sales tax for at least another month, he said Wednesday.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Puerto Rico's past behavior on how it treated its finances/debts/etc. has caught up to it with the disaster that Hurricane Maria has brought. This is not going to be an easy fix, and I wonder if Puerto Rico will change once it does receive its bailout.

President Trump Meets Responders And Victims In Puerto Rico

Reuters: Trump to meet victims, responders in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - President Donald Trump arrived in Puerto Rico on Tuesday to view the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Maria and meet residents, many of whom are frustrated and resentful that they are still struggling with basic necessities two weeks after the storm.

The trip gives Trump the chance to show solidarity with survivors and demonstrate how his government intends to help them recover after they were hit by the worst hurricane in 90 years.

But it comes after he lashed out at San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz for “poor leadership” on the weekend after she criticized his government’s response. He said some people on the island “want everything to be done for them.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Governor from Puerto Rico just mentioned that a quarter of the electrical grid should be back online within a month. I know a little about this sort of stuff .... and unfortunately it rings true. Puerto Rico is going to suffer for the next few months .... one can only hope that in the rebuilding they will put in place an infrastructure that will be stronger. As I had mentioned in previous posts I lived through the Quebec ice storm in 1998. Much of the electrical grid system went down, and it took a long time to rebuild everything. Fortunately .... what we now have is far stronger than what we had before .... and my suggestion to Puerto Rico is that they do the same.

More News On President Trump Meeting Responders And Victims In Puerto Rico

President Trump's Puerto Rico visit -- live updates -- CBS News
Trump comes face to face with stricken Puerto Rico -- AP
Trump leaves San Juan's mayor out of praise for Puerto Rico leaders -- The Hill
Trump says San Juan mayor has 'come back a long way' -- Politico
President Trump arrives in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico -- ABC News
Trump, in Puerto Rico, Praises Response to Hurricane -- NBC
Trump Lands in Puerto Rico After Complaining About Residents' Efforts in Storm Recovery -- New York Times
Puerto Rico prepares for Trump visit after hurricane -- BBC
Trump to visit devastated US territory Puerto Rico -- DW
Trump: Puerto Rico has 'thrown our budget a little out of whack' -- The Hill

U.S. Military On Puerto Rico: Emergency Supplies Are In Port. The Problem Is Distribution

“This is personal to me.” Col. Michael A. Valle, Director, Joint Air Component Coordination Element for 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern), identifies areas of Puerto Rico in need of immediate relief while airborne in a WC-130 Hercules on September 29, 2017, flown by members of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 156th Airlift Wing at Muniz Air National Guard Base, Carolina, Puerto Rico. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Dutton/Released

Huffington Post: U.S. Military on Puerto Rico: "The Problem Is Distribution" And Here's Why

“It’s picture perfect devastation. The hurricane came through the middle of the island. 100% of the island is without power. As a Puerto Rican it troubles me to hear the misinformation about the crux of the issue.”

Speaking today exclusively and live from Puerto Rico, is Puerto Rican born and raised, Colonel Michael A. Valle (”Torch”), Commander, 101st Air and Space Operations Group, and Director of the Joint Air Component Coordination Element, 1st Air Force, responsible for Hurricane Maria relief efforts in the U.S. commonwealth with a population of more than 3 million. Since the ‘apocalyptic’ Cat 4 storm tore into the spine of Puerto Rico on September 20, Col. Valle has been both duty and blood bound to help.

Col. Valle is a firsthand witness of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) response supporting FEMA in Puerto Rico, and as a Puerto Rican himself with family members living in the devastation, his passion for the people is second to none. “It’s just not true,” Col. Valle says of the major disconnect today between the perception of a lack of response from Washington verses what is really going on on the ground. “I have family here. My parents’ home is here. My uncles, aunts, cousins, are all here. As a Puerto Rican, I can tell you that the problem has nothing to do with the U.S. military, FEMA, or the DoD.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor:  Apparently most of the truck drivers who work in Puerto Rico have not shown up work .... and if social media is to believed .... (and I hope these reports are wrong) .... the union responsible for trucking on the island are saying that their truckers are not going to go to work until certain demands are met (see link here).

The Puerto Rican Relief Effort Has Become Politicized

Reuters: U.S. lawmakers ask Trump to 'get to work' on Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers urged President Donald Trump on Sunday to stop sniping at Puerto Ricans and get to work helping them recover from a devastating hurricane, two days before he was to visit the island, where people remained without food, water or power.

The Republican president said his government was doing a “great job” to help Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane Maria and took a new swipe at critics who said he had been slow to aid the island, where the power grid was destroyed 12 days ago.

“We have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico. Outside of the Fake News or politically motivated ingrates,” he said in a Twitter post.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The drive-by media is glorifying the officials who run Puerto Rico .... especially those who are critical of the U.S. government's response. But this Puerto Rican businessman's assessment (and warnings) on who these people really are strikes me to be more truthful than what we have been hearing from the news for the past few days .... Puerto Rican CEO: Local government 'corrupt' and 'totally inexperienced' in Maria cleanup (FOX News). His money quote ....

.... “Even before the hurricane hit, water and power systems were already broken. And our $118 billion debt crisis is a result of government corruption and mismanagement.”

A commentator to this blog also put everything in perspective (from Anon) ....

.... Puerto Rico has been dodging big hurricanes for 80 years, in 1899 they had a Cat 4, 1928 Cat 5, and 1932 Cat 4. This is their wake up call, time to do things differently, build better, and have a better organized response in place, because whether it's in 2 years or 100 years they will get hit again by a big hurricane.

Yup .... Puerto Rico .... in order to prosper in the future .... has to change.

More News On The Puerto Rican Relief Effort

Puerto Rico: Trump spat with San Juan mayor escalates as all sides double down -- The Guardian
Trump defends Puerto Rico effort, but his tweets draw new criticism -- AFP
Trump scoffs at ‘politically motivated ingrates’ after Maria -- AP
San Juan mayor in hurricane spotlight after Trump tweets -- AP
Puerto Rico governor says relief arriving to storm-ravaged rural areas -- Reuters
In Puerto Rico, acute shortages plunge the masses into survival struggle -- Reuters
With long lines for food, water and fuel and no electricity, Puerto Ricans help each other -- USA Today
Puerto Ricans lash out at Trump over Hurricane Maria -- Al Jazeera

Is Puerto Rico On The Verge Of Genocide?

Business Insider: 'WE ARE DYING': Puerto Rico mayor says the island is 'inching close to a genocide'

Mayor Carmen Cruz of San Juan, Puerto Rico delivered an emotional message on Friday, amid the logistical difficulties and bureaucratic red tape that has slowed down the hurricane-relief effort on the island/

"We are dying here," Cruz said in a press conference. "And I cannot fathom the thought that the greatest nation in the world cannot figure out logistics for a small island of 100 miles by 35 miles long."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Puerto Rico's Governor has a different take .... Federal Emergency Response Working Smoothly, Puerto Rico’s Governor Says (US Department of Defense). This type of language from the mayor is completely inappropriate during a crisis like this one. There are thousands of government workers and U.S. military personnel on the ground right now trying their best to help those who are in  desperate need, and they have been very transparent on what they are doing (see link here). To accuse these government workers of failing in their job and that Puerto Rico is now on the verge of genocide .... not the message you should send out to these responders who need encouragement ... especially now.

Update: The mayor has her supporters .... Trump called San Juan’s mayor a weak leader. Here’s what her leadership looks like (Washington Post).

U.S. Army Now Responsible For Recovery Operations In Puerto Rico

Daily Beast: U.S. Army Takes Over Massive Mission to Save Puerto Rico

More than a week after Hurricane Maria, the response is finally being federalized as the island struggles to distribute supplies and restore power.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—The U.S. Army will take over recovery operations in Puerto Rico, Col. Jorge Santini of Puerto Rico's National Guard state command told The Daily Beast. The announcement is expected Thursday afternoon.

U.S. Northern Command appointed Army Brig. Gen. Richard Kim on Wednesday to oversee operations. The Army will oversee every facet of the massive mission and coordinate with the National Guard, FEMA, and Gov. Ricardo Rossello’s office, Santini said. Approximately 2,600 U.S. military personnel and Guard members are currently involved in Hurricane Maria relief efforts, the Pentagon said.

"We need more manpower, more resources, more help, quickly and efficiently," Santini said. "We needed to federalize the recovery plan."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The aid has arrived .... they just cannot deliver it .... Puerto Rico aid is trapped in thousands of shipping containers (CNN). Drivers are talking care of their own emergencies (which I can understand), and even if they could get to the port where these containers are .... the infrastructure is not there to deliver it. To put it bluntly .... this is what a disaster looks like. But this is going to be the start of an even bigger fight .... people are now talking that it will take hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild Puerto Rico, and that Puerto Rico's massive debt should be forgiven. Here is an easy prediction .... this is not going to go over well with many in Congress. As for those who are angry about the aid response .... I can understand their frustration .... I have experienced two natural disasters in my life. The loss of a chalet 22 years ago in the Laurentians of Quebec due to a forest fire, and the Montreal Ice Storm of 1998 when I had no electricity for 9 days, and it was -20C outside. You want government there to help you .... but these things take time, and you are not the only one who is hurting. The key to survival is always the same. Rely on your network of family and friends .... because they will help you the most in the first few weeks. After that .... rely on government if you can meet their requirement for assistance. As for being angry .... it is going to get you nowhere .... but it plays well on television.

More News On Puerto Rico

Anger grows over Puerto Rico relief effort -- AFP
Puerto Rico struggles for relief after Hurricane Maria -- CNBC
Getting relief supplies to Puerto Rico ports is only half the problem -- Washington Post
'Destroyed' Puerto Rico 'truly a logistical nightmare for FEMA,' says ex-FEMA chief Brown -- CNBC
Puerto Ricans say US relief efforts failing them -- The Australian
Puerto Rico supply failure stops food and water reaching desperate residents -- The Guardian
Trump questions how 'massive' Puerto Rico recovery will be funded -- AFP
Maria dims Puerto Rico’s bleak economic outlook -- AP

U.S. Military Boosting Its Efforts To Help Puerto Rico

CBS: U.S. military beefs up its efforts in Puerto Rico as need for vital supplies grows

America's military is boosting its efforts to help Puerto Rico. FEMA is asking for military vehicles to clear roads and bring in supplies. The Coast Guard says it delivered 3,000 meals and 4,500 liters of water on Wednesday.

The USS Kearsarge dodged three major hurricanes in the Caribbean to help the islands recover from the storms, dropping 180 Marines and vital supplies on the island, reports CBS News' Omar Villafranca. The nerve center for the military's humanitarian effort in Puerto Rico is floating just a few miles offshore.

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Military Boosting Its Efforts To Help Puerto Rico

Trump says supplies streaming into storm-tossed Puerto Rico -- AP
Trump administration rushes military assets to Puerto Rico amid growing crisis -- Washington Post
Donald Trump waives Jones Act to allow foreign ships to supply Puerto Rico -- The Guardian
Puerto Rico: Trump lifts shipping ban for storm-hit island -- BBC
US sends more aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastation -- Al Jazeera
U.S. Navy to Deploy Hospital Ship Comfort to Hurricane-Battered Puerto Rico -- US News and World Report/Reuters
Hospital Ship Heads to Puerto Rico as Military Struggles to Direct Aid -- Military.com
Lawmakers Call for Military General to Oversee Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Relief -- NBC
Now even money is running out in hurricane-hit Puerto Rico -- AP
146 Dems call on Trump to send more Pentagon assets to Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands -- The Hill
Missing in inaction: Why hasn’t Trump ordered the military to Puerto Rico? -- Dave Lindorff, Salon
Here’s Why It’s So Difficult For The US Military To Help Puerto Rico -- Saagar Enjeti, Daily Caller