Op-Ed: Puerto Rico disaster shows US could learn from China about how to deal with natural disasters

[powastick]

Murican president attacks the mayor, stay classy folks

https://twitter.com/x/status/914087234869047296

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/p...mayor-pleads-trump-you-are-killing-us-n806116

Puerto Rico Crisis: San Juan Mayor Pleads for Federal Aid, Trump Hits Back
The mayor of Puerto Rico's largest city earned a rebuke from President Donald Trump on Saturday after pleading for more federal assistance in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

"We are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency and the bureaucracy," San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz said Friday at a news conference. She highlighted donations from companies and others, including 200,000 pounds of food donated by Goya, as a contrast to federal help.

"This is what we got last night: four pallets of water, three pallets of meals and 12 pallets of infant food — which I gave them to the people of Comerio, where people are drinking off a creek," she said. "So I am done being polite. I am done being politically correct. I am mad as hell."

'I Am Mad as Hell': San Juan Mayor Criticizes Maria Response2:10
Criticism has been mounting over the Trump administration’s response to what is being called an unfolding humanitarian crisis, with some likening the situation to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

However, Trump hit back early Saturday, accusing Cruz of "poor leadership ability" and criticizing Puerto Rican officials. "They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort," he wrote on Twitter. "10,000 federal workers now on island doing a good job."

Hurricane Maria knocked out power to most of Puerto Rico when it struck as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 20. The storm came on the heels of Hurricane Irma, which skirted past the island but still knocked out power to more than 1 million.

https://twitter.com/x/status/914087234869047296

https://twitter.com/x/status/914089003745468417

https://twitter.com/x/status/914089888596754434

Some 18 people have been confirmed dead in Puerto Rico in the wake of the storm, while 16 died on the island of Dominica and one on the French territory of Guadeloupe.

Initially, the Trump administration named a one-star general to run U.S. military operations, then upgraded the command to three-star Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, who headed to Puerto Rico on Thursday.

An Army spokesperson said that as of 4 p.m. ET Friday the Army had more than 4,900 soldiers and Army Corps of Engineers civilian personnel in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which were also hit by the hurricane. Thirty aircraft and more than 500 trucks are committed to relief efforts, the spokesperson said. The National Guard said it projects 1,400 guard forces will be sent to Puerto Rico over the next four days.

San Juan mayor to Trump: No time for distractions 7:15
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said this week that Puerto Rico has received 4.4 million meal kits and 6.5 million liters of water.

Yulín Cruz said help has not been reaching residents quickly enough. She said FEMA "has collapsed" in Puerto Rico.

"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," she said. "If we don't get the food and the water into people's hands, we are going to see something close to a genocide," she said later.

"I am asking the president of the United States to make sure somebody is in charge that is up to the task of saving lives," Yulín Cruz said.

FEMA Administrator Brock Long said on MSNBC Friday that progress is being made. He said airport and port capacity is increasing. "We are making progress, every day capacity is coming open," he said.


People use tubes to collect water from the mountain on September 28 in the Toa Alta and Corozal area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Andre Kang / GDA via AP
"We've worked to clear 11 highways, we’re continuing to push forward and open up those arteries to be able to pump more in," Long said. "The bottom line is that the capacity will continue to increase."

President Donald Trump has praised the government’s response after the hurricane. “We have done an incredible job, considering there’s absolutely nothing to work with,” Trump said, adding that “the power grid is gone."

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted Friday that he had called the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, "to ensure we're doing all we can to back his recovery efforts."

The vice president also announced that he would travel to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands next week.

https://twitter.com/x/status/913851940416536576

Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke said Friday that "clearly, the situation here in Puerto Rico after the devastating hurricane is not satisfactory, but together we are getting there.”

 

[cloud4000]

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/p...mayor-pleads-trump-you-are-killing-us-n806116

Puerto Rico Crisis: San Juan Mayor Pleads for Federal Aid, Trump Hits Back
The mayor of Puerto Rico's largest city earned a rebuke from President Donald Trump on Saturday after pleading for more federal assistance in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

"We are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency and the bureaucracy," San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz said Friday at a news conference. She highlighted donations from companies and others, including 200,000 pounds of food donated by Goya, as a contrast to federal help.

"This is what we got last night: four pallets of water, three pallets of meals and 12 pallets of infant food — which I gave them to the people of Comerio, where people are drinking off a creek," she said. "So I am done being polite. I am done being politically correct. I am mad as hell."

'I Am Mad as Hell': San Juan Mayor Criticizes Maria Response2:10
Criticism has been mounting over the Trump administration’s response to what is being called an unfolding humanitarian crisis, with some likening the situation to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

However, Trump hit back early Saturday, accusing Cruz of "poor leadership ability" and criticizing Puerto Rican officials. "They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort," he wrote on Twitter. "10,000 federal workers now on island doing a good job."

Hurricane Maria knocked out power to most of Puerto Rico when it struck as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 20. The storm came on the heels of Hurricane Irma, which skirted past the island but still knocked out power to more than 1 million.

https://twitter.com/x/status/914087234869047296

https://twitter.com/x/status/914089003745468417

https://twitter.com/x/status/914089888596754434

Some 18 people have been confirmed dead in Puerto Rico in the wake of the storm, while 16 died on the island of Dominica and one on the French territory of Guadeloupe.

Initially, the Trump administration named a one-star general to run U.S. military operations, then upgraded the command to three-star Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, who headed to Puerto Rico on Thursday.

An Army spokesperson said that as of 4 p.m. ET Friday the Army had more than 4,900 soldiers and Army Corps of Engineers civilian personnel in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which were also hit by the hurricane. Thirty aircraft and more than 500 trucks are committed to relief efforts, the spokesperson said. The National Guard said it projects 1,400 guard forces will be sent to Puerto Rico over the next four days.

San Juan mayor to Trump: No time for distractions 7:15
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said this week that Puerto Rico has received 4.4 million meal kits and 6.5 million liters of water.

Yulín Cruz said help has not been reaching residents quickly enough. She said FEMA "has collapsed" in Puerto Rico.

"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," she said. "If we don't get the food and the water into people's hands, we are going to see something close to a genocide," she said later.

"I am asking the president of the United States to make sure somebody is in charge that is up to the task of saving lives," Yulín Cruz said.

FEMA Administrator Brock Long said on MSNBC Friday that progress is being made. He said airport and port capacity is increasing. "We are making progress, every day capacity is coming open," he said.


People use tubes to collect water from the mountain on September 28 in the Toa Alta and Corozal area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Andre Kang / GDA via AP
"We've worked to clear 11 highways, we’re continuing to push forward and open up those arteries to be able to pump more in," Long said. "The bottom line is that the capacity will continue to increase."

President Donald Trump has praised the government’s response after the hurricane. “We have done an incredible job, considering there’s absolutely nothing to work with,” Trump said, adding that “the power grid is gone."

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted Friday that he had called the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, "to ensure we're doing all we can to back his recovery efforts."

The vice president also announced that he would travel to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands next week.

https://twitter.com/x/status/913851940416536576

Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke said Friday that "clearly, the situation here in Puerto Rico after the devastating hurricane is not satisfactory, but together we are getting there.”

Democrats will try to score political points against Trump for what he does or not do in response to the hurricane hitting the island, just like the pro-Chinese posters in this thread.

Puerto Rico was in a severe financial distress before the hurricane hit the island, massive debts due to local government's profligate spending forced the island to cut back on essential services. But I'm sure this is Trump's fault too. Like @jhungary has said, Puerto Rico is a unique situation: it's a faraway island that suffered a Category 5 hurricane.

 

[jhungary]

More Photo For Puerto Rico Disaster Relief

 

[powastick]

Democrats will try to score political points against Trump for what he does or not do in response to the hurricane hitting the island, just like the pro-Chinese posters in this thread.

Puerto Rico was in a severe financial distress before the hurricane hit the island, massive debts due to local government's profligate spending forced the island to cut back on essential services. But I'm sure this is Trump's fault too. Like @jhungary has said, Puerto Rico is a unique situation: it's a faraway island that suffered a Category 5 hurricane.

Time has change, nobody would doubt US if it was 20 years ago. That jhungary would never ever criticize US and always spin it out of it, while accusing others about it. Democrats aren't saints, like stealing from Haiti aid fund.

 

[cloud4000]

Time has change, nobody would doubt US if it was 20 years ago. That jhungary would never ever criticize US and always spin it out of it, while accusing others about it. Democrats aren't saints, like stealing from Haiti aid fund.

Can you explain what has changed in the past 20 years? US just faced three disasters in Hurricane Harvey hitting Texas, Hurricane Irma hitting Florida, and Hurricane Maria hitting Puerto Rico. Given the enormity of the hurricanes, the loss of life was low, but the physical damage has been extensive.

 

[shadows888]

Can you explain what has changed in the past 20 years? US just faced three disasters in Hurricane Harvey hitting Texas, Hurricane Irma hitting Florida, and Hurricane Maria hitting Puerto Rico. Given the enormity of the hurricanes, the loss of life was low, but the physical damage has been extensive.

What changed was your progandanda don't work anymore.

 

[cloud4000]

What changed was your progandanda don't work anymore.

According to whom? China? Don't make me laugh.

 

[jhungary]

Democrats will try to score political points against Trump for what he does or not do in response to the hurricane hitting the island, just like the pro-Chinese posters in this thread.

Puerto Rico was in a severe financial distress before the hurricane hit the island, massive debts due to local government's profligate spending forced the island to cut back on essential services. But I'm sure this is Trump's fault too. Like @jhungary has said, Puerto Rico is a unique situation: it's a faraway island that suffered a Category 5 hurricane.

I am not a big trump supporter, But I don't think I can pin the debt crisis in Puerto Rico on Trump, when he was elected, Puerto Rico already in neck deep of shit. The debt crisis have no one to blame but Puerto Rican themselves, perhaps we can also blame the US Constitution on that (for allowing Puerto Rican to move to Mainland and hence the brain drain) but the problem is, the debt is no one fault other than the Pica Power people who own that island and think they can do a better job than Federal Government

I used to live in Puerto Rico for a while, I kind of know how Puerto Rico works, there are not much going on in Puerto Rico and if you think Detroit is bad, Puerto Rico is very much like Mexico or Cuba in that sense.

What unfortunate is that it was a natural disaster, in fact, not just one natural disaster, but a few in a quick succession, which make this a really dired situation.

For the United States, I think the US would need to make a decision now, would Trump absorb Puerto Rico into statehood because of this is remaining to be seen, but I can assure you, even if we pack Puerto Rico back up on their feet again, it won't be the end of this saga, there are something needed to be done with the Puerto Rico issue, either forgave the debt and absorb Puerto Rico into 51st state, or let it go down to hell in a handbasket, it can be either one of the two.

In all, Federal Government have basically done all the can for Puerto Rico and American Virgin Island, 4000 + deployed with 50 Chopper and a few ship on site already, the disaster is not that big of an issue, but what happen afterward, could become a serious man made disaster, and it all depending on how the Federal Government act.

Time has change, nobody would doubt US if it was 20 years ago. That jhungary would never ever criticize US and always spin it out of it, while accusing others about it. Democrats aren't saints, like stealing from Haiti aid fund.

I speak what I think is right, unlike you or most of the PDF chinese here.

I had expressed my displeasure on US government several time, in fact, I started a thread about Puerto Rican Debt Crisis before this and I have been mighty critical to US government, where were you on that thread?

You are saying something that you have no experience on, and expressing idea that not even remotely true or sometime logical (like this, comparing disaster relief on an island far away from mainland to compare continental disaster relief effort), and you are saying I cannot challenge you on it?

Again, China have been failing to protect their citizens during Natural Disaster, just look at how many people killed or wounded in the 2008 Earthquake, it have more injury and death than US had with all the hurricane damage combine in the last 30 years (Let me give you a hint, Katrina is the most damaging Hurricane in the last 50 years, only 1400 Killed for the whole disaster. You do the maths)

You can of course, have your view, but then I can, of course, challenge your view, like you can have with mine.

 

[cloud4000]

I am not a big trump supporter, But I don't think I can pin the debt crisis in Puerto Rico on Trump, when he was elected, Puerto Rico already in neck deep of shit. The debt crisis have no one to blame but Puerto Rican themselves, perhaps we can also blame the US Constitution on that (for allowing Puerto Rican to move to Mainland and hence the brain drain) but the problem is, the debt is no one fault other than the Pica Power people who own that island and think they can do a better job than Federal Government

I'm not a supporter of Trump either, but he shouldn't get the blame for what's happening in Puerto Rico. His behavior and statements give him no benefit of the doubt, especially from his opponents, but it's not all his fault. Puerto Rico is an island hundreds of miles off the US coast. It's going to take time. But things are being done, just not to the desires of the Mayor of San Juan and Chinese posters on this thread.

 

[jhungary]

What changed was your progandanda don't work anymore.

It's not about propaganda, propaganda don't work ever since free press was in the US, they only work if Press is controlled by State Government, like China.

What US and it prowess is not a propaganda, it's real, you don't have to believe it, but that does not mean the power does not exist. But then there are something we cannot do anything about, regardless on how powerful you are, and that is to go against mother nature.

What we are talking about is a Gale Force wind that blown up to 270 mph, it does not quite matter what you do, you cannot fend that off, and what we need to discuss is what happened afterward. If you compare how Disaster is being handle in the US (only 27 Killed for a Cat 5 Hurricane?) That prevention of loss of life is amazing. Given this hurricane is much stronger than Katrina and Puerto Rico is very much more backward than Louisiana. Think about it, Typhoon Hato killed 10 in Macau (a SAR in China) and Hato is only Cat 2/3 class level Typhoon/Hurricane and Macau is MUCH, MUCH MORE DEVELOPED than Puerto Rico

I'm not a supporter of Trump either, but he shouldn't get the blame for what's happening in Puerto Rico. His behavior and statements give him no benefit of the doubt, especially from his opponents, but it's not all his fault. Puerto Rico is an island hundreds of miles off the US coast. It's going to take time. But things are being done, just not to the desires of the Mayor of San Juan and Chinese posters on this thread.

I wouldn't take the Chinese Poster on this thread seriously to begin with.

Trump, you can love him, you can hate him, but in this case, he has done all he could do, in fact, he has done more than he could do (He actually did rolled back Merchant Marine Act 1920 for 10 days), the problem is, Trump is not a statesman, he cannot and did not capitalize on what he has done right. Thus, putting a giant target on his back.

Problem is both the debt and relief effort is not going to go away in weeks, months or even years. The problem Puerto Rican facing is a chronic problem, and it cannot have a quick fix. And for these people here purport Puerto Rico Independence, we all saw what happen when Puerto Rican in charge of themselves.

Me and @KAL-EL (If I remember correctly) joke about evacuating all Puerto Rican and sell the island to the Chinese lol, but I can't really see this can do much good...

 

[shadows888]

It's not about propaganda, propaganda don't work ever since free press was in the US, they only work if Press is controlled by State Government, like China.

What US and it prowess is not a propaganda, it's real, you don't have to believe it, but that does not mean the power does not exist. But then there are something we cannot do anything about, regardless on how powerful you are, and that is to go against mother nature.

What we are talking about is a Gale Force wind that blown up to 270 mph, it does not quite matter what you do, you cannot fend that off, and what we need to discuss is what happened afterward. If you compare how Disaster is being handle in the US (only 27 Killed for a Cat 5 Hurricane?) That prevention of loss of life is amazing. Given this hurricane is much stronger than Katrina and Puerto Rico is very much more backward than Louisiana. Think about it, Typhoon Hato killed 10 in Macau (a SAR in China) and Hato is only Cat 2/3 class level Typhoon/Hurricane and Macau is MUCH, MUCH MORE DEVELOPED than Puerto Rico



I wouldn't take the Chinese Poster on this thread seriously to begin with.

Trump, you can love him, you can hate him, but in this case, he has done all he could do, in fact, he has done more than he could do (He actually did rolled back Merchant Marine Act 1920 for 10 days), the problem is, Trump is not a statesman, he cannot and did not capitalize on what he has done right. Thus, putting a giant target on his back.

Problem is both the debt and relief effort is not going to go away in weeks, months or even years. The problem Puerto Rican facing is a chronic problem, and it cannot have a quick fix. And for these people here purport Puerto Rico Independence, we all saw what happen when Puerto Rican in charge of themselves.

Me and @KAL-EL (If I remember correctly) joke about evacuating all Puerto Rican and sell the island to the Chinese lol, but I can't really see this can do much good...

Lol, your so deep in your own shyt, you don't even know whats propaganda. Free press my as. nowadays when people say Freedom^tm (usually iconic tone), they mean you bomb people. it's all one big joke now. that's why I said no one believe in your propaganda anymore. Americans are less respected today than they were 20 years ago.

You can defend trump here, but people in Puerto Rico are pretty pissed that he's out golfing right now after he attack the san juan mayor. But then again, the entire MSM have been attacking trump since forever, so people stop giving a crap from all the scandal fatigue.

 

[jhungary]

Lol, your so deep in your own shyt, you don't even know whats propaganda. Free press my as. nowadays when people say Freedom^tm (usually iconic tone), they mean you bomb people. it's all one big joke now. that's why I said no one believe in your propaganda anymore. Americans are less respected today than they were 20 years ago.

You can defend trump here, but people in Puerto Rico are pretty pissed that he's out golfing right now after he attack the san juan mayor. But then again, the entire MSM have been attacking trump since forever, so people stop giving a crap from all the scandal fatigue.

I wonder what you actually know about Puerto Rico? Se Habla Espanol? si no, de que se dice alguna Puerto Rican?

You do know the Mayor of San Juan (She wasn't even the Governor) is asking? She got pissed because what she ask is not possible to do (She ask to waive the Merchant Marine Act for a year) and Trump shot down her request. In fact, Trump can tell her to Fu.k Off, no Mayor ever demand anything from POTUS, she is a MAYOR of a CITY, not even the governor of Puerto Rico, It's unheard of for a mayor to demand anything from POTUS, I never heard of Mayor of a US City demand his/her request to be heard by the POTUS

American bad, bomb people, Boo-Fking-Hoo, have that had any co-relation with mounting a Relief Effort in their own country? To be honest, you know the square root of jack shit about Disaster Relief, Urban Search and Resuce, and you come out and banish Bombing this, MSM that and talk about something totally unrelated.

People of Puerto Rico? I used to live in Puerto Rico, My dad is a long time Puerto Rican resident, I just visited the city this July and go see my dad in his fishing village, I speak Spanish, I have a lot of Pica Friend, and son, are you REALLY talk to me about what Puerto Rican want? LOL

As to American is less respected 20 years ago, LOL, you must be living on a different world...

Ay Bendido

 

[powastick]

Can you explain what has changed in the past 20 years? US just faced three disasters in Hurricane Harvey hitting Texas, Hurricane Irma hitting Florida, and Hurricane Maria hitting Puerto Rico. Given the enormity of the hurricanes, the loss of life was low, but the physical damage has been extensive.

The internet, is a double edge sword. It cut both ways. Its funny to see US blaming Russian propaganda and censors left and right. What freedom of speech? After seeing horrific wars in the middle east, anybody in the right mind would question what US stood for. US don't care about the individual, they are only seeing those disasters as opportunity.

 

[jhungary]

The internet, is a double edge sword. It cut both ways. Its funny to see US blaming Russian propaganda and censors left and right. What freedom of speech? After seeing horrific wars in the middle east, anybody in the right mind would question what US stood for. US don't care about the individual, they are only seeing those disasters as opportunity.

You do know what you said is a direct contradiction to yourself.

What is freedom of speech? If there are no such thing, would you say "Internet is a double edged sword"?

There exist dissent voices in US, no one is here to denied that, the problem is, American do not "Ignore" these voice, unlike China and Russia, which is what they called censorship. You can bad mouth, attack US government all you want, that is your right, even if you are in America, but if I do that (Attacking Chinese Government) in China, I would probably get arrested and send to jail, and may be got disappeared

US don't care about individual? Then explain to me how The Hurricane only killed 27 (4 of them a police officer trying to rescue people) but Chinese Earthquake killed thousand and even tens of thousand of people?

I don't generally care about your antics here, but to use this Natural Disaster and purport your point is JUST LOW, NOT EVEN INTERNET THUG WOULD DO THAT. I mean, would you see me jumping up and down when Chinese killed in Earthquake and blast out "MSM, Individual Right, or what not"?

And what do you know about War in the Middle East? Were you in the middle east? If you aren't, how do you comment on the war in the middle east and question what US or Allies stood for? Are you one of these people who fought in these circumstance? Have you talk to local population about the US present in the region? What make you qualify to comment on these issue? I have been fighting in the Middle East, my vet was from Iraq and we are good friend. I talk to local people, and they know what US stood for in the Middle East. Who are you to try to talk FOR THOSE PEOPLE, when all you do is to sit behind a desk and judge everything other people do? It's easy to do what you do, unless you did what I do, I don't think you have the right to talk about anyone else, other than yourself, and even so, your opinion is "_____" this much to the grand scheme of thing.

There is a time and place to express your distaste with US government, do you think this is a right time to do it? I meant, if you guys are going to resort to this tactics, then the next time China was hit by natural disaster, do not expect the world to sympathises with Chinese.

 

[shadows888]

I wonder what you actually know about Puerto Rico? Se Habla Espanol? si no, de que se dice alguna Puerto Rican?

You do know the Mayor of San Juan (She wasn't even the Governor) is asking? She got pissed because what she ask is not possible to do (She ask to waive the Merchant Marine Act for a year) and Trump shot down her request. In fact, Trump can tell her to Fu.k Off, no Mayor ever demand anything from POTUS, she is a MAYOR of a CITY, not even the governor of Puerto Rico, It's unheard of for a mayor to demand anything from POTUS, I never heard of Mayor of a US City demand his/her request to be heard by the POTUS

American bad, bomb people, Boo-Fking-Hoo, have that had any co-relation with mounting a Relief Effort in their own country? To be honest, you know the square root of jack shit about Disaster Relief, Urban Search and Resuce, and you come out and banish Bombing this, MSM that and talk about something totally unrelated.

People of Puerto Rico? I used to live in Puerto Rico, My dad is a long time Puerto Rican resident, I just visited the city this July and go see my dad in his fishing village, I speak Spanish, I have a lot of Pica Friend, and son, are you REALLY talk to me about what Puerto Rican want? LOL

As to American is less respected 20 years ago, LOL, you must be living on a different world...

Ay Bendido

Lol the alt-righters, both online and the ones in real life are pathological liars.. no one believe your dad is a facking puerto rican resident or you speak spanish. you pretend your chinese too with your shitty 5th grade level mandarin from google translate. lets just be real here, your a white dude who live in bumfack nowhere who pretend to be things he's not.