The Uncertainty in Puerto Rico is the Problem

I was stuck in Puerto Rico for 12 days after Hurricane Maria hit the island of Puerto Rico and had to sleep in the Disaster Center at the Convention Center for two days because there were no hotel rooms available.  I have documented the problems over the last few weeks, and held a protest about the slow response to the disaster unfolding in Puerto Rico.  I was there and was shocked at how nothing was happening after one week without power and water on the island.  The people of Puerto Rico were not angry and were not protesting or upset by the lack of urgency.  They put their shoulder to the grindstone and were busy standing in line for part of the day and cleaning up the other parts of the day.

Today, the weak Governor of Puerto Rico came to Washington to beg for help.  He should have prepared some flattery for the President or he is liable to go back empty handed.  I could see the President totally withdrawing all assistance if Governor Ricardo Rossello were to tell 45 that people had died because they were drinking contaminated water, and that the slow federal response was the reason behind these deaths.  Wouldn't it be great if he came with some backhanded compliments or gave us a wink and a nod that he was just playing the game of stroking the Commander-in-Chief's ego?  The Governor could say something that the Prez would not understand, "I know that this President has done all that he can based on his limited capacity..." He could say, "Puerto Ricans are glad that we are only colonists because we have a long history of begging for help from a superpower."  Governor Rossello, non sequiturs are always good fodder for the White House.  Try this, "I am positive that the President would have moved mountains to get us power, but the NFL players are disrespecting the flag."  He could be grateful for what he got, "Thank you Mr. President, for not forcing us through flooding and making us wait at the Superdome before sending aid." There is always the classics, "We would be at 100% of the island with restored power if the Democrats were not obstructionists."  Finally, Governor, try the Hail Mary of, "I guess it could be worse, at least there is no travel ban on Puerto Rico yet."

The Governor is using the argument that he is just looking for equal treatment.  This is a horrible strategy that plays into the White House narrative.  If they got the same as Houston, then FEMA would be evacuating right now in Puerto Rico.  Mr. Governor, you are selling yourself and your fellow Americans short by demanding equality.  You need restoration of these American's lives with the utmost speed.  You need the power restored today.  You need every hospital and health clinic fully operational by today.  You need running water to every part of the island.  We have not seen anything like Maria in the United States in the last 30 years.  Puerto Rico does not need equality because the closest would be to Katrina and we all know how that ended.  You should be demanding extraordinary action from the federal government to meet the extraordinary disaster the island experienced.  They need every power company employee available from Maine to Oklahoma to go to Puerto Rico.  They need thousands of water authority experts from all around the United States to be airlifted down to the Caribbean.  Asking for equality cheapens the needs of the residents of Puerto Rico and downplays the power of this storm.

Today was the first day we heard a time line for recovery from the Governor.  He said that San Juan would have power restored in two weeks and the entire island by December 15. This is long overdue, but it did not come with how the citizens of Puerto Ricans going to survive for the next two months.  We needed a plan for how to distribute 2 million meals daily to the population including water.  We needed to hear a plan for where to go in every single municipalities to pick up water and food every day.  They should have released immediately the plan for getting generators to sensitive buildings and getting them diesel every few days.  None of this was done and we still have not seen a plan for how to best serve his people.  The Governor ended the curfew after one month which is long overdue, but has not done much more. He has held his tongue in blasting the administration, and that has not served his people either. 

I was most disgusted with the Governor's mansion in Puerto Rico--the opulence among the devastation of the rest of the country.    The compound had a second generator delivered two days after the Hurricane.  He lives behind huge walls on the ocean.  It could be only more fairy tale like if they installed a moat around it.  He has a huge security contingent who have their own kitchen across from his estate.  He was not suffering while the Mayor of San Juan was sleeping on a cot.  Governor Rossello has slept peacefully for the past month while his constituents have been through hell.  To the left is a picture of his home.  The whole experience was disgusting to see from an outsider.

by Brian Davis