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."
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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