SOS Puerto Rico: The Suffering Continues; Update: Cholera Cases Possible (Not Confirmed)

Photo USA Today

In Puerto Rico:

. . . the desperation and frustration only grew. Shelters ran out of supplies and residents lined up all night to purchase ice and fuel, only to walk away with a bag of cold water or just a few gallons of gas. Others complained of an absence of basics like tarps for roofs and the continuing lack of running water.

Officials still struggled to get supplies out of port to be distributed across an island of 3.4 million people where there is no electricity and scant phone service. Hospitals ran low on diesel for generators.

The island has become a landscape of long lines and growing impatience with the pace of the response to what Puerto Rico’s governor called the “greatest catastrophe” in its modern history. Lawmakers and local officials alike called on President Trump to place the military in charge and to send more troops, aircraft and ships.

The New York Times

NOTE: An earlier version of this diary included a Tweet saying that cases of cholera had been reported. Given the facts of the ground — including, particularly, the lack of clean drinking water — this is definitely a possibility.  Importantly, though, I have been unable to find confirmation of the information in that Tweet. I should not have posted it as fact, and have updated the title.

Today’s Horrifying Statistics:

18 dead.

Nearly 12,000 still in shelters.

80 percent of crops destroyed.

2,400 miles of power lines destroyed.

1.57 million homes without power.

44 percent of population have no drinking water.

Weather

More:

The situation in Puerto Rico is so desperate, even successful distribution of food can come with complications. https://t.co/E8VWfntYaz

— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) September 29, 2017

The Jones Act has been waived for just ten days:

For only 10 days. (The fine print)
That's not enough.
This happened because YOU MADE NOISE.
Don't give up.https://t.co/pxx7qvHPdf https://t.co/Z0fjknHyP6

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 28, 2017

Quick update from #PuertoRico: We opened a second kitchen today & continue to increase delivery of meals. More to come! #ChefsForPuertoRico pic.twitter.com/qwc6giEE53

— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) September 28, 2017

This congressman had the best takedown of President Trump's disastrous handling of the crisis in Puerto Rico pic.twitter.com/fu88N5yeTW

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 29, 2017

Katrina military response leader on Puerto Rico: "This bureaucratic response is not working," like lipstick on a pig https://t.co/CHHTfeXn86

— CNN (@CNN) September 29, 2017

More photos of the crisis in Puerto Rico, via @TheAtlPhoto https://t.co/EJCieKeLa3 pic.twitter.com/qDfMQPpRLG

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) September 29, 2017

Puerto Rico Needs Massive Emergency Aid Now—and an End to Austerity via @thenation https://t.co/AdlUKytRwE

— Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) September 29, 2017

Why isn't there a bigger military response in Puerto Rico? Retired Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, who helped in Haiti, wonders. https://t.co/zqCSlLGeI8 pic.twitter.com/Rf53Els9hm

— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) September 29, 2017

A private Carnival cruise ship is evacuating people from Puerto Rico. But Trump's FEMA can't get emergency supplies there. Katrina again?

— Chris Herstam (@chrisherstam) September 29, 2017

Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean cancelled cruises to bring supplies in and take people out.

Call your Senators and Representative to DEMAND an immediate relief package for Puerto Rico.

For News About Puerto Rico, follow SOS Puerto Rico

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 4:12:41 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Now the Comfort is leaving “by the weekend.”  Should have been sent a week ago.

The Navy’s hospital ship USNS Comfort will depart Naval Station Norfolk by the weekend and head to Hurricane Maria-ravaged Puerto Rico, U.S. Fleet Forces Command spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Brian Wierzbicki said Tuesday.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long announced from the White House on Tuesday that the ship would join other military relief and recovery efforts in the region. Comfort is expected to take four to five days to arrive, Wierzbicki said.

“We will make the best possible speed,” he said.

Virginian Pilot

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 4:27:39 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Shaming here is entirely appropriate:

Shame on you @realDonaldTrump - golfing while Americans are dying in a humanitarian crisis in part of your making in Puerto Rico. https://t.co/hSaQwl08Qv

— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) September 29, 2017

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 4:38:01 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Reporters are IN Puerto Rico — where is the US Government?

A?reporter LIVE on CNN now just said he has seen absolutely no help where he is in Puerto Rico despite the WH saying everything is great.

— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) September 29, 2017

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 4:58:43 AM +00:00 · noweasels

We must NOT let the Occupant’s inaction and the horrifying images wear us down.  In addition to making calls to your Senator and Representative, here are other ways to help:

United For Puerto Rico was launched by the First lady of Puerto Rico, Beatriz Rosselló and private corporations to fund relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.

Unidos is a fund supported by New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio and U.S. Congress Members Nydia Velázquez and Adriano Espaillat, and New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and managed by the Hispanic Federation, which is a leading latino non- profit.

The Miami Foundation has two different funds. One for hurricane relief work, which "will support recovery and rebuilding work driven by organizations on the ground," and one called U.S. Caribbean Strong Relief Fund which "will support relief efforts in Caribbean island nations and territories, including Antigua & Barbuda, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba and Puerto Rico."

Concilio is also accepting donations for relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

A Global Giving fund will provide short and long term aid to those affected in Puerto Rico.

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 5:11:20 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine slams federal government's response to Puerto Rico: "There's no sense of urgency" https://t.co/s5BRpQanOR

— CNN (@CNN) September 29, 2017

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 5:21:41 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Cruise ships providing help.  Thank you!

Royal Caribbean ship arrives in #PuertoRico carrying relief supplies https://t.co/Rdyw2NIXUf pic.twitter.com/XGgO49ab1K

— KTVU (@KTVU) September 29, 2017

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 5:55:10 AM +00:00 · noweasels

This.

American response in Puerto Rico is still impotent.
Katrina had 40,000 Troops.
Puerto Rico 5,000.
Entire effort is way undermanned.

— Scott (@thedoggeneral1) September 29, 2017

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 5:59:03 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Joining Jennifer Lopez (who donated $1 million last week):

Rapper Daddy Yankee gives $1M in relief aid to Puerto Rico https://t.co/1rE8yF7VR6 pic.twitter.com/ORKQ8SA3kR

— WTOP (@WTOP) September 29, 2017

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 6:04:25 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Wow.

Look what the strip club I used to work at collected for Puerto Rico 🇵🇷💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/sKy8YWDzbD

— iamcardib (@iamcardib) September 29, 2017

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 6:13:52 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Puerto Rico’s drinking water crisis isn’t going away anytime soon https://t.co/0m1BQoKiie

— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) September 29, 2017

Friday, Sep 29, 2017 · 3:41:55 PM +00:00 · noweasels

The first cases of Cholera have been reported in Puerto Rico. To avoid a pandemic the US Govt needs to step up aid efforts. Time is short. pic.twitter.com/kc4mTBXy7P

— Daniel Schneider (@BiologistDan) September 27, 2017

Saturday, Sep 30, 2017 · 1:52:52 AM +00:00 · noweasels

Watching the mayor of an American city, San Juan, literally begging for her people's lives, is a national humiliation. For shame.

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 30, 2017