Let’s call Donald Trump’s boasting and bluster about the good job being done in Puerto Rico by the U.S Government what it really is. More lies. Something he is really good at doing.
Why Does Trump Keep Praising the Emergency Response in Puerto Rico?
The president’s insistence that he’s doing a great job sits uneasily with stories of desperation in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Does this mean no U.S. aid is there? No.
Is it too little given the time span of 10 days? Yes.
Is the USNS Comfort on the way finally? Yes.
However, the situation on the ground, not the fake news being ground out by Trump, and his flunkies and flacks tells the real tale.
The Mayor of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Carlos Méndez Martínez, was very direct when talking to CBS news reporter David Begnaud. "This is an emergency. For God sake, the food has to get into my people's hand." Begnaud said (see clip below) “60,000 people live in his town, and he had 2000 meals to serve”
Do the math.
According to the 2010 Census, there were 60,949 people in the city...There were 20,821 housing units. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older.
2,000 meals will not feed the multitude. In mainland sizes — think of cities like Saginaw MI, Schenectady NY, or Delray Beach FL.
Here is a very key fact about Aguadilla:
Aguadilla was home of the Ramey Air Force Base and its former base airport was converted into Rafael Hernandez Airport, considered one of the most active commercial airports on the island. The paved runway extends for11,701 feet. The facility is at an elevation of 238 feet at a distance ofabout 3 miles from Aguadilla, owned by Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
Is the airport functional?
Yes.
Federal relief has come to Aguadilla, but not easily or quickly, according to Mayor Carlos Mendez. He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is making supplies available for him. But it's not delivering them.
Mendez said he drives roughly two hours each way every morning -- starting at 4 -- to San Juan to pick up supplies and make contact with FEMA officials.
"They're not coming here, I'm going there," Mendez said. "My people are suffering. This is a disaster."
FEMA did not respond to a request for comment about sending aid directly to Aguadilla. FEMA officials did say Thursday that they are working around the clock to get essential services and supplies to everyone. But even they acknowledge it's been a challenging recovery.
"A response to an incident like this is complex, it's difficult, and it's not nearly as fast as any of us want," John Rabin, acting regional administrator for FEMA, told reporters Thursday at a news conference in San Juan.
Still, some delays are head-scratching. JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines have already flown aid missions to the airport in Aguadilla. But a government plane with essential supplies has yet to show up, according to Robert Casiano, the cargo operations manager for Aguadilla's Rafael Hernández Airport.
"Our equipment is fully operational. We have enough fuel for all kinds of aircraft; we just need the jets to start arriving. They haven't arrived yet," Casiano said.
Explain to me why the wold’s largest military, who used to own a slew of military bases on Puerto Rico couldn’t get in there earlier?
My answer to self — there was a way — but not the will from the head honcho.