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By the numbers: One month after Maria in Puerto Rico


Hailey Montgomery
Digital Reporter

Friday, October 20, 2017, 6:58 PM - Despite claims from US President Donald Trump that his administrations response to Hurricane Maria's devastating landfall in Puerto Rico has been without flaw, data provided by the Puerto Rican government highlight the volume of reparations to supplies, services, and infrastructure still outstanding on the island.

The Puerto Rican government maintains Status.pr, a site dedicate to updating statistics on current conditions in the territory. Four weeks after Maria, here are some numbers they have provided:

• 80% of the island without electricity 

• 40% of JRTC telecommunications services not restored 

• 75% of cell phone antenna's not restored 

• 4,246 people in shelters 

• 21 public hospitals without power

It has been a month since, the Category 4 hurricane barrelled through the Atlantic, moving over the island of Puerto Rico at daybreak as it packed 250 km/h sustained winds. 

Heavy rainfall and dangerous storm surge destroyed critical infrastructure and left thousands in shelters. In addition, power was at the time knocked out for the entire island. Many of the island's 3.4 million residents struggle to find clean water and food.

At least 16 people died, and Puerto Rican governor Ricardo Rosello told CNN on Thursday that he expects that number to rise. 

Three weeks after landfall, CNN reported that 91% of the island was still without power, and that 1/3 was without fresh water.

President Trump has been vehemently criticized for his response in Puerto Rico. Carmen Cruz, mayor of capital city San Juan, told CNN she would rate POTUS' response a 1/10, also alleging that more work needs to be done in repairing the US Virgin Islands. 



During a recent White House press conference, Trump was asked to rate his response to Puerto Rico out of 10. 

"It hit right through the middle of the island [...] there's never been anything like that. I give ourselves a 10," he said. "I think it was probably the most difficult, when you talk about relief, when you talk about search, when you talk abut all of the different levels, and even when you talk about lives saved [...]."



The storm caused devastating damage throughout the Carribbean before Puerto Rico. The storm was a Category 5 storm when it made landfall on the island of Dominica days before. 

Rosello pointed out on Thursday that the US had sent 15,000 personnel from the Department of Defense, 2000 from FEMA and more from the Department of Health and Human Services.


Source: CNN | Status.pr| Thumbnail Courtesy of Reuters 


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