Our show on Tuesday, October 3rd, 12:00-1:00 PM, ET, will highlight the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the failure of the Trump Administration’s dilatory response to the devastating aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Much controversy has been generated by President Trump’s bizarre response to this crisis. We will speak with disaster relief experts on what is needed to be done in this moment to protect the lives of 3.4 million Americans in Puerto Rico and 105,000 Americans in the USVI.
Our guests will include Louis Elisa, Executive Secretary/Director of Development at Seaport Advisory Council, former U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, and former Region 1 FEMA Director, and others. See guest bios at www.BarbaraArnwine.com.
On September 20th, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as Category 4 storm causing catastrophic damage of Billions. As of Sunday, October 1st, only 45% of population had access to clean water; 95% were without electricity; 50% of roads cleared; only 14% of cell towers were operational; and 16 people reported dead. It took the Trump Administration 5 days to begin rudimentary disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico and efforts are still minimum in the USVI weeks after Hurricane Irma.
Instead of focusing on this tragedy, President Trump waged a 5 day Twitter war against NFL athletes for kneeling in protest of racial injustice. After public outcry about this neglect, President Trump made strange public comments about oceans, islands and big water, agreed to visit Puerto Rico on October 3rd, and tweeted a series of messages accusing officials and people of not doing enough while praising his Administration’s response. Meanwhile, celebrities, professional athletes, elected officials, activists and many others have organized private relief efforts including limited evacuations of elderly.
Why are there only 10,000 federal personnel deployed for both USVI and Puerto Rico relief? Why isn’t there more evacuations, especially given hospital limited capacities? What can be done to get the appropriate recovery and relief response by the federal administration? Is race a factor in this failed US response? Considering the widespread damage done to several Caribbean island nations, should the US have a broader regional plan for relief? How can our listeners help?
You don’t want to miss this show.
Be sure to listen live on Tuesday, October 3, 12:00-1:00 PM in the Greater DC Metro Region at WOL 1450 AM and worldwide on the Internet at www.BarbaraArnwine.com. You may call with questions or comments at 800-450-7876 during the show. A podcast will be available Tuesday evening. You may find live tweets on Twitter @TJC_DC.
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Louis Elisa
LOUIS A. ELISA, II An Elector to the Massachusetts Electoral College, the Honorable Louis A. Elisa served as the Executive Secretary of the Seaport Advisory […]
