NEW YORK — The street to restoration in Puerto Rico can be a protracted one.
As Hurricane Fiona continues its march, the flooding rain remains to be very a lot a difficulty.
As CBS2’s Kevin reported Tuesday, right here at residence there is a unified message: assistance is on the way in which.
The devastation on the island nation is hard to fully grasp. 5 years after Hurricane Maria, it is clear not sufficient was performed to arrange for this storm.
“As an alternative of getting energy to the individuals, as a substitute of constructing it a resilient grid, a locally-based grid, they’re busy combating with one another,” Sen. Chuck Schumer stated.
READ MORE: Hurricane Fiona: How to help those in need
After Maria, the federal authorities invested $21 billion on the island.
“So, this isn’t an absence of cash. Solely 2 p.c of the cash has been spent. Two p.c,” Schumer stated.
On Capitol Hill, senators from the Tri-State Space stated there can be accountability this time, together with extra help.
“You aren’t alone. We’re going to have your again. We have now an obligation to our fellow People,” Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal stated.
“That is an all palms on deck, and no finger pointing, and get the job performed,” New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez stated.
Again in New York, Attorney General Letitia James is demanding a federal investigation into LUMA, Puerto Rico’s electrical energy provider. In an announcement, she stated crucial upgrades and system enhancements are wanted, “in order that Puerto Ricans are by no means once more left at midnight.”
READ MORE: 2 dead as Hurricane Fiona leaves much of Puerto Rico without power
At Metropolis Corridor, almost 1 in 3 council members have ties to Puerto Rico, which makes the tragedy there really feel that a lot nearer to residence.
“Generally I believe individuals neglect that there’s this island that’s going by immense struggles by way of restoration and that has been hit time after time,” Councilwoman Carlina Rivera stated.
Rivera has household on the island, however in contrast to 5 years in the past, she has at the least been in a position to make contact.
“Very very briefly. I imply, there is no such thing as a energy. Individuals can not journey,” she stated.
And due to that, she says it is nonetheless traumatic making an attempt to determine the precise extent of the harm.
“Proper now, there’s numerous ready and isolation, after which there’s the entire problem of the cleanup, as effectively,” Rivera stated.
Mayor Eric Adams, whereas calling Puerto Rico the sixth borough, stated, “an preliminary workforce of New York Metropolis emergency administration specialists is being deployed at this time to evaluate the harm and decide how we are able to finest assist.”
And assistance is what many on the island at the moment are hoping for.
