Biden Promises Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Where Trump Fell Short

President Joe Biden arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday to survey the injury from Hurricane Fiona and announce greater than $60 million in further funding to assist the U.S. territory put together for future storms, that are solely anticipated to turn out to be stronger and extra frequent with local weather change.

“Somehow the people of Puerto Rico keep getting back up with resilience and determination,” Biden mentioned in Ponce, which was pummeled by greater than 30 inches of rain when the storm hit in mid-September. “We’re going to make sure you get every single dollar promised.”

Hurricane Fiona knocked out 100% of the ability on Puerto Rico and introduced the island its worst flooding for the reason that devastating Hurricane Maria in 2017. While most individuals have regained energy, greater than 137,000 others are nonetheless in the dead of night, and 66,000 are nonetheless with out water.

The $60 million in further funding Biden introduced Monday shall be put towards shoring up levees, strengthening flood partitions and creating a brand new flood warning system.

“We know that the climate crisis and more extreme weather are going to continue to hit this island and hit the United States overall, and as we rebuild, we have to ensure that we build it to last,” the president mentioned.

“We are not leaving here, as long as I’m president ― and I mean this sincerely ― until every single thing we can do is done,” Biden vowed.

It was one in every of a number of obvious nods to the way in which his predecessor, Donald Trump, fumbled reduction for Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, repeatedly downplaying the dying toll and denying any of his administration’s shortcomings. In one of many more strange moments from his time in workplace, Trump chucked rolls of paper towels at a crowd in San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital metropolis, whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals went with out energy.

“I’m heading to Puerto Rico because they haven’t been taken very good care of,” Biden instructed reporters as he left the White House for Ponce.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi additionally alluded to these points earlier than Biden took the mic in Ponce.

“In short, my asks to you, Mr. President, are straightforward: We want to be treated in the same way as our fellow Americans in the states in times of need,” he mentioned.

Pierluisi asked Biden to increase the Hurricane Fiona catastrophe declaration for one more 180 days to cowl the price of particles elimination and different restoration efforts ― which Biden mentioned he’s “confident” could be achieved.

Damage in Puerto Rico from Fiona is at the moment estimated at $3 billion, however officers count on that determine to rise as assessments proceed. The catastrophic rains and flooding killed at the very least 21 folks, set off greater than 100 landslides across the island and destroyed main roads and bridges.