Puerto Rico and 30 Days After Maria
posted by Dominque Elliott | October 13, 2017 | In NewsIt’s been officially a month since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. CNN released a list of statistical facts and interviews that paint a picture of present-day Puerto Rico– thirty days after the storm.
There have been 48 confirmed deaths.
There are 33 million Americans who call Puerto Rico home, and one-third of those citizens are without water. Citizens have had to use stream water to wash their clothes, dishes, and bodies. Some Puerto Ricans have been limited to bottled water because they haven’t gotten an all-clear to drink tap water from the government.
Eighty-one percent of the island is without of electricity, and 90 percent of all the homes are damaged. According to the Washington Post, with an estimated two months before electricity is restored, it is very likely that distressed survivors may migrate to states like Florida– that is, if some survivors haven’t already.
CNN reported a possible $95-billion high-end damage estimate from Maria. Puerto Rico treasury secretary, Raúl Maldonando has warned that without more aid, Puerto Rico’s government could suffer a shutdown at the end of the month.
The Washington Post reported that both Washington and Puerto Rican officials have been discussing a recovery plan. Puerto Rico will possibly need aid for economic growth, too. Depopulation of the island was happening before Maria and was already affecting its economy. If the island is not assisted, Puerto Rico will suffer major economic damages, leading to a government shutdown and millions being forced to leave their homes.
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