“The Inequality of Natural Disaster Relief” by Shayla
On September 20, 2017, a category four hurricane, now known as Hurricane Maria, had a devastating attack on Puerto Rico and other neighboring islands. Hurricane Maria has caused hundreds of problems for the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico such as knocking out all power, water, and fuel sources, internet connections, and air traffic control systems. Along with this United States territory, the contiguous United States was also traumatized by two additional hurricanes, known as Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey that hit the coasts of Florida and Texas. All three of these storms have made the front page of national news, causing victims to beg for help and rescue as soon as anyone can give it. Luckily, the United States is blessed to have thousands of relief efforts and companies that dedicate their working lives to issues like this, though most of them are far away from any islands like Puerto Rico.
The aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico, was horrendous. The entire island is out of power (which in retrospect, is 3.4 million people). The death toll is up to thirteen innocent lives. The island has no air conditioning, water, fuel, power, or access to radars for the use of air traffic control or meteorology. People don’t even have money left to purchase the bare necessities because the ATMs are down.
Hurricane Maria’s devastating aftermath in the United States territory of Puerto Rico
Along with Puerto Rico, many establishments are being overlooked in the news of recent natural disasters. In the British Virgin Islands, Irma and Maria wiped out all infrastructure, electricity, and communication. In The U.S. Virgin Islands, over 48,000 people are without power. In Dominica, twenty-seven people were victims of Maria, and even the Prime Minister was left homeless. In Cuba, ten are dead, and Havana is falling apart. In Barbuda, residents cannot return home. In St Martin, 90% of buildings are damaged, and Irma has destroyed dozens. Countless problems have arisen because of what the Puerto Rican Governor, Ricardo Rossello, calls “the worst hurricane in a century.”
The Texas and Florida coasts have been damaged severely in many different ways. For some, the worst aftermath of this storm came from the wind (anywhere from 110-130 miles per hour). For others, the massive amount of rain and flooding, which was one inch away from breaking the U.S. record of the amount of rainfall from a tropical storm, is what hurt the most.
Thankfully, thousands of people are rushing to these parts of the United States to help in any way they can. The Red Cross, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the Salvation Army, UNICEF, and many other disaster relief foundations headed to Texas and Florida immediately after the hurricanes hit. FEMA had help in Texas before the storm occurred, and they deployed 31,000 troops to the area afterward. FEMA also transferred over 6.6 million meals and 4.7 million liters of water to southeastern states after Irma. However, travel and communication to Puerto Rico are quickly decreasing, meaning that less and less help is coming. This issue has sparked controversy in many ways. Puerto Ricans are arguing that they are just as important as the residents of Texas and Florida, so why is help not as immediate and quick as it is to the lower 48? Why is President Trump not doing more? Why are they still without power? Citizens are also arguing that they rushed to help the states of Texas and Florida when they were in need, so why is the favor not being returned?
FEMA and other relief foundations deliver materials and resources
Puerto Rico has been in distress ever since Irma hit, sparking more and more rage in the lives of their residents. The U.S. territory has had a declining infrastructure, with less colonization and development than the lower 48. And it has been struggling with bankruptcy. This increase in debt is a big problem, and the Puerto Rican cost of living is 13% higher than 325 urban areas in the United States. Fewer disaster relief foundations are in place, donations from fellow American’s are much smaller, there are millions without power, and Trump has yet to visit. Is the fact that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States helping or hurting them?
Sarah Sanders, the white house press secretary, says that the support given to Puerto Rico has been “anything but slow.” Help given to Texas and Florida has been given quicker because of access to technology, news coverage, flights, and weather radars to predict the next storm. Both celebrities and average people have been responding to the scene in Texas and Florida much more than the Puerto Rican tragedy, why? Not because they didn’t want to help the U.S. Territory, but because they naturally felt closer to the residents of these two states. Puerto Rico needs immediate assistance in many ways, and the faster the United States can give it to them, the better. Both strength and hope are running out in these Puerto Ricans, and it will continue to descend without relief efforts on their side as soon as possible. Media sources need to give an equal airtime to all current disasters, and focus on disaster-struck places needs to be found as quickly as possible. Both white house employees and average citizens need to know that the destruction in Puerto Rico is the utmost important issue at the moment.
Disaster relief efforts to Puerto Rico, neighboring islands, Texas, and Florida are severely unequal, and the United States is producing more controversy towards Puerto Rico than help. After the devastation of Maria, Irma, and Harvey, millions have been left without anything but the clothes on their backs. Puerto Rico will always be one step behind in disaster relief and resources because the territory and neighboring islands are not equipped with the amount of technology that the lower 48 have. In order for Puerto Rico to recover and gain necessary strength and courage that has been lost, the United States needs to make the territory its highest priority.
Works Cited
Barajas, Joshua. “Puerto Rico Has Asked for More Aid in the Wake of Hurricane Maria. Will the
U.S. Provide It?” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 25 Sept. 2017,
www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/puerto-rico-asked-aid-wake-hurricane-maria-will-u-s-provide/.
Barclay, Brian Resnick, and Eliza. “What Every American Needs to Know about Puerto Rico's
Hurricane Disaster.” Vox, Vox, 26 Sept. 2017,
san-juan-humanitarian-disaster-electricity-fuel-flights-facts.
Levenson, CNN Eric. “3 Storms, 3 Responses: Comparing Harvey, Irma, and Maria.” CNN, 27
Sept. 2017, cnn.demo.robotrailer.com/2017/09/26/us/response-Harvey-Irma-maria/index.html.
This was a very well written blog. I am surprised by all the devastation that these hurricanes have caused. I hope that everyone gets the help they deserve and that the United States government will learn a lesson after all of this is over. I like how you talked about so many other places besides Puerto Rico and the pictures you chose to include. I enjoyed reading this and hope you will keep us informed on Puerto Rico's status.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, your style and creativity came through the assignment beautifully. I also think you chose a very poignant topic... the quote from Martin Luther King Jr. holds true to this day (and is exemplified through your exposition): "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." The injustice here being the inequality of disaster relief, as you illuminated quite well throughout your post.
ReplyDeleteI liked the post very much. The facts were widespread and you focussed on many different and expansive topics. I loved how the post wasn't too repetitive, you didn't cause it to be too narrow, and you spread it out nicely.
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