Puerto Rico has been devastated by Hurricane Maria:
• Gasoline stations open: 721 of 1,100
• Electric customers with power: 5%
• Hospitals connected to the electric grid: 9 (of 69)
• Functioning cell towers: 14%
• Open ports: 75%
• Roads: 50% of major roadways cleared
The weak response of the US government towards it's own citizens sets a troubling precedent for the growing class of Climate Refugees: we are not in this together, escape the coast.
Why should Puerto Ricans rebuild if hurricanes continue to become more powerful? I will be curious to see how many remain on the island, and will update as the figures become available.
I believe the first step is to send relief, then forgive their debt (which is irrelevant now anyways).
Puerto Rico (population - 3.5 million) is just the first. Applying Trump's lazy approach to future climate disasters will cause a refugee crisis that will dwarf the Syrian crisis (population - 22 million, 5 million abroad).
How do we prepare for the potential loss of more cities?