CARIBBEAN - Hurricane Aftermath

Reminder, the U.S. has never been it a situation where entire infrastructures have been decimated AND the 'state' being isolated, having no neighbors to help.

"Puerto Ricans still don't have reliable drinking water, and fears of contamination are rising" PBS NewsHour 10/17/2017

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  It's been almost a month since Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico, killing at least 48 people, but citizens on the island are still coming to grips with the scale of the devastation.  William Brangham speaks with David Begnaud of CBS News about new concerns of contamination and disease due to the island's lack of drinking water, medical facilities and a backlog of supplies in San Juan.

"Why restoring Puerto Rico's power is so difficult" PBS NewsHour 10/19/2017

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Both federal and local authorities have faced criticism for the speed of Puerto Rico recovery efforts.  A month after Hurricane Maria, some 80 percent of the island remains without electricity.  Hari Sreenivasan speaks with José Sánchez, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to discuss the problems with the devastated power grid.

"After two devastating hurricanes, U.S. Virgin Islands' 'hurt is very real'" PBS NewsHour 10/20/2017

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Hurricane-battered infrastructure and limited electricity have taken a toll on the tourism-driven economy of the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Home to 100,000 Americans, the islands took a hit from both hurricanes Irma and Maria at their peaks within a span of two weeks.  William Brangham speaks with U.S. Virgin Islands State Senator Janette Millin Young about how the islands are faring and the progress made.