Community Chat

[Noel7]

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@Witchy Woman wrote:

So heartbreaking.

I know the US is helping, but I've often wondered if it wouldn't make more sense to relocate everyone until things can be reconstructed.

Of course, that is not a realistic thought, but I cannot imagine people living without power, clean water for months on end.  Long lines for gas and food.

It is being brought in, but is it ever enough?

Years ago, I visited St. Thomas -- many areas were shabby, but people seemed to have what they needed and were happy. 

Now, so much is destroyed.

@Witchy Woman

Re: the US is helping...

The people in Puerto Rico are American citizens and pay federal taxes to America.  They should get as much help as Texas and Florida.

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[Kachina624]

Sister and I went on a cruise of Western Caribbean Islands several years ago.  Our mode of operation was to hire a taxi at the dock, negotiate a price, and have the driver take us to the best and most interesting places.  The drivers were very eloquent and informative.  They took us all over the place and we saw much poverty... happy people but you could see they didn't have much.  Very modest homes.

We hit both St. Martaan and Dominica,  badly damaged by the storm, among others.  We went a day early to tour San Juan as our ship left from  Puerto Rico. It was much more interesting than I expected, the old part looked a lot like New Orleans.  We had lunch and drinks at the charming Cafe where the piña colada was invented.

There are tons of very tall high rise condos.  Those poor people who live in them would have to walk up and down 20 or 30 flights of stairs.  In the dark.  I suppose many are old and retired.

Worst climate in the world.  Every day there was a shower then hot and humid.  Temperatures hardly vary from night to day and are the same 365 days a year.  It's like living in a sauna.  No wonder they invented the piña colada.

[SXMGirl]

On tonight's evening news, one of the charity workers on the ground was asking the United States for more help.  However, it appears that we have many things already in place in PR, but there is no one available to drive the buses to get goods across the island.  Bus drivers are taking care of their own families and homes.   It might be nice if some of the bus and trucking companies here could send drivers to help out, but they would need accommodations and food; who knows how that would really work since 95 percent of the island has no power.

[Oznell]

There is a danger of "disaster fatigue" that sets in after two mega storms roll in and out.  It is unfortunate to be in "third position", but we have to resist the fatigue.  It's in the long term best interest, I believe, to keep the focus on each sector.  Puerto Rico will have special needs because of the financial crisis.  Praying that Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the rest of the islands will have those needs met in the immediate urgency and in the future as well.

[Noel7]

I hope we can do more than pray if necessary, we can speak up, they are American citizens who pay American federal taxes.

[Oznell]

I don't think one precludes the other, thank goodness.

[Lapdog]

I wonder how all the big Pharmas down there are doing.  I wonder how long the generators last. 

Generac told me, mine could run for 2 weeks.

[Oznell]

Noel7, yes indeed.  I do agree that we will need a multi-pronged approach for such an enormous task.  Even here on the boards people have had good ideas that come from different perspectives and fit different aspects of the challenge.

Here's hoping we get a little respite in the "natural disaster" department while we regroup in the aftermath of these slamming events.  It's a little bit of a relief that hurricane season is waning on... at least I haven't heard of any new ones brewing... 

[Susan Louise]

Of coarse making sure everyone is taking care of is top priority, but I also think about the wildlife in these areas/islands totally gone! It is just mindboggling...

When one reads in history books of civilizations that vanish due to different environmental disasters, here are a few examples of how it happens...