U.S. Customs and Border Protection photo by Rob Brisley Agents with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, Black Hawk crew distribute much-needed supplies to residents of Puerto Rico as they conduct post Hurricane Maria humanitarian operations September 27, 2017.
President Donald Trump said he and First Lady Melania Trump will travel to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to assess the damage to the island in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
I will be going to Puerto Rico on Tuesday with Melania. Will hopefully be able to stop at the U.S. Virgin Islands (people working hard).
During his weekly address, Trump sent a message of support to the people of Puerto Rico:
All American hearts are united with the people of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands who have faced terrible devastation in the wake of two catastrophic hurricanes. We are working night and day in cooperation with territorial and local authorities to assist those in need, to help save and sustain lives, and to begin the long recovery and rebuilding effort. Our commitment to those affected is this: We are with you, we will stay with you, and we will come back stronger than ever.
We are sending tremendous amounts of supplies, tremendous amounts of food and water, and we are sending great people to help. I know that it’s been devastating. I know your police force and everything else has been absolutely hurt, but we’re sending people to help, and it’s getting better on a daily basis.
[NOW] 714 gas stations (50%) are open in PR; 600,000 barrels of diesel have been received, according to @ricardorossello
Five barges are scheduled to arrive in Puerto Rico over the next few days with 2.5 million liters of water, 3 million meals, two generators, according to the Defense Department. Eight C-17s are arriving to help provide food and water for 250,000 local residents and to help manage “Larger-scale, long-term management to receive the increasing flow of federal personnel, equipment and supplies.”
The U.S. Navy has sent the USNS Comfort, a massive hospital ship based out of Norfolk, Virginia. The ship left on Saturday and is expected to arrive in Puerto Rico sometime next week.
HAPPENING NOW: #USNSComfort underway from Norfolk, Virgina, for #PuertoRico to support Hurrricane #Maria relief ops. (File photo) @fema
The U.S. Navy ships currently operating around Puerto Rico include the USS Kearsarge, USS Oak Hill, USS Wasp and the USNS Supply.
Here are several photos showing the recovery effort in Puerto Rico:
#Maria: @fema search & rescue teams have reached 90% of #PR. Saved 843 people in USVI & PR; rescues continue. t.co/TTtuw9Sgop
Photos: @PRNationalGuard Soldiers work to clear roads at Punta Santiago t.co/G439hkwSDh
.@USCG crews work together with the @RedCross, @fema, and members of local #police, #fire and #government to distribute disaster #relief supplies, food rations and water in Rio Grande, #PuertoRico, yesterday, following #Hurricane #Maria. More at t.co/w7x0PovIrf
VIDEO: Elements of the #DoD and @FEMA are providing humanitarian relief for #PuertoRico 🇵🇷 and #USVI 🇻🇮 .
After #Maria, helicopters are helping get needed supplies (like food, water, & fuel) into hard to reach areas of Puerto Rico. [📷: DVIDS]
Organized effort. @PRNationalGuard takes supplies to #Vieques & #Culebra after #Maria. More on the #ReliefEfforts: t.co/ggLV2ng0OR
.@umairfan talked to a @USACEHQ recovery leader who told him the situation in #PuertoRico reminds of them of Iraq t.co/kEVPODrVI1
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