US President Joe Biden announced the release of more than US$ 60 million (about R$ 311 million) for the reconstruction of Puerto Rico after the passage of Hurricane Fiona. The speech came shortly before the Democrat traveled to the island this Monday (3), two weeks after the American territory was hit by the category 4 natural phenomenon, the second worst on a scale that goes up to 5.
Biden traveled with the first lady, Jill, and the head of the US government’s emergency response service, Deanne Criswell. With the visit, the Democrat seeks to differentiate himself from his predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, criticized by residents of the island for his delay in sending aid at the time of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Soon after arriving, Biden met with victims of the hurricane. “We came here in person to show that we are with you. All of America is with you as you recover and rebuild,” the president said.
Funds for Puerto Rico’s reconstruction come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, and are intended to shore up dikes, reinforce barriers and create a new flood warning system to help the territory better prepare for future storms. At least 25 died as a result of Fiona’s damage to the island.
At an event on Saturday, Biden declared that the US “owes Puerto Rico much more than it already has.”
Last week, his administration had approved exemptions to US remittance rules to alleviate the territory’s immediate energy needs — the hurricane left the entire island without power, and even now, 13 days after it passed, 10 percent of residents are still without power. electricity, according to the US government. In addition, nearly 1 million people were temporarily without running water.
As an unincorporated territory of the US, Puerto Rico is neither a state of the country nor a sovereign nation, and residents do not have the right to vote unless they move to the mainland. Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi, who spoke before Biden, said they want to be treated the same as mainland Americans in times of need.
Hurricane Ian’s death toll passes 100
At Saturday’s event, Biden cited the devastating impacts of Hurricane Ian’s passage through Florida and South Carolina last week. The phenomenon left at least 103 dead, and reconstruction of the affected areas is estimated at tens of billions of dollars.
The death toll is expected to continue to rise as floodwaters recede and search teams advance into initially isolated areas. Hundreds of people have already been rescued amid flooded or completely destroyed houses and buildings.
Authorities in Florida, where at least 99 deaths have been made official, have been questioned for perhaps requiring the population to leave too late. Biden is due to travel to the state this Wednesday (5), to personally assess the damage from one of the most destructive hurricanes in US history, marked by winds of up to 250 km / h.
“We made at least quick visits to nearly 45,000 addresses,” said Kevin Guthrie, the state’s director of emergency management. “We managed to sift through everything very quickly. Now let’s go back for a second look.”
Details begin to emerge about some of the lives lost. Many of the victims were over 60 and drowned, according to the Florida Commission of Medical Examiners. In Lee County, a body was found on the deck of a neighbor’s house and another in a submerged car. A 68-year-old woman drowned in Volusia County after being swept away by a wave.
Lee and Charlotte were the regions most impacted by Ian, adding 78 deaths — the other 21 in Florida occurred in nine other counties. About 3.3 million homes and businesses were without power during the storm. This Monday, 560,000 were still without electricity.
Police Department Chief Colonel Gene Spaulding warned residents to stay off the roads to facilitate access for first responders and power teams. Some roads remain underwater.
North Carolina has confirmed four deaths so far.
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