On Hurricane Response

[Ben]

With the East Coast hurricane on its way, of course the main topic on the left is Trump's "awful" response to Puerto Rico. This is an interesting image that recently popped up, ONE YEAR after response. Around 1 million bottles of water, transferred by FEMA to the PR government, still sitting off an airport runway.



https://twitchy.com/gregp-3534/2018/09/12/newsflash-trump-is-100-right-about-puerto-ricos-local-government-and-these-new-photos-prove-it/

[Calumus]

I just watched a bit of the FEMA press conference. The first question asked was "Since Trump just took $10mil in funding away from FEMA and gave it to ICE, will that affect your ability to respond? "   The southern gentleman holding the conference said that they had everything they needed, so she asked the question again in the same words. He shut her down again and moved on. Apparently the media is already angling to recreate the Bush blew up the levies sentiment, and lay all of the forth coming damage at Trump's feet.

[MechAg94]

I saw something on Twitchy yesterday trying to slam Trump for the Puerto Rico response.  I thought the federal response was pretty good.  A great deal of resources and people dedicated to that.  There was multiple stories at the time about the lackluster preparations and response of the local govt.  I recall one story about a shortage of electrical spare parts and then someone located a warehouse full of spares that the local union electricians were keeping quiet about.

[MikeB]

The issues in Puerto Rico were almost 100% issues with Puerto Rico. The graft, corruption and incompetence of local governments there is legendary. Their infrastructure was already falling apart and they had power outages as regular occurrences prior to the hurricane. Blaming Trump/FEMA/Federal Government is purely TDS and politics.

[MechAg94]

The issues in Puerto Rico were almost 100% issues with Puerto Rico. The graft, corruption and incompetence of local governments there is legendary. Their infrastructure was already falling apart and they had power outages as regular occurrences prior to the hurricane. Blaming Trump/FEMA/Federal Government is purely TDS and politics.

Maybe Trump should suggest Puerto Rican independence.  See what they say.

[Hawkmoon]

The issues in Puerto Rico were almost 100% issues with Puerto Rico. The graft, corruption and incompetence of local governments there is legendary. Their infrastructure was already falling apart and they had power outages as regular occurrences prior to the hurricane. Blaming Trump/FEMA/Federal Government is purely TDS and politics.

True, but in true liberal/socialist manner they expected Trump and FEMA to not just restore things to the way they were before the storm but to upgrade everything to first-rate, tip-top condition while they were there, and they're feeling all butthurt because that didn't happen -- immediately.

Maybe Trump should suggest Puerto Rican independence.  See what they say.

I'd vote for that.

[Scout26]

True, but in true liberal/socialist manner they expected Trump and FEMA to not just restore things to the way they were before the storm but to upgrade everything to first-rate, tip-top condition while they were there, and they're feeling all butthurt because that didn't happen -- immediately.


I'd vote for that.

That's actually the FEMA standard.  Repair/replace to the Status Quo Ante.  And since the infrastructure in PR was craptastic to begin with, they are complaining that FEMA isn't making improvements to the infrastructure.  (and people homes).  They won't do what is called "Deferred Maintenance" meaning that if your home needed repairs before the storm they won't do "upgrades" to your home. 

[Hawkmoon]

That's actually the FEMA standard.  Repair/replace to the Status Quo Ante.

Yes, that's the FEMA standard, and with good reason. The government (which means us) shouldn't be paying taxpayer dollars to perform home improvements for people who couldn't or wouldn't do it for or by themselves. And the same applies to public infrastructure. FEMA's role (without arguing as to whether the .gov should even be in the disaster mitigation business) should only be to repair what the natural disater broke, not to modernize the entire universe.

Which brings us to Puerto Rico:

And since the infrastructure in PR was craptastic to begin with, they are complaining that FEMA isn't making improvements to the infrastructure.  (and people homes).  They won't do what is called "Deferred Maintenance" meaning that if your home needed repairs before the storm they won't do "upgrades" to your home. 

And that's why the government and the people of Puerto Rico are acting all butt hurt. They thought the hurricane meant the gravy train was going to make a looooooooong stop on their island.

[TommyGunn]

Uh ... how can you have a "response"  before the hurricane actually hits?   

The demotards have gone totally nutz. 



Or maybe I am going there, trying to apply logic to politics.


 

[230RN]

How did the other islands fare to now, besides Puerto Rico?

[Hawkmoon]

How did the other islands fare to now, besides Puerto Rico?

In that storm, several of them were hammered, and a couple were basically flattened.

[Ben]

This one is interesting. NBC obviously wanted to take a swipe at Trump by replying to his "dangerous hurricane" tweet with a "the hurricane has been downgraded, Trump is a dummy" tweet.

If this were reversed, the usual sources would be calling out the government for putting people's lives at risk by downplaying the hurricane because, "The government said the hurricane wasn't that bad, so people didn't evacuate and they died." What would happen if people listened to NBC and chose not to evacuate and died? I mean, as a news agency, NBC News is supposed to be relaying critical and accurate information about events like this.

https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2018/09/13/youre-going-to-go-there-nbc-news-hammered-for-this-take-on-hurricane-florence-strength-and-trumps-warning/

[230RN]

Quote from: 230RN on Today at 09:22:33 AM

How did the other islands fare to now, besides Puerto Rico?

In that storm, several of them were hammered, and a couple were basically flattened.

Well, I meant in terms of their comparative recovery.

Terry

[Fly320s]

In that storm, several of them were hammered, and a couple were basically flattened.

St. Martin was hit hard.  The airport was closed for a few months.  One of the hotels where our crews stay had to be rebuilt.  The cruise ship port was damaged.  Dozens of boats were sunk and many still sit half-submerged waiting on salvage crews.

But, the island is open again.  The airport is open, our hotel is rebuilt and open.  All of the island has power and water.

[230RN]

OK, That's the one with the Princess Juliana International Airport, where the beach is right at one end of the runway, right?

So there was clobbering, but everything is mostly back to normal... bearing in mind that there was probably a wealthier population than in Puerto Rico, right?

[Fly320s]

OK, That's the one with the Princess Juliana International Airport, where the beach is right at one end of the runway, right?

So there was clobbering, but everything is mostly back to normal... bearing in mind that there was probably a wealthier population than in Puerto Rico, right?

Yes, that airport.   Yes, probably wealthier overall, and smaller.

[230RN]

Florence has been reduced to a Category 1 storm.  Some blame Trump.

[Ben]

Florence has been reduced to a Category 1 storm.  Some blame Trump.

Well, yes. Trump has slowed the storm and thus increased rainfall accumulation. Adversely affected "underserved" populations still TBD.

[MikeB]

Well, yes. Trump has slowed the storm and thus increased rainfall accumulation. Adversely affected "underserved" populations still TBD.

Well obviously. That was what the whole Solar Observatory being shut down was about yesterday. Turns out that’s where Bush hid the Hurricane machine.