Ok... here is the info. (Our church has many Puerto Ricans and we have someone who works in the Congress)
We already have 2200 marines on the ground, DOD, Fema and the Coast Guard there and more are being shipped. (Coast Guard had also left the Island to go to Gitmo for safety and had to get back)
Ports:
The receiving ports for PR were filled with derelict boats. They could not enter until the cleared the boats out. The problem isn't that help isn't being sent but rather boats couldn't get in to leave their cargo. This is now taken care of in the commercial San Juan port. Two light cargo ports were just opened but more work to be done. We could send 100 cargo ships and they would basically just sit out there for two reasons... incapacity to unload since only one port is working and because of no ability to bring it to point of need because of roads.
In Fl and Texas, that wasn't a problem because ports were open and roads were fine.
Three military ships are already there and more are coming. Maria is a hurricane again and the ships that will be sent that are located in the NE
have to wait until it passes.
Fl and Tx did not have that problem.
Roads: Bridges out (no alternative routes), electric poles in streets along with trees. Hard to get supplies out without clearing roads first. Working on it but the devastation is so great that it is slow moving. Bridges are out.
There are 100 Army Corp of Engineers on the ground assessing bridges capacity that are viable. There isn't the "other ways to drive there" availability like it is in the US
200 gas tankers were able to supply gas to stations today. 400 are scheduled for tomorrow. Again, you have ships that can give gas but there is only one commercial port that can receive it.
Not like Fl and Tx where there were minimal poles and trees in streets. Also, unlike PR, states around can send trucks for help... no states around PR that can simply drive and help. And tankers were ABLE to get to their destinations unlike PR
Airfields: A MESS. They have been able to open 3 airfields (one that was closed before) and continue to work at opening them. Towers were damaged and that is an issue for more airplane movement..
Already sent cargo:
- 17 C-5 Flights
- 17 C-17 Flights
- 5 C -130
- Tomorrow another 15 flights
Unlike Fl and Tx where airlines were almost immediately opened to send supplies and move people
31 Generators have been installed (Hospitals first)
53 Ready to be installed
179 more generators being sent.
There are MANY things still moving towards PR but logistics, due to infrastructure, is making forward motion slow (unlike Fl and Tx)
So, taking into all things into account... under the very difficult circumstances, I would have to say that it was fake news.
Incidentally, we are a drop of point for PR and we are receiving monies for Cuba (we have someone on the ground there) if anyone is interested. (It doesn't matter if you are D or R or I... if you have a heart... help)