Prayer for relief

26 September 2017 By Jennifer Saba, Lauren Silva Laughlin Follow @jennifersaba

The already-bankrupt commonwealth is reeling from the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Maria. Blackouts may persist for months even as a $72 bln debt bill looms. Without swift and generous aid from Washington, a mass exodus for the mainland will only increase the ultimate cost.

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Hurricane Maria lashed the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico with winds of more than 150 miles per hour on Sept. 20. The commonwealth has been mostly without power and clean water for several days.

President Donald Trump tweeted about the territory’s plight on Sept. 25: “Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars ... owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with. Food, water and medical are top priorities – and doing well.”

Puerto Rico filed for the biggest government bankruptcy in the United States earlier this year and owes about $72 billion. On Sept. 25, government officials asked a federal bankruptcy judge for as much as four extra weeks to meet discovery deadlines in the case.

Congressional leaders said they will act to provide Puerto Rico disaster relief. Trump plans to visit the Caribbean island on Oct. 3.

Context News

Hurricane Maria lashed the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico with winds of more than 150 miles per hour on Sept. 20. The commonwealth has been mostly without power and clean water for several days.

Congressional leaders said they will act to provide Puerto Rico disaster relief. Trump plans to visit the Caribbean island on Oct. 3.

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