FEMA to end food and water shipments to Puerto Rico on Wednesday, official says

[mfcorey1]

https://www.news4jax.com/news/national/fema-to-end-food-and-water-shipments-to-puerto-rico-on-wednesday-official-says


(CNN) - More than four months after Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is halting new shipments of food and water to the island, an agency official with direct knowledge of the plan told CNN on Tuesday.

FEMA has called the island's emergency operation the longest sustained distribution of food, fuel and water in agency history, including more than $1.6 billion worth of food and more than $361 million worth of water.

New shipments of food and water will officially stop Wednesday to the US territory in the Caribbean, though FEMA said it has more than 46 million liters of water, 2 million Meals Ready to Eat and 2 million snack packs on the ground for distribution if needed.

"The commercial supply chain for food and water is re-established and private suppliers are sufficiently available that FEMA-provided commodities are no longer needed for emergency operations," the agency said in a statement.

FEMA spokesman William Booher said the agency "will continue to support any documented needs and will provide supplies to volunteer agencies and other private nonprofit organizations ... working with households in rural, outlying areas to address ongoing disaster-related needs as power and water is gradually restored."

The agency, which still has about 5,000 personnel on the island, is prepared to restart food and water shipments should the need arise, according to the official with knowledge of the plan.

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, a frequent critic of the federal response to the devastating September hurricane, reacted to the decision on Twitter, asking in Spanish, "Seriously, are they leaving

[lapfog_1]

1. When 25% of the population of Puerto Rico moves to Florida

and remembers how the Republicans treated them...

Florida will be "blue" for a couple of generations.

[raven mad]

2. I just read this.

It shows how disgusting humans can be.

[procon]

3. Tell me this is not obviously a racially charged decision pushed by Trump?

A third of the island remains without power and drinking water, and a $81 billion emergency aid bill to help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico is stopped in the Senate. De La Campa, director of FEMA in Puerto Rico, says "things are going back to normal. If we're giving free water and food, that means that families are not going to supermarkets to buy," De La Campa told NPR. "It is affecting the economy of Puerto Rico."

No humanitarian aid for Americans who live in Puerto Rico, no more food or water, no power, because it costs too much and that might affect some billionaire's profit margin? Got it.

[lpbk2713]

4. No coincidence -- The day after Trump's dog and pony show.

It will get less coverage that way.

[mikeysnot]

5. All the reason why...

Puerto Rico Results Election 2016

Republicans Total Votes Delegates (23)
Rubio 27,485 23
Trump 5052 0
Cruz 3,340 0
Kasich 516 0