Trump snaps at San Juan mayor on Twitter after she criticizes federal response to Maria

The Federal response has been inadequate. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20 and President Trump made the disaster declaration the same day. This authorized FEMA to act and released certain basic disaster funds. The USCG required no federal declaration to commence rescue operations. FEMA and the USCG responded immediately. The scope and scale was huge. The Governor of Puerto Rico activated the National Guard immediately. Within a couple of days it became apparent and several governors ordered National Guard, as state troops to respond.

By Sunday, September 24, the response was not yet Federalized and the former Secretary of State called out the President for inaction. His response was to criticize PR for its debt. For the next couple of days, the President engaged in a culture war with the NFL, but took no actions. The order for the Navy to respond withn USNS Comfort didn't come until September 26. Under mounting criticism, on September 29, the President finally ordered federal military response and placed LTG Buchanan in charge. LTG Buchanan asked for more troops and the mayor of San Juan called for a bigger response. The President's response this morning on Twitter, before going out to golf was to criticize the Mayor and say that a Puerto Rican's should help themselves.

Contrast that with Katrina:

1) August 28, 2005, President Bush federalized the military response, placed LTG Honoré in charge, order 20,000 active duty troops and ordered 40,000 National Guard to Federal active duty. Admiral Thad Allen ordered Coast Guard helicopters from across the nation to respond to conduct rescue operations.

2) August 29, 2005, Katrina hit New Orleans. Yes, the next day.

3) September 4, 2005, President Bush relieved Director Brown for an inadequate FEMA response and placed Secretary Chertoff in charge.

Contrast that with Haiti:

1) Just before 5 PM, January 12, 2010, Haiti was devastated by a massive earthquake. Within a couple of hours, President Obama ordered the military to respond and placed Southcom in charge.

2) By morning USAF Combat Controllers were on the ground at the airport, USCG was in the port, USNS Comfort was preparing to sail, and the USS Carl Vinson task force was enroute.

In most natural disasters we see the residents joining in with the effort to respond. I haven't seen that in the press coverage. Most reports indicate the problem is logistical and a three star has been appointed to resolve and coordinate the massive efforts to restore the island. The Governor sounds positive about the efforts so far. The Mayor is not letting a good crisis go to waste. IMO

Texas had a major Hurricane, Federal Gov is responding as fast as it can, which takes days. Florida then has a major Hurricane weeks later, Federal Gov is responding as fast as it can, which takes days. Now Puerto Rico has been totally leveled. They are also an Island that is not exactly a mile or so off shore. For one thing you have to realize that the Federal Response teams have two major damage zones that are almost a thousand miles apart from each other. Then there is a third damage area to the south a hundred miles out in the ocean. You can not drive equipment there. You can not drive supplies there. Do you really know how long it takes to load a ship with supplies ?? SN Greg Wright - Ask mister SN Greg Wright if anyone has the slightest thoughts that its like packing the family car. These ships do not just sit around shipping ports fully with just the supplies you need loaded waiting for a Hurricane. In fact are the ports ready to receive ships. Nope, the Military showed up and is trying to clear the ports. Am I saying that we to ignore Puerto Rico's problem. No, I am saying that the Federal Response only has so much equipment and people. They are sending supplies and the military has been sent to help and brings supplies.