New York Governor Andrew Cuomo visited Puerto Rico to assess the damage caused by a series of earthquakes.
Cuomo toured Ponce, near the epicenter of the earthquakes, and met with the governor of Puerto Rico.
“And our point is going to be any way we can help, what do you need, in terms of health resources, mental health resources, structural engineers, power supply, emergency responses.”
Cuomo said New York will do what the Trump Administration has failed to do: help Puerto Rico recover from a natural disaster.
“They didn't respond appropriately at Hurricane Maria. The president showed up and threw paper towels into the crowd, and now we have an earthquake and continuing tremors, and once again the federal government hasn't showed up the way they should. Luckily, New Yorkers have.”
For the past week, Puerto Rico has endured powerful earthquakes and tremors that have left thousands on the island without power and afraid to sleep indoors.
“People have also undergone trauma, and they’ve undergone trauma in their homes, and this is a particular problem because your home is where you go to be safe,” Cuomo said.
New York will also send bilingual mental health professionals and utility workers to help repower the electrical grid.
The governor also authorized the deployment of the National Guard for the next 90 days to help with recovery efforts.
