Nothing impresses me like the way we Americans rally around each other in times of crisis. The JJ Watt $37-million hurricane relief effort for the Houston area, the way all of the Wisconsin utilities sent crews down to Florida to help restore power after the hurricane there, ittle kids setting up lemonade stands to help those in both states and the clothing and cleaning supply drives that filled up trailers that went to help those in the South were all great.
But we seem to really be dropping the ball in helping the third group of Americans affected by the hurricanes: The residents of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The word out of Puerto Rico is that the island may be without electricity for a month. Now imagine the response that would have been mounted across the country if the same had been said about South Florida. Thousands in the Virgin Islands are living in tents–as their homes were destroyed by not one but two category five storms. How many people would be offering up their rooms or RV’s for temporary shelter had that been the case in Houston?
Our underwhelming response may be a case of “disaster fatigue”. Three major storms in the space of a couple of weeks has us tapped out–financially and emotionally–and with little left to give. But a bigger factor can likely be found in millions of social media posts and replies to complaints about our slow response. “Let’s take care of the American hurricane victims first” is the most common response. And therein lies the issue–a lot of people either don’t know–or don’t view–Puerto Ricans and Virgin Islanders as “Americans”.
They would likely be surprised to learn that those living on those islands are afforded citizenship. While they do not pay federal income taxes, they do pay into Social Security and Medicare. They can vote in Presidential primaries–but not in the November Presidential Election itself. It’s a strange half-in, half-out set up–but Puerto Ricans and Virgin Islanders are “Americans”.
Another problem may be that as islands, PR and VI are very difficult places to reach with people and supplies. You can collect all of the bottled water, cleaning supplies and canned food you want in the Fox Valley–but then how do you get it there? WPS can offer trucks, wiring and crews to help restore the power grid–but where are the ships to get them to those islands? This may be a case where the only thing we can offer is cash to those with the resources to eventually get aid to where it is needed.
But when you hear appeals to help all of the “Americans” affected by the hurricanes, try to remember the millions not living on the mainland as well.
