[ad_1]
Felicia Sonmez
National reporter on Washington Post's new political team
John Wagner
National Journalist Leading the Post's New Politics Team
With Hurricane Florence moving to the Carolinas, President Trump on Tuesday hailed his administration's response to last year's storm in Puerto Rico, where researchers estimated nearly 3,000 more people were killed.
In a speech at the Oval Office, Trump said that his administration's response to Hurricane Maria was "an incredible and little-known success" and that Puerto Rico was wrong to have virtually no electricity before storm.
It's "one of the best things ever done about what it's all about," Trump said. He spoke in response to questions from journalists after receiving a briefing on Florence.
Trump has repeatedly stated that his administration has done a "fantastic job" in response to the disaster. Yet he was criticized by critics who said the response was ineffective and that the record would have been much lower if his administration had reacted more quickly.
In a report released last month, researchers at George Washington University estimated that the devastation caused by Huricane Maria resulted in an additional 2,975 deaths in the six months following the storm. The Puerto Rican government adopted the estimate, which researchers have reached by comparing the number of post-hurricane deaths with typical mortality rates and adapting to a range of variables.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency itself acknowledged that it was ill prepared for the storm.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk from the Marine One helicopter to Air Force One at John Murtha Johnstown Airport-Cambria County before leaving Johnstown, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. (Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)
After the passage of Hurricane Maria on the island, Puerto Rico was an unprecedented generalized power blackout in the history of the United States. While the power station of the territory was bankrupt before the storm, it is unclear on what basis Trump claimed that the island had virtually no power.
Trump's statements sparked strong reactions from congressional Democrats and Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, who said Trump's statement "adds an insult to injury."
"Success? Trump's federal response to Puerto Rico's success?" He thinks of the death of 3,000 people [is] a success that God helps us all ", Cruz tweeted.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) called Trump's remarks were "offensive, hurtful and patently false" and stated that the death of nearly 3,000 people represented the "total opposite" of success.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said the government was "absolutely, totally prepared" for Hurricane Florence, which is expected to result in destructive winds and catastrophic floods.
"We are ready, FEMA is ready, everyone is ready," said Trump.
"We have everyone in front. We hope for the best, "he said. "There is a chance that it will be very bad, as you probably have heard. . . . But we are absolutely totally prepared.
Trump made his brief comments to the Andrews Common Base as he was returning to the Washington area after a trip to Pennsylvania, where he participated in a memorial service for those who perished in Flight 93 during the attacks. September 11, 2001 terrorists to question a reporter.
[Category 4 Hurricane Florence drawing closer to Carolinas and threatens ‘catastrophic’ flooding]
Until then, the president had spoken relatively little about the hurricane, even as he began to dominate the news coverage.
Later on Tuesday, at the Oval Office, Trump said his administration was "as ready as ever" and warned that the storm would be "extremely large and extremely wet – a huge amount of water".
"The security of the American people is my top priority. We are saving no expense, "said Trump.
He spoke with reporters after a hurricane briefing by FEMA Administrator William "Brock" Long and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
Trump added that he had spoken with the governors of Virginia and the Carolinas.
On Monday afternoon, he sent a tweet warning residents of both states considered most at risk.
"For the incredible citizens of North Carolina, South Carolina and the entire East Coast, the storm is very bad! "Please take all necessary precautions. We have already begun to mobilize our assets to respond accordingly and we are here for you!
David Nakamura contributed to this report.
[ad_2]Source link
