On September 29, the US government received criticism from the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz, who pointed out that the federal relief effort provided after the natural disasters would be useless if the logistics issue was not solved. She noted that the situation in Puerto Rico could become "close to a genocide,” the Guardian reported.

The devastating conditions in Puerto Rico

More than 3.4 million residents of Puerto Rico lack food, water, and fuel, there is no power in some regions and mobile connection is lost. The debris on the streets has made moving around even more difficult.

At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Cruz showed two large paper binders and said that there is enough documentation for the Federal Emergency Management Administration. She cried and said that she would be calm or polite until anybody saves her people from death.

Donald Trump's position about conditions in Puerto Rico

In his official account on Twitter, President Trump stressed that the Fema and first responders did great, praising their relief efforts. On Saturday, the president wrote: "The military and first responders, despite no electric, roads, phones etc., have done an amazing job."

Trump noted the contribution of Elaine Duke, the FEMA administrator and acting Homeland Security Secretary, who later was accused of calling Puerto Rico a "good news story" and received criticism for it.

Cruz responded with these words: “This is a people are dying story. This is a life-or-death story.” Duke explained that she had been impressed with the authorities' coordination, although the conditions in Puerto Rico were obviously unsatisfactory. She noted that "Together we are getting there and the progress today is very very strong."

The "massive federal mobilization" after the storm included 10,000 federal personnel, CNN reported.

Trump explained that the island is surrounded by ocean water, so the rescue and relief teams were unable to act quickly.

Trump also spoke about the way to pay for recovery efforts in the future, reminding the American people about the huge amount of Puerto Rico's existing debt. Trump added that the rebuilding effort should be funded and organized in a way that the local officials would have to work with federal authorities.

10 officials from the White House and Senate took part in a delegation to the damaged territories, the Washington Post reported. On October 3, President Trump is going to visit Puerto Rico.
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