ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins County legislators have passed a resolution urging the federal government to provide immediate support for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as the territories struggle to recover after powerful hurricanes.
The resolution supported New York’s efforts so far aiding Puerto Rico and urged the federal government to provide immediate additional support for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now, millions of U.S. citizens are without electricity and lack basic necessities and access to drinking water.
Legislator Carol Chock, who represents District 3, brought the resolution titled "Resolution in Support of New York State Aid to Puerto Rico and Urging Our Federal Government to Provide Immediate Additional Support for Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands" to the table Tuesday to Tompkins County Legislature and it was unanimously supported.
"Many of them with terrible consequences without us weighing in, but this one is different.
"We pay significant taxes, as do the residents of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, in part so the federal government will be able to provide emergency support."
In the wake of these storms, Tompkins County residents have been doing what they can to help the situation in Puerto, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida and Texas.
* NOTE: As of 10/2/2017, over half the population of Puerto Rico lack clean drinking water, only one of its 69 hospitals is fully functional, 80% of the crops were destroyed, 91% of cellular communications sites and 1,360 of the 1,600 cell phone towers were toppled, 85% of telephone and internet cables were destroyed and only 5% of the island’s electricity is in service. While the U.S. Virgin Islands have potable water, food and services, many homes remain without roofs or temporary roof coverings.