President Donald Trump today said he’ll head to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday to survey damage from Hurricane Maria. Some 3.5 million residents in Puerto Rico remain without power. Food and water are scarce in the territories, and everything about the recovery is more complicated because the islands have vulnerable infrastructure. […]
After disasters like Harvey, the USDA offers D-SNAP, a temporary version of the program commonly called food stamps. The program offers two months of benefits to people who may not have qualified for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program before. But given the long road to recovery, many who take disaster food stamps will wind up […]
The entire island of Puerto Rico is still without power today in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Local officials said it could take months to repair the damage and restore full service. And it won’t be easy. The utility was already around $9 billion in debt before the hurricane and had filed for bankruptcy earlier […]
Some economic stats released in recent weeks have — hidden within them — hurricane disruption devastation stats. Industrial production was down 0.9 percent in August — a lot of that due to Hurricane Harvey hitting Houston, with its huge oil and gas refineries and chemical factories. Utility use was down — people didn’t have electricity […]
Florida’s tourism business is worth more than $100 billion, and Hurricane Irma has put a dent in it. Even as some major theme parks re-open and airlines resume flights this week, some destinations face long roads to recovery, and workers will suffer from lost wages and tips. Click the audio player above to hear the […]
There are lots of numbers being talked about today as government officials and reporters attempt to convey the levels of damage from Hurricane Irma to people who can’t see it with their own eyes. Here is just a sampling: 250,000 evacuees have crossed into Alabama and more than 6.5 million homes and businesses in Florida […]
After a hurricane, mosquitoes, drawn to standing water, can be a big problem. The accelerated spread of Zika isn’t likely, but cases of West Nile could spike. Click the audio player above to hear the full story.
Corporations have donated $165 million to relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said. And some also have provided logistical support and supplies to government and non-profit organizations. Now, as Hurricane Irma bears down on Florida, a broad assortment of corporate partners are again stepping in. Here’s how public-private […]