Sharjah24 – AFP: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden head to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico on Monday, in a bid to show solidarity with a US territory whose people have complained of neglect after past natural disasters.
The high-profile trip will be the first of two this week for the Bidens, who head on Wednesday to Florida to assess the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Ian.
Both Puerto Rico and Florida suffered numerous deaths, widespread power outages, dangerous flooding and grievous property damage from the recent hurricanes of rare intensity -- first Fiona, then Ian.
No details of the Bidens' trip have been announced, though visits to disaster zones are a customary duty of presidents.
But on Saturday, the president told a Congressional Black Caucus dinner that "our hearts... are heavy from the devastating hurricanes and storms in Puerto Rico, Florida and South Carolina. And we owe Puerto Rico a hell of a lot more than they've already gotten."
Twenty-five people are believed to have died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Fiona, according to the island's public health department, which is still investigating how 12 of the fatalities occurred.
The entire US territory lost power and about one million people were left temporarily without drinking water, when Fiona -- then a powerful Category 4 storm -- hammered the island in mid-September.
Biden declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico on September 18.
For an optimal experience, please
