Energy

Ben Carson Was Asked How Long The Puerto Rico Recovery Would Take. Here’s What He Said.

Reuters/Mark Kauzlarich

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Tim Pearce Energy Reporter
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Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson said Wednesday that his agency’s rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico could take “between 1 and 100” years to complete.

HUD officials are in Puerto Rico overseeing disaster programs that help with foreclosure relief, insurance assistance, and rebuilding parts of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure.

Carson’s line, while meant as a joke, highlights the extensive damage that Puerto Rico sustained after two hurricanes hit in two weeks. Hurricane Irma struck the island as a Category 5 storm Sept. 6., and Hurricane Maria, a Category 4, followed Sept. 20.

About one-quarter of the island’s electricity has been restored; however, most of that power is being directed to critical facilities such as hospitals, water stations, and the airport. Only a few residential areas have electricity.

Puerto Rico’s power grid contains 2,400 miles of transmission lines, 30,000 miles of distribution lines and 300 substations. Maria damaged about 80 percent of that, The Washington Post reports.

Nearly one-third of Puerto Ricans lack access to fresh water. The severe flooding throughout the island has led to a possible outbreak of Leptospirosis, which people often contract after contact with contaminated water. It’s easily treatable with antibiotics, but given the state of Puerto Rico’s health and communications systems, even minor problems can be life threatening.

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