Puerto Rico in bad shape after storm

[WillBrink]

Is there an online link to the NPR show?

I think it was this one:

http://the1a.org/

Not 100% sure, but was on WLNR, the Miami NPR.

[Voodoochild]

PR got absolutely wrecked. The power grid infrastructure has been decimated (wasn't in great shape before). The roads are washed out and they can't get drivers to the ports to get all the supplies that are in containers and ready to go. Overall it's a giant clusterflop for sure.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Robberies have become epidemic. Towns forming defense groups. Crews trying to restore power starting to refuse to go without armed escorts, .
. . .

Appreciate you posting the link, the above subject matter is always of particular interests to me.

I have a cousin who is a Master Electrician that took a contract to go into NOLA after Katrina. They were not supposed to be armed but he carried concealed anyway. They took fire while up on transmission towers. The company who contracted them (a big telecom corp) hired PMCs to protect them and their incredibly expensive equipment.

Sounds like PR, along with other islands are going to be far worse than NOLA was.

[chuckman]

Appreciate you posting the link, the above subject matter is always of particular interests to me.

I have a cousin who is a Master Electrician that took a contract to go into NOLA after Katrina. They were not supposed to be armed but he carried concealed anyway. They took fire while up on transmission towers. The company who contracted them (a big telecom corp) hired PMCs to protect them and their incredibly expensive equipment.

Sounds like PR, along with other islands are going to be far worse than NOLA was.

I was in NOLA then. We had heard these stories, but they were never confirmed. The run-ins with the PMC guys, they seemed to be looking for trouble, itching for a fight. The AD and NG were by and large good to go.

NOLA was compact, and as much as the media made about it, the affected area of real crisis wasn't that huge. PR is a whole 'nother ball of wax. I can't even begin to imagine how they will police the entire island. Of course, having the Marines/Navy around will help, some.

[ABNAK]

The fact that it is an island obviously complicates what would normally be sending in convoys of supplies by truck down interstates like here in CONUS. I've been hearing that beaucoup supplies are indeed in the ports but no way to get them to the interior en masse. A trickle at a time due to the road conditions.

[RetroRevolver77]

The fact that it is an island obviously complicates what would normally be sending in convoys of supplies by truck down interstates like here in CONUS. I've been hearing that beaucoup supplies are indeed in the ports but no way to get them to the interior en masse. A trickle at a time due to the road conditions.

Helicopters?

[chuckman]

Helicopters?

The Kearsarge is there (or thereabouts), and I understand they may be sending more LHAs in support.

The US military has had a history of massive disaster relief all over the world, it seems the administration's response in sending them to PR is pretty conservative.

[ABNAK]

Helicopters?

How many sorties would it take to equal a convoy of semi's? I think the sheer logistical magnitude is overwhelming.

[chuckman]

How many sorties would it take to equal a convoy of semi's? I think the sheer logistical magnitude is overwhelming.

The weight capacity of a CH-53 is 20,000 pounds. The capacity of a tractor trailer is 20,000 pounds. But there are a lot more tractor trailers than helo's in PR.

[wildcard600]

The weight capacity of a CH-53 is 20,000 pounds. The capacity of a tractor trailer is 20,000 pounds. But there are a lot more tractor trailers than helo's in PR.

Single axle is limited to 20K, you can put 34K on a tandem axle as long as total weight of tractor and trailer is 80,000 or less. Of course that is mainland US, PR may have different regulations.