Puerto Rico asks for more storm recovery help

A week after Hurricane Maria devastated their island, Puerto Ricans say they need more aid from the local and federal governments. Outside of the capital city of San Juan, communities have organized their own recovery efforts to clear roads, repair shelters, and find and distribute water with little to no outside help. Several thousand federal employees have arrived in the U.S. territory to help with recovery, including repairing air traffic control systems and restoring power at the airport, while the Coast Guard has worked with local authorities to restore the sea ports. In addition, teams from the Army Corps of Engineers are helping to repair the electrical grid and are looking for ways to avert the collapse of a dam near the western town of Quebradillas. Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and Resident Commissioner Jennifer Gonzalez, the island’s representative in Congress, said they intend to ask for more than a billion dollars in federal assistance. President Donald Trump plans to visit Puerto Rico next week.