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Puerto Rico "Destroyed" by Hurricane Maria

posted by takyon on Thursday September 21 2017, @04:04PM   Printer-friendly
from the good-time-to-implement-strict-building-codes dept.

-- OriginalOwner_ writes:

At 9PM ET September 20, ABC News reported

The island of Puerto Rico has been "destroyed" after Hurricane Maria made landfall there as a Category 4 storm Wednesday morning, according to emergency officials.

Puerto Rico's office of emergency management confirmed that 100 percent of the U.S. territory had lost power, noting that anyone with electricity was using a generator.

Multiple transmission lines sustained damage from the storm, said Ricardo Ramos, director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. Ramos said he hopes to begin launching helicopters by this weekends to begin inspecting the transmission lines.

Telecommunications throughout the island have "collapsed", Abner Gomez Cortes, executive director of Puerto Rico's office of emergency management and disaster administration agency, told ABC News.

[...] Cortes described Maria as an unprecedented storm, adding that the island had not seen a storm of that strength since 1928.

[...] Puerto Rico was still experiencing tropical-storm force winds Wednesday afternoon, forcing emergency services and search and rescue teams to wait before heading out to assess the damage, Cortes said.

More than 12,000 people are currently in shelters, and hospitals are now running on generators, Cortes said. Two hospitals--one in Caguas and one in Bayamon--have been damaged.

No deaths have been reported so far, but catastrophic flooding is currently taking place on the island. Multiple rain gauges have reported between 18 and 24 inches of rain, with some approaching the 30-inch mark over the last 24 hours.

Flooding is the danger "that will take lives", Cortes said, advising residents not to venture out of their homes until Thursday because "it is not safe to go out and observe".

[...] As of 8 p.m. ET, Maria had weakened to a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained wind of 110 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

[...] Some strengthening is possible now that the storm is back over the ocean, so Maria has potential to become a Category 3 hurricane again.

National Hurricane Center graphics for Maria.
Map of Caribbean Islands.

At 15:20 UTC, Mashable reported

Clips shot in the [cities] of Farjado, San Juan, and Guyama show buildings experiencing extreme structural damage. Doors are being ripped right off their hinges, and windows, walls, and roofs of homes, restaurants, and hotels are being stripped away by the storm's incredible power.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @05:07PM (22 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @05:07PM (#571256)

    Their resource-squandering socialist society would indeed fail, and then be replaced naturally with market-oriented (that is, profit-oriented; that is, objectively sustainable) ways of organizing life.

    As for citizenship, well, that will be handled by attrition: People who already have citizenship can keep it; they can move to the U.S. to have children if they like, in order to keep their citizenship for their children. Everybody born outside of the U.S. will not be citizens.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @05:34PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @05:34PM (#571275)

    Incorrect. Children of US citizens inherit the citizenship.

    There are a few ways to be a US citizen. Being born inside US borders, naturalisation, and US parentage (at least one parent, not both necessarily).

    • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @06:55PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @06:55PM (#571318)

      OK, Mr. Shrute, besides the fact that such rules could be changed through a statute, here is what Wikipedia says [wikipedia.org] on the matter:

      Children born overseas to married parents

      The following conditions affect children born outside the U.S. and its outlying possessions to married parents (special conditions affect children born out of wedlock: see below):

      • If both parents are U.S. citizens, the child is a citizen if either of the parents has had residency in the U.S. prior to the child's birth

      • If one parent is a U.S. citizen and the other parent is a U.S. national, the child is a citizen if the U.S. citizen parent has lived in the U.S. for a continuous period of at least one year prior to the child's birth

      • If one parent is a U.S. citizen and the other parent is not, the child is a citizen if

        • the U.S. citizen parent has been "physically present" in the U.S. before the child's birth for a total period of at least five years, and

        • at least two of those five years were after the U.S. citizen parent's fourteenth birthday.

      Children born overseas out of wedlock

      There is an asymmetry in the way citizenship status of children born overseas to unmarried parents, only one of whom is a U.S. citizen, is handled.

      Title 8 U.S.C. § 1409 paragraph (c) provides that children born abroad after December 24, 1952 to unmarried American mothers are U.S. citizens, as long as the mother has lived in the U.S. for a continuous period of at least one year at any time prior to the birth.

      8 U.S.C. § 1409 paragraph (a) provides that children born to American fathers unmarried to the children's non-American mothers are considered U.S. citizens only if the father meets the "physical presence" conditions described above, and the father takes several actions:

      • Unless deceased, has agreed to provide financial support to the child until he reaches 18

      • Establish paternity by clear and convincing evidence and, while the person is under the age of 18 years

        • the person is legitimated under the law of the person’s residence or domicile,

        • the father acknowledges paternity of the person in writing under oath, or

        • the paternity of the person is established by adjudication of a competent court.

          8 U.S.C. § 1409 paragraph (a) provides that acknowledgment of paternity can be shown by acknowledging paternity under oath and in writing; having the issue adjudicated by a court; or having the child otherwise "legitimated" by law.

      Because of this rule, unusual cases have arisen whereby children have been fathered by American men overseas from non-American women, brought back to the United States as babies without the mother, raised by the American father in the United States, and later held to be deportable as non-citizens in their 20s. The final element has taken an especially significant importance in these circumstances, as once the child has reached 18, the father is forever unable to establish paternity to deem his child a citizen.

      This distinction between unwed American fathers and American mothers was constructed and reaffirmed by Congress out of concern that a flood of illegitimate Korean and Vietnamese children would later claim American citizenship as a result of their parentage by American servicemen overseas fighting wars in their countries. In many cases, American servicemen passing through in wartime may not have even learned they had fathered a child. In 2001, the Supreme Court, by 5–4 majority in Nguyen v. INS, first established the constitutionality of this gender distinction.

  • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @05:48PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @05:48PM (#571286)

    There is a cozy place in hell for ignoramuses like you, right next to the "hearth". In fact you're evil enough that I think satan might let you lick his butthole clean.

    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @07:19PM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @07:19PM (#571342)

      "MUH OPPRESSION! MUH COUNTRY! DEM ILLEGALS!"

      *actually they are citizens*

      "MUH OPPRESSION! MUH COUNTRY! DEM ILLEGALS!"

      *weeps for the future of the US*

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @08:19PM (2 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @08:19PM (#571376)

        Just so you know.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @08:48PM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @08:48PM (#571392)

          I didn't expect to change your mind, I did intend to highlight the stupidity of the post I initially responded to. Ideological morons must be called out, even if there is zero chance of convincing them. Just so you know.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @09:13AM

            by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @09:13AM (#571596)

            Yes, other AC! It is not about you! ¡Piense en los niños!

  • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Thursday September 21 2017, @07:58PM (14 children)

    by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Thursday September 21 2017, @07:58PM (#571368) Homepage Journal

    As for citizenship, well, that will be handled by attrition: People who already have citizenship can keep it; they can move to the U.S. to have children if they like, in order to keep their citizenship for their children. Everybody born outside of the U.S. will not be citizens.

    Not so much. You should be kinder to your fellow natural-born American citizens: [wikipedia.org]

    Puerto Ricans are by law natural-born citizens of the United States and may move freely between the island and the mainland.[23] However, as it is not a state Puerto Rico does not have a vote in the United States Congress, which governs the territory with full jurisdiction under the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950. As a U.S.

    --
    No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @08:51PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @08:51PM (#571395)

      Facts, they are a motherfucker huh?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @10:46PM (12 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @10:46PM (#571448)

      We're talking about pinching off Puerto Rico into its own, independent country.

      How can you not perceive this?

      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by NotSanguine on Thursday September 21 2017, @11:53PM (11 children)

        by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Thursday September 21 2017, @11:53PM (#571471) Homepage Journal

        Because I don't care what you think or want.

        Puerto Rico is part of the United States, and if, as a majority of Puerto Ricans want, we make their home the 51st state, I'm all for it. They are my brother and sister Americans and my fellow citizens. I am not of Puerto Rican extraction, but place of birth is unimportant to *real* Americans. We believe in the ideals that founded this country: You know,

        "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

        This includes the ideal that we are all equal under the law, That you should demean my fellow Americans is distasteful at best and verging upon sociopathy at worst.

        As I said, Puerto Rico is part of the United States and Puerto Ricans are your fellow Americans. Why do you hate America and Americans? Why do you want to destroy our republic?

        But I suppose you are ignorant of history. Ignorant of the toil and struggle and heartbreak and blood and treasure your freedom cost our forbears. Your hatred of all that is good about the United States sickens me.

        Your callous disregard of your fellow Americans disgusts me, AC. You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?

        --
        No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @12:33AM (7 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @12:33AM (#571491)

          Also, I don't know what you're talking about with this "brother"/"sister" nonsense. It's very strange.

          • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Friday September 22 2017, @12:54AM (6 children)

            by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Friday September 22 2017, @12:54AM (#571502) Homepage Journal

            Also, I don't know what you're talking about with this "brother"/"sister" nonsense. It's very strange.

            You prove my point for me. I feel sorry for you.

            --
            No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @04:03AM (5 children)

              by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @04:03AM (#571556)

              There is nobody from Puerto Rico who is my brother or sister.

              • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Friday September 22 2017, @04:21AM (4 children)

                by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Friday September 22 2017, @04:21AM (#571561) Homepage Journal

                All Americans are brethren. If you're an American and you don't get that, I pity you.

                --
                No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

                • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @01:49PM (3 children)

                  by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @01:49PM (#571637)

                  Leave me alone.

                  If you're an American and you don't get that, I pity you.

                  • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Friday September 22 2017, @03:57PM (2 children)

                    by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Friday September 22 2017, @03:57PM (#571680) Homepage Journal

                    Given that you replied to me on a discussion site, it's clear that the moron is strong with you.

                    Kissy kissy, honey!

                    --
                    No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

                    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 23 2017, @04:06AM (1 child)

                      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 23 2017, @04:06AM (#571995)

                      Participating in a discussion website isn't collectivism; I choose, as an individual, to participate here.

                      • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Sunday September 24 2017, @12:32AM

                        by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Sunday September 24 2017, @12:32AM (#572199) Homepage Journal

                        Participating in a discussion website isn't collectivism; I choose, as an individual, to participate here.

                        And so you do. However, and I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that you are responding to me because I replied to post by you [soylentnews.org].

                        I never mentioned collectivism, individuality or anything related to those ideas. Given what you said in that post [soylentnews.org]:

                        Leave me alone.

                        If you're an American and you don't get that, I pity you.

                        I pointed out how moronic it is to request, after *you* responded to me on an internet discussion site, that I shouldn't respond. If you really want to be left alone, why post here? And if you didn't want to engage with me, why did you engage with me? No one (Okay, I guess it's possible, but it seems unlikely in the extreme) held a gun to your head and forced you to make an ass of yourself in replies to my posts. But you did. And it seems you didn't like what I had to say.

                        I'm so sorry! You have been treated horribly! OMG! Someone didn't agree with you on the Internet! And what's more, they had the temerity to tell you so! Oh, the horror! Oh, the terrible unfairness of it all! Perhaps your mom will give you a hug to make you feel better. Moron. Yes, I said it again. If the shoe fits and all that...

                        I have no issue with the fact that you post or the idea that you should be allowed to say whatever you want. I'm a strong believer in individual choice and the freedom of expression.

                        So go right ahead and say whatever you want. I shall do the same.

                        As a parting thought, here's a piece of unsolicited advice: If you don't want to engage with someone, don't engage with them.

                        Have a wonderful day, AC!

                        --
                        No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

        • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday September 22 2017, @02:17AM (2 children)

          by Gaaark (41) on Friday September 22 2017, @02:17AM (#571529) Journal

          You sound quite Canadian, eh?
          :)

          --
          --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---

          • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Friday September 22 2017, @02:48AM (1 child)

            by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Friday September 22 2017, @02:48AM (#571538) Homepage Journal

            You sound quite Canadian, eh?
            :)

            I quoted Thomas Jefferson and Joseph Welch [wikipedia.org]. Both Americans. I'm an American too.

            So not a Canuck in sight, ya hoser! :)

            --
            No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

            • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday September 22 2017, @11:52AM

              by Gaaark (41) on Friday September 22 2017, @11:52AM (#571611) Journal

              I've got BEEEERRR!

              XD

              --
              --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---