EDITORIAL: NFL controversy overshadows suffering in Puerto Rico

While the NFL’s reaction to President Trump’s tweets about the flag and national anthem has eaten up the lion’s share of the news cycle, what is happening in the U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria has been both heartbreaking and overshadowed.

Decimated by Maria after Hurricane Irma skirted the island, Puerto Ricans are suffering from extensive power outages, food shortages, no telephone service, dwindling gas supplies, not enough medicine, impassable roads and being stuck in wrecked communities.

Yet the squeakiest wheel, the one that got all the attention, was the NFL “kneeling up” to the president.

Whatever your opinion of the protests, surely the incredible suffering in Puerto Rico and the islands in the Caribbean that were devastated by powerful forces of nature should be receiving more attention.

“We are finding dialysis patients that haven’t been able to contact their providers, so we are having to transport them in near-death conditions,” San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz told CNN. “We are finding people whose oxygen tanks are running out, because … small generators now don’t have any diesel.”

Reports say that many of the 3.4 million people on the island are unable to even let family elsewhere know they survived the horrific events. FEMA estimates more than half of the residents are without power. There have been images of homes with walls that have folded like playing cards. Night images from NOAA satellites are eerie, showing the island brightly lighted before Maria. After the hurricane rolled through, the image of the island is much darker with only spots of light showing.

This is a humanitarian crisis, not only in Puerto Rico but on other islands in the Caribbean as well. We’ve had our share of damage in the United States — from Harvey in Texas and from Irma in Florida, especially — but recovery on islands can be more problematic to accomplish than on the mainland. While FEMA has reacted and, according to reports, has acted quickly, as have organizations such as the Samaritan’s Purse that was such a great help during our own January storms in Albany, much more help is needed.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló told CNN that the Trump administration and FEMA responded quickly and appropriately, but added there were “some challenges and we need more resources.”

“What we’re doing is asking Congress to establish a package for Puerto Rico so that we can have the resources,” the governor said. “We can have the flexibility in execution, and then we can avoid what could be a humanitarian crisis here in Puerto Rico.”

Trump is planning to visit Puerto Rico this Tuesday, and lawmakers are acknowledging the need for action to be taken. They should move swiftly. Americans are suffering, and Congress should act immediately to get that greatly needed help on the way as quickly as possible.