[September 22, 2017] Hurricane Maria slammed into the island of Puerto Rico two days ago (Wednesday) creating massive destruction including throwing the entire island out of power. The pressing concern continues to be saving lives and minimizing death and injury in the immediate future. But the best leaders think ahead in situations like this because the emergency will pass and hard decisions will have to be made over the next few weeks and months.
Good leadership is about knowing that there will be many unknowns, unexpected problems, and unpredictable issues that will threaten the island’s future finances, government, property, and of course the health and safety of its citizens. Creative, flexible leadership is not born but must be learned and practiced to be effective. The question for Puerto Rico’s population is whether their leaders are up to the task.
Fortunately for Puerto Rico, like several of the nearby islands, the United States has a vested interest in seeing a full recovery. U.S. President Donald Trump has already sent some of his best emergency experts to the island to determine those future needs. In the aftermath, everyone can see that it will be long time before full recovery.
“I think people didn’t expect the storm to reach the point that it did since [Hurricane] Irma never really happened, they thought Maria would be the same.” – Adrian Pachecco, tourism company operator1
Was the island prepared for a hurricane like this one? Given that it has been decades since a major storm hit it and that a recent monster of a hurricane like Irma did minimal damage, the island’s government was confident they would again have little damage. Preparation could have been much better. Some have said the failure to fully prepare was because the current economic crisis didn’t allow sufficient resources.
Regardless of the reason, now is the time leaders should be discussing their plans for the next few days, few weeks, and months into the future. The U.S. and Puerto Rican emergency leaders are now working on a planning process that includes such things as resource aide from the mainland (medical supplies, water, food, etc.) as well as technical expertise (in disaster mitigation).
What we do know is that storm is not over as torrential rains continue to lash Puerto Rico. The island is expected to receive 20 to 30 inches of rain through tomorrow (Saturday).2
This is when the best leaders are needed and they will want the cooperation and support from all the citizenry. Without it, the task of recovery will be lengthened and people will be put in unnecessary danger.
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- https://apnews.com/ab73f572a6824318a5f7b460ca83b7be/A-stunned-Puerto-Rico-seeks-to-rebuild-after-Hurricane-Maria
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4902546/Maria-makes-landfall-Puerto-Rico-Cat-4-hurricane.html