FOLKS IN THE CARIBBEAN HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES AFTER A STRING OF HURRICANES CONTINUED TO WREAK HAVOC ON THE ISLANDS. LAST WEEK WE TOLD YOU ABOUT HURRICANE IRMA IMPACTING THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS. IT WAS QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY HURRICANE MARIA, WHICH TURNED OFF THE POWER IN ALL OF PUERTO RICO.
PUERTO RICO IS A COMMONWEALTH.
A COMMONWEALTH IS A TERRITORY THAT BELONGS TO THE UNITED STATES. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ARE CONSIDERED US CITIZENS, BUT CANNOT VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT. THEY DO HOWEVER VOTE FOR A GOVERNOR, WHO RUNS THE ISLAND'S DAILY OPERATIONS.
THE CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE BROUGHT WINDS UP TO155 MILE PER HOUR WINDS AND STORM SURGES OF MORE THAN FIVE FEET. IT SNAPPED TREES IN HALF AND LEFT THE 3.4 MILLION RESIDENTS THERE WITHOUT PHONE SERVICE. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS PROMISED TO VISIT THE ISLAND AND PROVIDE HELP.