Trump Tells Puerto Rico It's 'Thrown Our Budget A Little Out Of Whack'
After arriving in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, President Donald Trump appeared to joke about the cost of Hurricane Maria's devastation to the territory.
LEARN MOREHurricane Maria's Death Toll Is Probably Going To Get A Lot Worse
Reports say Puerto Rico is severely undercounting the casualties of Hurricane Maria — and the storm's dangers aren't over yet.
Hurricane Maria's Death Toll Is Probably Going To Get A Lot Worse
Getty Images
October 3, 2017
During his visit to hurricane-stricken Puerto Rico, President Trump praised officials for the island's low death toll.
Trump said: "Every death is a horror. But if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina, and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds of people who died. ... 16 people versus in the thousands. You can be very proud."
On the same day Trump made those comments, Puerto Rico updated its death toll to 34 casualties. And that increase could be just the start.
A report from Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism found that dozens, if not hundreds, of fatalities have so far gone uncounted by the government.
The journalist behind that report told Vox that death certificates oftentimes aren't being documented because government officials can't show up to work.
And even though the hurricane has passed, the damage it caused is still posing a life-threatening risk for vulnerable people who may be cut off from medicine, food and water.
Hurricane Katrina left around 1,800 people dead in its wake. Hopefully Puerto Rico's casualties won't be anywhere near as severe — but that could largely depend on how effective recovery efforts are.
0:45
Mount Washington to reach wind chills of -100F, as cold as Mars
The Mars Curiosity rover has recorded nighttime temperatures in recent days of 105 degrees below zero. Temperatures don't often get that low on Earth.
By Robert F. Bukaty / AP3:10
Minus-60 wind chills expected for some states this weekend
When wind chills reach minus 25, frostbite can occur in 15 minutes.
By Tony Gutierrez / AP3:26
Punxsutawney Phil makes his 2023 Groundhog Day prediction
Since 1887, people have gathered outside Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see Phil make his prediction.
By Barry Reeger / APTop Stories
3:44
Meet the musician teaching the banjo's African roots
As he performs across the country, Jake Blount is helping listeners learn how the banjo relates to Black American culture.
By Scripps News3:16
How authorities are combatting counterfeit Super Bowl gear
There's a spike in fake sports gear around the Super Bowl each year, and criminals are getting savvier and more sophisticated.
By AP3:45
This is how South Carolina is fixing the correctional officer shortage
A lack of correctional officers across the country is expected to worsen, but South Carolina is making changes to recruit and retain more workers.
By Scripps News