Statements
Statement from Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz Four Years After Hurricane Maria Made Landfall on the Island of Puerto Rico
This week marks the four-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria’s deadly and destructive path through the island of Puerto Rico.
In recognition of this somber occasion, Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz issued the following statement:
“Four years ago the world looked on in horror as a killer category 5 hurricane bore down upon the island of Puerto Rico. The devastation that would be visited upon the island over a handful of hours that must have felt like months, was difficult to believe. In the span of less than a day Hurricane Maria caused an estimated $90 billion in damage and eventually killed around 3,000 people.
“Seen from a global perspective, the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Maria must be viewed as a clear warning for the future. The science is clear, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean are warming with every passing year, hurricanes will continue to develop more quickly and will be more powerful in the years to come. This climate week, let us pledge as a nation to do everything in our power to work with nations across the globe to address the existential challenge of climate change. The future of our country, places like Puerto, Florida and the world depend on the actions we take right now.”