President Trump is continuing to monitor the impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the White House said Wednesday.
Hurricane Maria made landfall in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday night as a Category 5 storm before bringing heavy rain, high winds and flooding to Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning. The storm was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday.
The powerful hurricane left all of Puerto Rico without power, and 11,000 people sought refuge in shelters, Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello said.
According to the White House, Trump continues to receive updates from Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security.
The president approved an emergency declaration for both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico earlier this week, unlocking federal resources to the islands. Trump continues to direct federal resources to both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria, as well as to Florida and Texas, which were impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, respectively.
“He and the First Lady send their thoughts and prayers to all those in harm’s way,” the White House press secretary’s office said.
