Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., bashed President Donald Trump on Monday for his inaction for Puerto Rico, as weather forecasters predict that Tropical Storm Dorian could reach the hurricane-ravaged island by midweek.
"Puerto Rico is still working to rebuild after the deadliest natural disaster in this country's history," the first-term representative said on Twitter. "If Trump could declare a national emergency to build his wall, he can declare one to support Puerto Rico."
Omar's post included a link to an NBC News report about Dorian's progress through the region since forming as a tropical depression Saturday.
The National Hurricane Center said Monday morning that Dorian was about 135 miles east-southeast of Barbados, moving west-northwest at 14 mph with maximum winds of 60 mph.
Dorian could bring as much as 10 inches in heavy rains, which could be "devastating" for Puerto Rico, NBC reports. The island is still reeling from Hurricane Maria, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, which killed almost 3,000 people in September 2017.
Puerto Rico's power grid was destroyed and remains severely compromised, according to NBC, and its electric utility company has more than $9 billion in debt.
Puerto Rico's new Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced, suspended a $450,000 contract earlier this month that was to have been part of the rebuilding program.
Forecasters also expect Dorian to pass near or south of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, approaching eastern Hispaniola on Wednesday night.
However, the storm's path could shift greatly, but forecasters said Monday morning that Dorian would be a strong tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane as it neared Puerto Rico.
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