Unemployment claims soar as Puerto Rico's economy reels from a 'Category 5' hit
Retweeted by David Fahrenthold: https://twitter.com/Fahrenthold
Unemployment claims soar as Puerto Rico’s economy reels from a ‘Category 5’ hit
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BY KYRA GURNEY
kgurney@miamiherald.com
OCTOBER 31, 2017 2:40 PM
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Since the Department of Labor reopened its offices on Oct. 6, at least 10,000 people have applied for unemployment benefits. That number is expected to keep growing. In just one week, from Oct. 19 to Oct. 26, the total number of new unemployment claims doubled from 5,000 to 10,000.
Even more Puerto Ricans have left the island. In Florida alone, more than 73,000 people have arrived from Puerto Rico through the Miami and Orlando airports and Port Everglades.
With hundreds of the island’s businesses expected to shutter permanently — and countless others to remain closed until electricity is restored — it’s unclear if, or when, Puerto Ricans will be able to return to work.
“We knew that one of the effects that hurricanes have in any jurisdiction is a potential effect on jobs,” said Carlos Saavedra Gutiérrez, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of Labor. “But Maria is a whole other ballgame. This doesn’t compare with anything.”
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always have forms, even Hurricane Maria couldn't change that? 
Well, however they managed to heroically come up with and process enough forms for THIS unemployed population, good, good, good. Reportedly Puerto Ricans can collect up to 26 weeks...
As said, well over 70,000 of those who had to leave arrived in Florida alone in October. Florida's not just closest, it's a (the?) host state under FEMA's “Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program.” FEMA will reimburse host states 100 percent of eligible sheltering costs. Interestingly, states apply to the the governor of Puerto Rico, who determines which serve as hosts. Reportedly Illinois is applying, but others so far?
Just noticed that FEMA extended the period it will pay for people to stay in designated motels and hotels under this program for HARVEY refugees to November 27. At least they'll have beds for Thanksgiving.
