The data is in the island’s coroner’s office, who refuses to release it. These are lives lost due to the failure of life support systems. Not all died at once. We had almost no functioning hospitals for at least two weeks. How many people were in ICU? How many people were turned back at the ER because there were no ERs? How many people died at home because their oxygen machines failed (I know at least one). When you consider that, then it makes sense. Of course this is an estimate. But if the PR government would release its hard data, we would know for sure.
BTW, the mainland utility companies didn’t get here until the chaos of the immediate aftermath had already been sorted out. I don’t wish those first couple of weeks on anyone. And I was of the lucky ones.
Of course this is an estimate. But if the PR government would release its hard data, we would know for sure.
I repeat how does "Most everyone knew that the death toll was in the thousands" when no one really knows anything of substance?
If you recall it was demanded of FEMA that they send 10,000 body bags to New Orleans because everyone in the superdome gave testimonials of rampant death there and throughout the city.