National Guard triples force in Puerto Rico as New York prepares to send troops
By ROSE L. THAYER | STARS AND STRIPES Published: January 14, 2020
Puerto Rico has activated more than 650 of its National Guard members with 115 more traveling from New York to help construct and support tent shelters across the southern region of the island where thousands of residents continue to sleep outdoors for fear of another major earthquake.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday authorized the activation of troops for up to 90 days and said he intends to travel to the island to tour impacted areas along the southern edge of the U.S. territory.
Hundreds of small quakes, mostly too weak to feel, began rocking Puerto Rico on Dec. 28, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. But a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Jan. 6 with a larger 6.4-magnitude striking just before dawn Jan. 7, which led Gov. Wanda Vazquez to declare an emergency and activate the National Guard. Since then, troop levels have increased as they continue to support requests from local governments and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
https://www.stripes.com/news/americas/national-guard-triples-force-in-puerto-rico-as-new-york-prepares-to-send-troops-1.614804
