WEBVTT

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- [Arthur] The town of Frederiksted,

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on the island of St. Croix

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still bears the scars of Hurricane Maria,

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businesses and homes severely damaged,

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forcing people like Claudia Henry,

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who has lived on the island of St. Croix for 40 years,

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to cook food over a makeshift bar pit

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in a nearby parking lot,

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after the walls of her apartment caved in.

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- And then we have the garbage pile up.

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We have the honey bee.

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We have the fly.

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We have the maggots in the market.

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- This should give you an idea of what it's like to survive

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a category five hurricane, an entire week later.

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Power lines still line the streets.

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According to the governor, the island of St. Croix

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is still 80% without power.

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- We need a lot of support,

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in terms of how we're gonna work at getting homes prepared.

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- [Arthur] The additional support

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the governor is referencing comes in the form

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of a 1900 passenger cruise ship.

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One that offers a picturesque backdrop amongst the rubble,

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that pulled off the coast of Frederiksted

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that will serve as a floating hotel

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to house the continued flow of National Guard members

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and FEMA employees who are providing support

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to local and federal authorities.

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- This is the first time that we were used by military.

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- [Arthur] The ship will house people

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like Staff Sargent Lisa Henderson,

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a member of the Washington National Guard.

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- We're here to provide humanitarian efforts

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to assist with the hurricane relief,

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provide security for our personnel.

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- [Arthur] National Guard efforts will last months.

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Already the ship isn't scheduled to set sail

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until mid December at the earliest,

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according to officials.

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- We're here to help these people.

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I mean, one day it could be us.

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- Reporting on assignment, from the Virgin Islands,

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I'm Technical Sergeant Arthur Mondale Wright,

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113th Wing, Public Affairs, D.C. Air National Guard.