SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — House Speaker Paul Ryan vowed to help Puerto Rico secure the money it needs to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria after touring the disaster zone Friday and seeing what he called the “dire conditions” facing many across the island.
Ryan toured the island in a helicopter at the head of a congressional delegation and met with local officials and representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the first time since Maria swept across the entire island as a fierce Category 4 hurricane.
“Our heart goes out to the people of Puerto Rico,” he told reporters later in San Juan. “What we have seen here today confirms that this is first and foremost a humanitarian disaster.”
Ricardo Arduengo, AFP/Getty Images
A man gestures as he walks through a debris covered road as Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico in Fajardo, on Sept. 20, 2017.
Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico, pummeling the US territory after already killing at least two people on its passage through the Caribbean. The US National Hurricane Center warned of "large and destructive waves" as Maria came ashore near Yabucoa on the southeast coast.
Hector Retamal, AFP/Getty Images
Residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico, deal with damages to their homes on Sept. 20, 2017, as Hurricane Maria batters the island.
Maria slammed into Puerto Rico on Wednesday, cutting power on most of the US territory as terrified residents hunkered down in the face of the island's worst storm in living memory. After leaving a deadly trail of destruction on a string of smaller Caribbean islands, Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico's southeast coast around daybreak, packing winds of around 150mph (240kph).
Hector Retamal, AFP/Getty Images
Rain and wind hit a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria.
Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico on Wednesday, pummeling the US territory after already killing at least two people on its passage through the Caribbean. The US National Hurricane Center warned of "large and destructive waves" as Maria came ashore near Yabucoa on the southeast coast.
Ricardo Arduengo, AFP/Getty Images
People taking shelter at Fajardo's City Hall watch as Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017.
Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico on Wednesday, pummeling the US territory after already killing at least two people on its passage through the Caribbean. The US National Hurricane Center warned of "large and destructive waves" as Maria came ashore near Yabucoa on the southeast coast.
NOAA via AFP/Getty Images
This satellite image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Maria at 1200UTC on Sept. 20, 2017.
Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico on Wednesday, pummeling the US territory after already killing at least two people on its passage through the Caribbean. The US National Hurricane Center warned of "large and destructive waves" as Maria came ashore near Yabucoa on the southeast coast.
Tatiana Fernandez, The Associated Press
A woman covers herself with a plastic bag as she makes her way to work as Hurricane Maria approaches the coast of Bavaro, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.
Tatiana Fernandez, The Associated Press
Men wade through a flooded Alemania Avenue as Hurricane Maria reaches the coast of Bavaro, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.
Ricardo Arduengo, AFP/Getty Images
A search and rescue crew member removes a tree branch from a flooded road as Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico in Fajardo, on Sept. 20, 2017.
Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico, pummeling the US territory after already killing at least two people on its passage through the Caribbean. The US National Hurricane Center warned of "large and destructive waves" as Maria came ashore near Yabucoa on the southeast coast.
Hector Retamal, AFP/Getty Images
Residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico, deal with damages to their homes on Sept. 20, 2017, as Hurricane Maria batters the island.
Maria slammed into Puerto Rico on Wednesday, cutting power on most of the US territory as terrified residents hunkered down in the face of the island's worst storm in living memory. After leaving a deadly trail of destruction on a string of smaller Caribbean islands, Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico's southeast coast around daybreak, packing winds of around 150mph (240kph).
Carlos Giusti, The Associated Press
Rescue personnel from the Emergency Management Agency make preparations to rescue about 19 municipal police officers that were stranded at their flooded station during the impact of Maria, a Category 5 hurricane that hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.
Ricardo Arduengo, AFP/Getty Images
A woman is transported to a shelter by search and rescue crew members after being rescued from her flooded home as Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico in Fajardo, on Sept. 20, 2017.
Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico, pummeling the US territory after already killing at least two people on its passage through the Caribbean. The US National Hurricane Center warned of "large and destructive waves" as Maria came ashore near Yabucoa on the southeast coast.
Hector Retamal, AFP/Getty Images
Residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico, deal with damages to their homes on Sept. 20, 2017, as Hurricane Maria batters the island.
Maria slammed into Puerto Rico on Wednesday, cutting power on most of the US territory as terrified residents hunkered down in the face of the island's worst storm in living memory. After leaving a deadly trail of destruction on a string of smaller Caribbean islands, Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico's southeast coast around daybreak, packing winds of around 150mph (240kph).
Jose Romero And Hector Retamaljose Romero,hector Retamal, AFP/Getty Images
Destruction caused by Hurricane Maria close to Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20, 2017.
Maria slammed into Puerto Rico on Wednesday, cutting power on most of the US territory as terrified residents hunkered down in the face of the island's worst storm in living memory. After leaving a deadly trail of destruction on a string of smaller Caribbean islands, Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico's southeast coast around daybreak, packing winds of around 150mph (240kph).
Hector Retamal, AFP/Getty Images
Librada is seen at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum refuge in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 19, 2017, prior the arrival of Hurricane Maria. She left voluntarily of her house to take refuge.
Maria headed towards the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico after battering the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica, with the US National Hurricane Center warning of a "potentially catastrophic" impact.
Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images
A man clears debris from a street in Saint-Pierre, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, after it was hit by Hurricane Maria, on Sept. 19, 2017.
Martinique suffered power outages but avoided major damage.
Alex Wroblewski, Getty Images
Felled trees cover the roads in the Miramar neighborhood after Hurricane Maria made landfall on Sept. 20, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thousands of people have sought refuge in shelters, and electricity and phone lines have been severely effected.
Tatiana Fernandez, The Associated Press
Workers pick up tables and board up windows at a restaurant, before the arrival of Hurricane Maria in Bavaro, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.
Alex Wroblewski, Getty Images
Residents cover windows as they prepare for a direct hit from Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello is saying Maria could be the "most catastrophic hurricane to hit" the U.S. territory in a century.
Alex Wroblewski, Getty Images
The La Perla neighborhood in Old San Juan as residents prepare for a direct hit from Hurricane Maria on Sept. 19, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello is saying Maria could be the "most catastrophic hurricane to hit" the U.S. territory in a century.
Lionel Chamoiseau, AFP/Getty Images
A resident stands at her doorstep as she looks at strong waves in Saint-Pierre, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, after it was hit by Hurricane Maria, on Sept. 19, 2017.
Martinique suffered power outages but avoided major damage.
The speaker noted that the House this week passed a $36.5 billion emergency disaster-relief bill that includes money for Puerto Rico as well as Texas and Florida for the recent series of storms. Ryan said he would work with island officials and the Trump administration on longer-term aid.
The storm is blamed for at least 45 deaths and it damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes. About 90 percent of the island remains without power and 40 percent without water service.
Ryan said he was struck by the “widespread devastation” in the interior towns and accounts of mayors of communities where lost bridges have left them cut off from the rest of the island. He added that there is a need for longer-term needs to be addressed after the humanitarian crisis passes.
“We are all in this with each other for the long haul to make sure that this island survives that this is a beautiful place to raise a family,” he said.
His comments contrasted with President Donald Trump, who said in tweets Thursday that the federal government can’t keep sending help “forever” and suggesting the U.S. territory was to blame for its financial struggles. The president changed his tone Friday and assured residents that he “will always be with them.”