U.S. Aid to Puerto Rico is Questioned; FEMA Isn't Present in Outlying Areas of Puerto Rico Where Suffering is Great
BALDWIN: Welcome back, you're watching CNN, I'm Brooke Baldwin. President Trump's response to hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico is taking another twist in a series of tweets from the President this morning. He essentially threatened to cut off aid saying that the FEMA and First Responders are can't stay on the island "forever." This is happening when the Island is still without power. The majority, 80 or so percent without power and people are still struggling just to find fresh water and food. Forty-five people have died, more than 100 are still missing. The President's tweets also curious because FEMA remains involved in relief efforts for disasters that happened years ago including 2012 Super Storm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina which hit New Orleans over a decade ago. So Jaime Harper is back with us today, celebrity makeup artist, Jamie it is so nice to see you again. Although I understand there are some tough updates from you. We talked a couple weeks ago. You know you were pleading for help for Puerto Rico. Your family suffered greatly. Their homes were destroyed, they didn't have food or water, and now, I understand, one of your uncles has passed away in a hospital. I'm so sorry for your loss.</s>JAMIE HARPER, CELEBRITY MAKEUP ARTIST: Thank you Brooke for having me. Yes, one of my uncles passed away in</s>BALDWIN: You wanted us to share this picture, let's put the picture up of supplies your mother received. Not from FEMA, you said this was from the Red Cross. Tell me what we're looking at and has she gotten anything from FEMA? Do they have also food, power, and water?</s>HARPER: As of five days ago that I spoke to my mom, she has still not received anything. She received that from the Mexican Red Cross. So I'm extremely thankful that they stepped in and they helped some of the areas where help was not arriving on time. There are some areas of Puerto Rico that are getting some help but it seems like the center part, Northwest of the Island, is still suffering greatly.</s>BALDWIN: So when you saw the President's tweets this morning, and especially the part saying, and we just heard from the Chief of Staff saying it is accurate, but, and I'm paraphrasing, that the first responders, FEMA, and military literally can't be there forever, but again bringing up issues of accountability and financial crisis of Puerto Rico, how did that sit with you?</s>HARPER: I always like to stay away from politics. It just-I find it hard to believe that that's really the President's words right there. That my family, my friends and loved ones, American citizens, a lot of people that are in Puerto Rico, they have fought for this great nation of America. And it's kind of like, did we hear from that from Texas, from the response of Texas or Florida? It is kind of-I still, I'm speechless because so I want our President to step in and to help our people in need--our American citizens waiting for help. Today I saw a video of this lady that was crying for help because there is no help. She still has not received any water and food. To this day, this is three weeks, three weeks is ridiculous. And she was saying that she asked FEMA for help to cover her house because it keeps getting flooded and she has elderly parents and a disabled kid. And FEMA told her she had to go online to do a request form. Mind you, most of Puerto Rico don't have cell phone services and they don't have power. They don't have food and water. So I just-I don't have any words. What do you say? And where is the help?</s>BALDWIN: Right. I'm so sorry for the loss of your uncle Jamie. We're going to keep staying in contact with you and sending more people down to Puerto Rico to shine a spotlight on what it looks like there. Jamie Harper, thank you for your time again.</s>HARPER: Thank you.</s>BALDWIN: Moments ago the White House and the State Department sharing details of this hostage rescue involving this American woman and her family who were held by the Taliban for five years, but the story doesn't end there. Why this husband is refusing to get on this plane to bring him home. That's coming up.