BREAKING: New study estimates Hurricane Maria caused 2,975 deaths in Puerto Rico -- a drastically higher number than the initial government report of 64 dead. cbsn.ws/2LxOV5d 
"We always knew that based on the level of the catastrophe that Puerto Rico suffered that there were going to be -- there was going to be a high number of deaths," says Carlos Mercader, who helped facilitate report on Hurricane Maria deaths cbsn.ws/2BTtJXO
"It's 2,975 people who suffered, who went through difficult times. And as government officials, we understand what is behind that, and obviously we take this report now trying to learn from it," Carlos Mercader tells @DavidBegnaud cbsn.ws/2BTtJXO
The GWU study "goes deep into some statistics that we will be finalizing and obviously using them to create a new set of guidelines, a new set of protocols that Puerto Rico and the rest of the nation can use for catastrophes," Mercader tells @DavidBegnaud cbsn.ws/2BTtJXO
“We definitely understand that there were a lot of -- we've committed errors in the process,” Carlos Mercader says. “And we have a responsibility of making sure that we prepare Puerto Rico for a future event like this.” cbsn.ws/2BTtJXO
