It doesn’t count because it isn’t counted.
PR’s population statistics and its economic statistics (economic activity and inflation rate and unemployment) are tabulated by the US government, but not included in the national figures. So any economic downturn in PR from the impact of the hurricanes won’t be reflected in any national statistics about the economy, and so won’t cause any political headaches for national politicians.
And, of course, they don’t get to vote for anyone in Washington who matters, so they can be even more safely ignored.
Despite this, Puerto Ricans are, in fact, US citizens. For whatever that’s turning out to be worth.
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Also, it's a lot of not white people that they all hope move elsewhere just like what happened in the aftermath of Katrina.
+Stan Pedzick Actually read some interesting speculation how an outflux of PR residents to their closest US neighbor, Florida, could impact electoral demographics there towards the Dems. That would be a fine irony.