How to Help Puerto Rico After Hurricane Fiona
Photo: Alejandro Granadillo/AP/Shutterstock
On Sunday, a Category 1 hurricane devastated Puerto Rico, causing catastrophic flooding, landslides and power outages to New York Times reports. On landfall, Hurricane Fiona brought winds in excess of 100 miles per hour and up to 30 inches of rain in some areas of the island. At least ten rivers are flooded. According to AP News, the rising water has submerged cars, first floors of homes and an airport runway, while a recently built bridge in the city of Utuado has been washed away and asphalt ripped from streets. Hundreds of residents were reportedly evacuated, including patients in health care facilities where generators stopped working. Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi confirmed this Twitter That power was out across the island as of Sunday afternoon.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Fiona came just days before the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, the Category 4 hurricane that struck the island in 2017, destroying its power grid and killing nearly 3,000 people. The desolation of Mary is still widespread; Thousands of homes still use tarps for roofs, according to the AP, and power outages remain ubiquitous despite recovery efforts. In response to the mounting damage to Fiona, President Joe Biden has authorized Puerto Rico’s emergency declaration to channel federal funds into local disaster relief efforts.
According to that Times, conditions remain too dangerous for officials to fully assess the extent of Fiona’s damage. Luma, a private consortium tracking the island’s electrical transmission and distribution system, says it provided power to about 100,000 residents overnight, but warns full restoration is hampered by the “incredibly challenging” conditions in which repair workers are working , could take days . Fiona has caused at least one reported death in Guadeloupe so far; The confirmation of the true toll may take longer. Fiona landed in the Dominican Republic on Monday morning; It is expected to go through Turks and Caicos Islands before moving to the Bahamas and then Bermuda. The Puerto Rico government has established a website to provide residents with updates and resources. If you are able, here are other ways to help:
• Mutual Aid Group Brigada Solidaria del Oeste collects donations for essentials including water purification tablets, solar lamps, water filters and first aid kits. The association also collects monetary donations.
• Donate to the Puerto Rican Civic Club in San Jose, California, which is raising money for solar lights and gas generators.
• Taller Salud, a women-led nonprofit based in Loíza, Puerto Rico, accepts donations of non-perishable groceries, disposable containers, gallons of water, adult and baby diapers and more. The group also accepts monetary donations via PayPal and some essential supplies such as water filters and solar lanterns.
• Comedores Sociales de Puerto Rico is a community kitchen with programs to combat food insecurity on the island. Monetary donations are accepted here.