I spent two weeks deployed in Puerto Rico after La Isla del Encanto was impacted by Hurricane Maria, the 10th most intense storm ever recorded in the Atlantic. I arrived in Puerto Rico on September 27th, seven days after the storm made landfall. Puerto Rico, the beautiful island where my mother was born and raised, was destroyed and left without power.
The Circumstances
- Puerto Rico was impacted by two category 4-5 hurricanes in the span of two weeks. (For reference, Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, the costliest storms in U.S. history, made landfalls as category 1 and 3, respectively.)
- The entire island lost power and telecommunications after Hurricane Maria. When we arrived, all of the island’s elected officials had not been accounted for because telecommunications were compromised. Communication was, and continues to be, a huge challenge for the relief efforts.
- Puerto Rico’s economy and infrastructure was weakened, long before the storms. The unemployment rate in Puerto Rico is more than double that of the national average and Puerto Rico’s population has been in steady decline since 2000.
- Federal resources and attention are stressed; Currently, 85 percent of the FEMA workforce is in the field supporting 28 disasters nationwide.
- This year marks the 100th anniversary of Puerto Rican U.S. citizenship. Yet, a recent poll found that only 54% of Americans knew Puerto Ricans were fellow citizens at the time of the storm, and therefore, nearly half did not know that this was a matter of domestic concern.
Our Mission
Our mission in Puerto Rico was to support the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency (PREMA) in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Alongside my NYC Emergency Management team, I worked out of the Joint Field Office (JFO) established in the convention center in San Juan, collaborating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), PREMA, and the Governor’s Office, La Fortaleza, to support all 78 municipalities on the island.
When we arrived at the airport in San Juan, the heat was instantly unbearable. Noticeably, by the time we were back at the airport to fly home two weeks later, the air conditioning was running. Small steps toward progress was a theme for us during our time in Puerto Rico.
Driving from San Juan to Rio Grande, commuting an hour each way every morning and evening felt like we were driving through a cold, winter scene. The tropical scene was replaced with barren trees and down power lines. We knew we were out of San Juan ten minutes into the ride when all of our cell signals dropped. We were grateful to have a signal for even that long. As the rain continued to fall during our stay, cleared streets flooded again due to clogged drainage systems leftover from the storm. I thought about the people who no longer had roofs on their homes or who had no way of keeping the garbage from flowing in. The damage was apparent.
La Gente
I worked and met with some of the greatest people. Even under some of the most difficult circumstances, our colleagues at PREMA, who were all affected by the storm, graciously worked long days with us. They had been working long days since before Irma had impacted the island. Their own facilities had been compromised after Maria and they were adjusting to the new pace at the JFO. Some were also sleeping at the JFO because fuel was so hard to come by. The wait for gas was hours long, even for priority clients. Additionally, the bilingual activation had some inherent challenges for everyone and I was grateful to be there to play the role of interpreter whenever it was needed.
It was a pleasure to collaborate with La Fortaleza’s Chief Innovation Officer, Glorimar. She leads the team behind status.pr, the public information website that displays the status of services and levels of progress on the island.
Everyone Has A Role To Play
Since early October, Chef José Andrés and his nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, continues to serve hot meals for those in need in Puerto Rico. He and his team have served over 1 million meals. Follow him on Twitter for updates: @chefjoseandres.
Reporters gathered at the convention center for updates and information. They have brought findings in front of officials to help hold them accountable. Because of the limited access to power and communication on the island, the media has played a particularly important role in informing the public on the mainland and in Puerto Rico alike.
As comforting as it was to see so many people gathered and working to help, it was also overwhelming to witness all the attention and varied perspectives on what was happening in Puerto Rico, a place that has very much been a part of my personal identity. The convention center and the JFO was also the hub for Puerto Rican and Federal government officials.
Governor Ricardo Rosselló, the youngest governor in the U.S., highlighted the preexisting constraints and circumstances of Puerto Rico to emphasize the need for serious and concerted efforts to help Puerto Rico move forward.
“I invite you to consider why Puerto Rico is in the current state of disadvantage and inequality… Think of Puerto Ricans as your own constituents …It is a moral imperative because we are all U.S. citizens, but more importantly, because we are all equal as human beings. And if we don’t, because of the inequality that exists… that presumption of Puerto Ricans as your constituents might come true because of the massive exodus that it will provoke… I implore you to forget the fighting and focus on outcomes…Be part of the generation that helps Puerto Rico come out of this stronger than ever…”
Who will be there for the better and stronger Puerto Rico?
Emergencies exacerbate preexisting inequalities. This is an island that was impacted before Maria hit and an island that was at a disadvantage, inherent in its status and history. It is an island that has contributed so much to the United States of America, including currently some 330,000 veterans and some 35,000 Puerto Ricans in active duty service. My mission on the island has ended but the work is clearly not finished.
Today, a month after the storm, the majority of the 3.4 million U.S. citizens of the island of Puerto Rico still do not have power or potable water. How long will those who cannot afford to leave have to live under emergency conditions? Will those who have left afford to return when things get better? While I am grateful I was able to play a small part in the response alongside my NYC Emergency Management team, there is still so much to be done before the people of Puerto Rico can recover.
Take Action
- Donate: Donating cash is generally better than donating in kind after emergencies. This allows flexibility so the money can be spent on determined needs, which change quickly over the course of a response and recovery. Suggestions:
- Unidos Por Puerto Rico
- Hispanic Federation, “Unidos” (you can also support this initiative with Lin Manuel Miranda’s Almost Like Praying)
- Somos Una Voz
- Resilient Power Puerto Rico (Coastal Marine Resource Center)
- Call Congress to advocate for a flexible aid package for Puerto Rico and to help repeal the Jones Act.
- Join or spread the word about openings at FEMA, including local hurricane recovery work opportunities for survivors.
- Volunteer
- Stay informed and updated on the situation in Puerto Rico as the response and recovery evolves.
- El “Centro”, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College has a platform for updates.
- This Miami Herald article offers the most comprehensive overview on the response that I have seen so far.
- Help spread accurate information about available services, such as the opening of a Service Center in New York City for those affected by recent hurricanes.
- Learn about the history of Puerto Rico – the contributions and the sacrifices of its people.
Today, a month after the storm, the majority of the 3.4 million U.S. citizens of the island of Puerto Rico still do not have power or potable water. How long will those who cannot afford to leave have to live under emergency conditions? Will those who have left afford to return when things get better? While I am grateful I was able to play a small part in the response alongside my NYC Emergency Management team, there is still so much to be done before the people of Puerto Rico can recover.
Are there other ways to help? What organizations should also be considered for donations? Share below.
*I have updated and will continue to update this section as I learn about organizations and other ways to help. Please also take a look at my recent posts for more. Thanks for your suggestions!
I love it!!! You are amazing!. God bless you.
Elizabeth, eres un orgullo, compartir esta información ayuda a muchos a saber cómo es que realmente esta la situación y llama a crear conciencia y compasión por los más necesitados. Bravo por ti y por todo el equipo que estuvo ayudando a esta labor!
Excellent! Great view points!! Well done Elizabeth!
I love it,,,, you’re amazing. Thanks for all the information.
So proud of you, Elizabeth!! Thank you for taking the time to share this detailed report of your experience and advocacy!! Can we share this with the members of Latina Surge? Xo Elisa
Absolutely – thank you for your support Elisa!
Well said!
Thank you for volunteering Eli! Your eloquent writing does justice for your physical efforts. Thank you!
Jake
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Super orgullosa de ti mi bella Eli 🙏🏻
Estoy muy orgullosa de ti por todo lo que has hecho por nosotros. Estoy sumamente orgullosa de ti como prima y como ser humano eres increíblemente dulce gracias por la gran ayuda que Dios te siga bendiciendo grandemente 😘🙌🏽🙏🏽🇵🇷