MIAMI – Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Marco Rubio, along with Puerto Rico Representative Commissioner Jennifer González-Colón in Congress, called on the Biden administration to act quickly to help Puerto Rico following the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Fiona.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, lawmakers urged her to “make the island’s full recovery from this storm a top priority. “
“At a time when Puerto Rico is still recovering from the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Maria, which completely devastated the island just five years ago, the heavy rains from Hurricane Fiona produced catastrophic flooding, widespread power outages and other impacts that threatened island life. critical infrastructure,” the lawmakers wrote.
How can I help Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane Fiona?: Mutual aid, non-profit organizations to support
“With many of the serious consequences of this storm still unfolding, we write to support an immediate assessment of the situation and the deployment of FEMA resources, personnel and supplies,” they wrote. “This will alleviate unnecessary delays to ease recovery efforts as access to critical resources begins to decline.”
Florida is home to nearly 1.2 million Puerto Ricans, who represent the second largest Hispanic group after Cubans, according to the latest census figures.
After Hurricane Maria in 2018, tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans temporarily moved to Florida. Many have stayed since because the US territory’s economy remains in shambles.
Hurricane Fiona brings heavy rains to PR
Fiona made landfall as a Category 1 storm on Sunday afternoon on the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico, then made landfall again on Monday morning on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic.
As of Tuesday, more than 80% of Puerto Rico was still without power, more than 24 hours after the storm shut down the island’s entire electrical system. There is no running water in more than 100,000 homes and businesses. The Dominican Republic is still assessing the damage.
The National Weather Service warned of “catastrophic and life-threatening” flooding and mudslides in southern and eastern Puerto Rico on Tuesday, with more heavy rain forecast throughout the week. Conditions were not expected to improve significantly.
President Biden declared a state of emergency as the storm approached the southwest corner of the island.
FEMA’s Criswell arrived Tuesday to assess the damage and find out what other resources might be needed.
He said the agency will send “hundreds of additional personnel” to Puerto Rico in the coming days, in addition to the more than 1,000 already on the island responding to Hurricane Fiona, of whom about 700 had been assisting in recovery efforts. from Hurricane Maria, which struck with devastating force exactly five years ago.
Faster response from FEMA
Criswell said in a statement that FEMA intends to “place staff in each of the affected communities to supplement our already large footprint.”
That contrasts sharply with 2017, when FEMA’s response to Maria’s impact in Puerto Rico was widely criticized, leading the agency to acknowledge mistakes in organization, preparation and staffing in an internal report the following year.
The agency said it increased the number of its warehouses in Puerto Rico from one to four and increased the supply of food and water tenfold.
“FEMA is very well positioned for this response,” said Keith Turi, assistant recovery administrator. “We have made great progress in planning and preparation with our partners in Puerto Rico and the municipalities in the last five years.”
Advocates emphasizes the importance of supporting local organizations and grassroots mutual aid groups that provide on-the-ground assistance to communities in Puerto Rico. Multiple organizations are providing critical aid such as solar lights, generators, supplies, and food.
To help Puerto Ricans and others in the Caribbean get back on their feet, Here is a list of some non-profit organizations and mutual aid funds that you can support.
Sergio Bustos is the politics/business editor of Florida’s Gannett/USA Today Network. It is based in South Florida. Email: floridapolitics@gannett.com
