It has been just over two months since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, yet many people still are without power and livable homes. The Category 5 hurricane was devastating to the island, pushing thousands of people out of their homes.
After the storm destroyed thousands of homes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a $30 million contract to a new company based in Florida called Bronze Star LLC to deliver tarps to Puerto Rico. However, the contract was recently pulled after the organization took too long to deliver supplies to the territory, so FEMA had to go through the process of finding another company to bring items to Puerto Rico. Many of the tarps are just starting to arrive, leaving many still vulnerable to the flooding that has been occurring due to the rainstorms in the past few weeks.
The majority of troops stationed on the island will be heading home this week, but there will still be many people continuing to attempt to bring power back to the island and hand out supplies to those in need. Working to bring power back to the island is a top priority, since less than half of Puerto Rico currently has power. New power lines must be run through most of the island before they can get electricity back to everyone, which is going to take time and manpower.
There also seems to be a discrepancy in the death toll as a result of the hurricane in Puerto Rico. The official number is 55 dead, but according to many sources, the number may be well above that. John Mutter, a Columbia University professor who examined deaths after Hurricane Katrina, claims that a storm of this size and strength would be likely to kill hundreds, not just 55, and many living on the island believe the death toll is more than nine times that. The storm itself is not the problem, it’s the aftermath. Without electricity, clean water or, in some cases, even shelter, many people are dying while the island continues to wait for relief efforts.
Many people have stepped up to help Puerto Rico in their time of need, though. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony-winning writer and star of In the Heights and Hamilton, has been raising money for and helping with relief efforts in Puerto Rico from the beginning. The day after the hurricane made landfall in Puerto Rico, Miranda wrote “Almost Like Praying” a song dedicated to the people of Puerto Rico that features artists such as Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, John Leguizamo and Miranda himself. All profits from the song’s sales goes directly toward Puerto Rico relief efforts (and you can still buy it on iTunes for $1.29!).
There are still many things that you can do to help those in Puerto Rico rebuild. Monetary donations are always welcomed, no matter how much you can give – every penny counts! The Hispanic Federation’s UNIDOS program, for example, is dedicated to helping Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. UNICEF USA is also looking for money to help send emergency relief kits to children and families on the island. As with any donations, though, be sure you do some research into what you are donating to before donating; you want to ensure that your money actually goes toward helping those in need.
Rebuilding Puerto Rico will take time and effort, but if we can all help out just a little, it would help thousands to rebuild their lives and their homes on the beautiful island that many Americans call home.