Puerto Rico reels, floods in wake of Hurricane Fiona

Five years after Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Fiona has laid waste to the island nation, leaving it in the dark.

More than 1.3 million people remained without power Monday as LUMA Energy, the main power utility in Puerto Rico, warns of a slow restoration process that began with hospitals and airports. Only about 30% of the island has running water.

“We’re going through a tough moment, but our people are strong,” Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said during a press conference Monday. “The rain continues.”

Fiona, which made landfall as a Category 1 storm Sunday, has already dropped more than 30 inches of rain across parts of the region, Pierluisi said, including areas that saw the brunt of Maria’s devastation in 2017.

A temporary bridge in Utuado, installed to replace one wiped out by Maria, was destroyed Sunday by heavy flooding in the Guaonica River.

More than 2,100 residents have taken refuge in state-run shelters as of Monday morning, Pierluisi said, and more than 1,000 have been rescued by the National Guard.

Your Network Caring Community Advocate, a New York-based nonprofit that aims to “guide and stabilize those displaced by natural disasters,” has volunteers already in Puerto Rico to help with recovery efforts.

“It’s been very emotional for us volunteers as we relive Hurricane Maria once again,” Sonia Velázquez, the program director, told the Daily News Monday. “We are ready and activated and efforts have started!”

The group is also collecting donations for displaced residents, including water filters, batteries, flashlights, hygiene products, solar charges, first aid kits and other medical supplies, baby formula diapers, trash bags and ponchos. More information on how to donate will be provided online.

Gov. Hochul announced Monday that she will send 100 emergency responders to Puerto Rico to help and President Biden declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico Sunday morning, opening up federal resources for emergency response and disaster relief efforts.

“We’ve reached out to our corporate and community partners to coordinate donations of water and other supplies — and several companies have already pledged their support,” Hochul tweeted Monday.

“Most importantly, though, New York will be there for the long-term recovery, just as we were following Maria. We stand ready to help them not only recover, but also rebuild. New York knows full well the devastating impact that Mother Nature can cause. Yet during those dark times, we often see the best in people come out — and we will always be there to support others the way they supported us.”

At a press conference Monday, Hochul also said she is working with businesses to secure resources and that several, including Delta, JetBlue and Coca-Cola, have pledged support.

The Hispanic Federation is raising money to fund emergency relief services and essential supplies for the communities most affected by the storm.

Breaking News

As it happens

Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts.

“Because Puerto Rico is still rebuilding from the damage of Maria, the flooding and power outages caused by Fiona are already far more severe and life threatening than they should be,” the group said. “The next few days are essential to get emergency services and supplies to those who need it most.

GlobalGiving’s Hurricane Fiona Relief Fund has set a goal of $1 million to satisfy immediate needs like food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products and shelter before transitioning to support longer-term recovery efforts run by vetted local organizations.

Fiona struck two days before the five-year anniversary of Maria and struck on the 33rd anniversary of Hurricane Hugo, which hit Puerto Rico as a Category 3 storm.

Maria made landfall on Sept. 20, 2017 as a Category 4 storm, destroying the power grid and killing almost 3,000 people. The federal response to the hurricane was catastrophic, leaving millions without power as much as a month later.

Several government officials have reported that then-President Trump wondered out loud about selling or divesting from Puerto Rico in the aftermath.

“I think all of us Puerto Ricans who lived through Maria have that post-traumatic stress of, ‘What is going to happen, how long is it going to last and what needs might we face?’” Danny Hernández, who works in San Juan but planned to ride out the storm with family in Mayaguez, told the Associated Press.

With News Wire Services