The Aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and How to Help
By: Emma Browning
Now that several weeks have passed since Hurricane Maria violently tore through Puerto Rico, it is becoming clear what consequences are to follow. Congress’s approval of $36.5 billion in disaster aid, designated in part for Puerto Rico, provides hope that our nation is moving toward a better path to helping those who have lost so much in the wake of this devastating storm.
The way that government disaster relief has been handled in the past several weeks has unfortunately been largely inefficient. There are posters encouraging people to call FEMA and apply to FEMA online, in a place where there is no internet or phone service. While the current reported death toll is 51, an independent study by Vox revealed that there have been over 450 reported deaths. This includes the deaths of people who didn’t have enough water or access to necessary medical supplies, people who suffered bacterial infections, and more. The reality of the disaster is likely much more severe than what a lot of the media has portrayed.
In addition to the physical devastation Puerto Rico is still reeling from, there will be significant economic consequences. According to a New York Times article, Puerto Rico could suffer an estimated $180 billion loss in economic production over the next fifteen years as a result of the storm. However, the economic damage can be substantially mitigated with the help of investments and government aid. While about 85% of Puerto Rico remains without power, it will take an estimated $5 billion to repair the grid entirely. Tesla will reportedly be helping in this effort to rebuild, and the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, is hopeful that 95% of the island’s power will be restored by Christmas.
An imminent concern is that tourism will no longer provide the economic contribution that has created jobs for more than 80,000 people because of the massive physical destruction throughout the island. This loss of future income from tourism is in addition to the loss of the contributions from local consumers who are currently unable to buy food, clothing, and other goods. Further, there is a devastating amount of stores and restaurants that are still unable to reopen their doors, and in turn, an enormous number of employees of those businesses who no longer have income.
There are many ways that fellow Americans can help right now, especially since we are in New York and well-connected to local donation sites. Please see below:
- Until October 31, there are 17 locations announced by Mayor de Blasio that are accepting donations across the five boroughs. Please see this link for more details: http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/7104/donate-needed-items-for-hurricane-relief-in-puerto-rico
- BLSPI has placed a donation box in the cafeteria of Brooklyn Law School where students can donate items including hand sanitizer, first aid kits, USB car chargers for phones, lighters, large trash bags, batteries, cold medicine, Tylenol/Advil, duct tape, Neosporin, EmergenC/Airborne, toilet paper, and many more items.
- There are several reputable charity websites where you can donate money directly:
o http://www.unidosporpuertorico.com/en/
o https://give.hands.org/campaign/usvi-response/c145034
o https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/hurricane-maria-caribbean-relief-fund/
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-death-toll-increases/
http://grist.org/article/tesla-and-solar-groups-put-puerto-rico-back-on-the-grid/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/opinion/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria.html
https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/24/16536972/tesla-puerto-rico-hurricane-relief-solar-power-storage
