NEW YORK – On Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the donation of two full-size pickup trucks from the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to the municipal governments of Vieques and Yabucoa in Puerto Rico.
The donations come as Puerto Rico continues recovery efforts from Hurricane Fiona, which devastated the island in September. The donation is being coordinated by the New York City Department of Administrative Services (DCAS) in close cooperation with the New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYCEM) and DSNY.
The trucks are expected to arrive in Puerto Rico in January 2023.
“Immediately after Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico earlier this year, my team and I were in the field assessing the needs of New York’s ‘6th County’ and providing the resources needed to deliver all the possible assistance to those affected,” Mayor Adams said. “While the hurricane and its aftermath may have faded from the headlines, this donation of two toilet trucks underscores our unwavering commitment to our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters in the midst of their ongoing recovery process.”
Puerto Rico has been recovering from the effects of natural disasters since hurricanes Maria and Irma made landfall in 2017. Last September, Hurricane Fiona brought torrential rains to some areas of the island, severely affecting the government’s ability to provide essential services to its residents.
Among these main problems is the inability to collect waste effectively. Toilet trucks in Puerto Rico suffered major mechanical failures and the need to use alternate routes prevented them from being serviced.
“As Puerto Rico continues to recover from Hurricane Fiona, we must support its recovery to the best of our ability,” said New York City Councilman Marjorie Velázquez. “Our city has donated during other natural disasters in the past, and this one is no different. The DSNY truck donation will provide assistance needed to support Puerto Rico’s emergency response. I am thrilled to see my home island receive the support of New York City and can’t wait for it to recover.”
With the donation of these two trucks, Puerto Rico is making great strides in improving its collection service and mitigating this serious public health problem.
“One of the best qualities of New Yorkers is that when tragedy strikes, we spring into action. Mayor Adams embodied this when Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico and immediately led a delegation to help with disaster management,” said New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar. “Now her humanitarian work Continue with a donation of more than half a million dollars in medical equipment that will serve as a catalyst for recovery. Thank you to our mayor and all city agencies working together to help New York’s 6th District.”
