More than 200 American Red Cross employees and volunteers have been deployed across Puerto Rico to assist in the recovery after Hurricane Fiona. About half of them came from other locations in the United States.
When requested by
Grace Meinhofer, a national spokesperson for the American Red Cross, tells us, “Before Fiona arrived here in Puerto Rico, we provided a supplement, blood products and our volunteers to help with the answers we find today.
I am Puerto Rican, I have no electricity, I have no water, I have no Internet …, but just like my colleagues, I can tell you that 80% of the people who work at the answer here in Puerto Rico are in the same situation “, adds.
Meinhofer is the national spokesperson for the Red Cross and is Puerto Rican and says extensive power outages are the biggest problem the island faces.
He also added: “We want to help our communities and make sure they have water, supplies and cleaning products that are important right now to start cleaning their homes.”
This is regardless of the fact that he has to bathe in the homes of friends who have drinking water and electricity to be able to go to work, assisting the hundreds of thousands who continue in the dark, unable to drink from the tap or who need medicines, cleaning products. , clothes, cots, including infant formula. Grace adds that the Red Cross, learning from the painful indelible lessons of Hurricane Maria five years ago, installed solar panels in more than 150 schools that now serve as shelters and continue to distribute food. New Yorkers can contribute to the recovery in several ways.
“Donating money is always the fastest way for us to be able to offer it to customers. Through CruzRojaamericana.org you can go in and make your donation. Likewise, if you want to be a Red Cross volunteer, it is very important right now. , as we respond here in Puerto Rico and more responses will arrive in Florida soon, register as volunteers .. “
“… Time is one is as precious as money,” says Meinhofer.
Hundreds of thousands of people out of a population of 3.2 million are left without electricity. Elected leaders say President Biden’s declaration of major disaster this week is a big step in helping the recovery.
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