2017 Hurricane Relief Effort: Puerto Rico
DID YOU KNOW?
Hurricane Irma made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sept. 6, 2017 and Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017.
Carmen Perez, of the SEC's Miami Regional Office, spent her first night in Puerto Rico sleeping on a cot and missing her family. But she was happy to help where she could, from finding a home for a mother and newborn baby to arranging for a bridge repair. Says Perez: “through it all, my native land, Puerto Rico, still takes my breath away with its beauty and resilience. I am very grateful and blessed to have been able to experience this firsthand.”
“We were welcomed everywhere we went."
– Helen Rosier, Atlanta Regional Office | Deployed to Puerto Rico
The people who come to the centers I work range from being unscathed by the storm to being homeless and destitute overnight, more people in the latter category ..... after weeks without power, financial assistance, or income the people I see are still civil, dignified, patient, but also desperate. The center I work at receives ~400 premade meals per day and people come for food assistance. Every day we run out.
– Howard Kaplan, Division of Enforcement | Deployed to Puerto Rico
“When we arrived, many people cheered and clapped. I was so happy and honored to be there."
– Debra Smith, Fort Worth Regional Office | Deployed to Puerto Rico
Here are some photos of the volunteers in action.
Modified: June 4, 2018