Regarding Hurricane Irma and Puerto Rico
Specifically, all the posts that say that Puerto Rico is in a terrible state and that the entire island, or a majority, will be without power for 4-6 months? None of that is true. Not entirely.
Hurricane Irma technically passed us by rather than hit us. The eye of the storm was at least 50 miles north from the northern coast. While we were pelted with strong wings and rain, it was nowhere near as bad as many of us expected it to be.
Most of the damage was uprooted trees, fallen branches, and downed power lines. As far as I am aware, no part of the island suffered major structural damage or casualties. Power has been being restored since the day after the hurricane hit. Most of the island’s inhabitants already have power. Those that don’t (like myself) have been given a rough estimate of 2-6 weeks without power.
While that may sound terrible, it’s not as bad as 4-6 months. Also, a good amount of people who live here were already well prepared with back-up generators. The apartment building complex I live in has several back-up generators. So, while the power is still technically out, I do have electric power thanks to the back-up generators. Those that don’t have generators are being allowed to charge phones and other items in local establishments (restaurants, gas stations, basically anywhere that has a electrical outlet and power).
The Lesser Antilles (the cluster of islands to the east and south of the larger Caribbean islands. This includes the BVIs, USVIs and a handful of other islands) were far less fortunate than us. They suffered a direct hit. Many of the people from these islands have been transported to PR and put in shelters/hotels for the time being. Donation drives have been organized to collect food, water, clothing, towels, bathrooms amenities, etc. These are being given to the refugees that are already here and shipped to the islands where people have been unable to leave.
Please, if you wish to help, focus your attention to the Lesser Antilles. Be careful of where/who you donate to. There are a number of master posts on here as well as independent sites that list which relief foundations can be trusted to put most or all of your donation to use. Right now, people need clothes, towels, menstrual pads, baby diapers, water, and non perishable food items (including pet food). You can try and set up a donation drive where you are to ship everything to PR where it will be given to those most in need.
amandla
izzy806
gracieabrams
andulkaphoto
