On September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, as a Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center, bringing maximum sustained winds of 155 mph. The hurricane left millions without power and clean drinking water. Tens of thousands were forced to evacuate as the devastating power of the hurricane bore down on the island. Four months after Hurricane Maria’s landfall, an unprecedented 40% of residents would still be without power.
Follow our mission here as we provide our care and support while striving to restore hope for those who desperately need it most. Join hands with Tzu Chi Relief to help us give direct and compassionate aid wherever there are people struggling.
Our long-term goals for facilitating recovery include plastic waste management while striving to work with communities hand-in-hand to cultivate a brighter future.
This proves there are good people in the world, and we’re not alone.
I only have one neighbor right now. The others evacuated Puerto Rico. Take a look at the conditions here. We’ve had no electricity for four months.
We also met with a fourth generation fisherwoman named Jamari. Her home was left uninhabitable, and the hurricane killed much of the sea life that her livelihood relied on. Her parents were also left in a vulnerable situation – her father is blind and her mother is asthmatic. Jamari has been helping those who remain in the community in any way she can, but there’s still much to be done, and no electricity to help move things forward.
We continued providing emergency aid in the form of cash cards to affected individuals, like Jamari and Luis.
I was home when the roof flew off. I was rescued, but my house was totally lost.
As the lack of clean water also poses an issue, Puerto Rico’s main source of drinking water continues to come from bottled water. Tzu Chi recycles plastic bottles into eco-friendly clothing and blankets, and in fact, the blankets we provide during our relief distributions are made from plastic bottles. During this mission, we will be exploring solutions for recycling the excess plastic.
We have already provided financial assistance, scarves, and blankets, to families who recently evacuated from Puerto Rico to New York due to the hurricane, the monetary aid totaling $18,600.
