Governor Kathy Hochul pledges support for hurricane battered Puerto Rico (September 19, 2022)

Hurricane Fiona strengthened to a category 3 overnight after leaving widespread devastation in Puerto Rico.

The storm dumped more than 2 feet of rain on the island and knocked out the U.S. territory’s electricity supply. More than one million people are without power. This is the worst storm to hit the island since Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Following a call with Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi, New York Governor Kathy Hochul directed the New York State Police to send 50 Troopers to assist with keeping residents safe, and 50 additional Troopers will be deployed in the coming weeks.

Hochul said Delta and JetBlue will both donate cargo space and transport emergency personnel; the Greater New York Hospital Association will provide medical supplies; and Coca-Cola has committed water and additional supplies. Habitat for Humanity of New York City and Westchester County and the State’s Building Trades also have committed their support as needs are identified. Additionally, teams from the New York Power Authority are ready to deploy and assist in restoring power to the island.

Hochul said she also will support relief efforts in the Dominican Republic, which also was heavily impacted by Fiona.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden declared Hurricane Fiona an emergency, authorizing FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts. Hochul said New York will work to support any requests coordinated by FEMA in the coming days to assist the residents of Puerto Rico.

Fiona is on a path to pass close to the Turks and Caicos islands today and was not expected to threaten the U.S. mainland.

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo is calling for the establishment of an independent federal commission to investigate the federal response to 2017 natural disasters in Puerto Rico.

After the release of the Harvard School of Public Health’s analysis estimating that the death toll of Hurricane Maria could be 70 times higher than the current official estimate, Governor Cuomo joined Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez’s demand for a commission to immediately investigate the federal response, death toll and any negligence or failure to appropriately respond, as well as disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Congresswoman Velázquez is preparing legislation to establish the Commission.

“The recent report that the death toll of Hurricane Maria is 70 times higher than previously reported is horrifying, unconscionable and must spur us to action. While I am proud that New York has led the recovery effort for our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters, I am appalled by the federal government’s abhorrent failure to respond appropriately and to prevent this massive loss of life,” Governor Cuomo said in a media release. “I join Congresswoman Velázquez in demanding a thorough investigation of the federal response to identify and root out any negligence and to mitigate damage and prevent tragedies during the upcoming hurricane season.”

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JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown area resident is asking the community to help him in his effort to provide for Puerto Rican children during the Christmas holiday season.

Jamestown’s James Bliss launched his “Christmas for Puerto Rico” initiative earlier this month as an attempt to provide help to those struggling in the Island territory after it was hit by Hurricane Maria in September.

As part of his effort to help out, Bliss is encouraging individuals and organizations in the community to donate Christmas gifts and related holiday themed items for Puerto Rican children up to 12 years old. The gifts will then be delivered to Puerto Rico in the middle of December.

Ideal gifts include items that are small and lightweight, do not require electricity or be battery powered, and should be gender neutral.

He suggested each gift be accompanied by essential or near-essential items, such as pre-packaged snacks, holiday-themed candy or a bottle of water.

Bliss has set a donation deadline of Dec. 9. He has asked those interested in participating, both individuals and groups, to contact him at 490-8600 or via the “Christmas for Puerto Rico” Facebook page to coordinate a pickup time.

An online flyer from the Hispanic Community Council of Chautauqua County, detailing the items it is collecting as part of the relief effort for Puerto Rico.

JAMESTOWN – Supermarkets are gradually re-opening in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, but the situation is far from normal and many customers are going home disappointed.

A week after Hurricane Maria ravaged the U.S. territory, most food stores and restaurants remain closed. That is largely because power is out for most of the island and few have generators or enough diesel to power them. The shops that were open Monday had long lines outside and vast empty shelves where they once held milk, meat and other perishables. Drinking water was nowhere to be found.

In Jamestown, several groups are working to collect supplies and donations and then send them to island. The Hispanic Community Council of Chautauqua County is collecting food, supplies and money to help the residents of Puerto Rico.

In a Facebook post from Sunday night, the council is encouraging are residents to donate anything from clothing, diapers, bottled water, and baby food as well as batteries, flashlights and other emergency items. Council representative Miguel Correa-Ortiz of Jamestown offered more details.

“They can bring the donations to either the Salvation Army or the American Red Cross and other Churches in the area, including the one in Russell at the Praise Fellowship,” Correa-Ortiz said. “Any donation is fine and we will be very happy as the Puerto Rican Community.”

Items can also be dropped off at two locations in Chautauqua County including the the Iglesia Nueva Vida (New Life  Church) at 502 Spring Street in Jamestown.

Correa-Ortize also offered an update on how Puerto Rican residents are holding up in the days following the storm, saying that many are still without electricity or means of communication.

“There are some provisional cell phone towers right now that will facilitate the island locally that will connect the mayors of each municipality, which is very important. There’s a region in the central area of the island that has a hospital and they have electricity. FEMA is doing a fabulous job in establishing all the generators that we need, especially in the hospitals.”

The council has set up a square-up page for monetary donations.

Jamestown Fire Fighters are also collecting water that will be sent to Puerto Rico.  Both today and Wednesday there will be a collection of water at the Morton Club on Pratt Avenue from 1 to 7 p.m.