Fiona struck Puerto Rico on Sunday, causing massive flooding and a near-total blackout – just days before the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria.
Ceiba is a small beachside town just over 60 miles from Salinas, one of the areas hardest-hit by Hurricane Fiona. Sherly Torres is a Providence resident with family in Ceiba. She’s been staying in touch with them via WhatsApp. Like most of the island, she said the majority of her family is still without power or running water. A tree crashed into her uncle’s roof, destroying his kitchen.
“They definitely went without power during the main stage of the hurricane. Eventually, I think my aunt got power,” she said. “Our main concern was our grandmother, because she lives on her own.”
Torres feels helpless, but she’s preparing for the possibility that family from the island might have to move to the mainland U.S. if the situation continues. “We honestly feel uncertainty for the most part,” she said.
In the Dominican Republic, severe flooding has also left many without power or water, particularly on the east side of the island. Cranston resident Ogalis Hernandez has family there. She says her father’s home had water up to his knees.
“My eldest brother’s house lost part of the roof,” she said. Nonetheless, she’s optimistic. “We expect it to be fixed by the weekend.”
Fiona is the first hurricane to hit the Dominican Republic directly since Hurricane Jeanne in 2004. Many homes in the eastern region are still waiting for help from the government. Hurricane Fiona may have caused up to eight deaths in Puerto Rico, and two in the Dominican Republic. On both islands, bridges and roads were destroyed, making it difficult for government and relief agencies to reach some homes.
Before Fiona, Puerto Rico’s infrastructure was still recovering from the massive destruction of Hurricane Maria. As of Thursday morning, approximately 70% of Puerto Rico is still without power, and 40% of residents are without water.
Here are a few verified organizations accepting donations to support relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic: Techos P’a Mi Gente; Taller Salud; Brigada Solidaria del Oeste; Plenitud PR; GoFundMe.
