The U.S. Involvement and Aftermath Effects of Hurricane Maria

The U.S. Involvement and Aftermath Effects of Hurricane Maria

Civilians Aid During Hurricane Maria

On September 20th, 2017 the powerful category four hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico leaving the entire island demolished and deluged with feet of rain. This is a humanitarian disaster that has left 3.4 million Puerto Ricans without food, shelter, power and a place to call home. In response to this tragedy many Americans have responded strongly to help assist the 3.4 million Puerto Ricans that are in desperate need for help and assistance. Amongst those that around the United States is a man named Jose Andres who owns 30 restaurants around the U.S. He brought along a large group of volunteers and chefs to help serve Puerto Ricans. Albeit the fact that he is not part of a disaster relief program or unit he used his talented cooking skills and passion to help alleviate the detrimental effects left after Hurricane Maria. On the first day of is arrival in Puerto Rico, Andres cooked around 1,000 meals. Together with his group of chefs and volunteers they collectively have made around 3 million meals for the hunger. On one large table 900 people collectively put together food such as sandwiches, cooked meals etc. He arrived Monday right after the Hurricane hit the Island and was more than determined to help in any way. He teamed up with a local chef named Jose Enrique and soon enough together they were cooking over 100,000 meals per day. He now has a non profit organization called World Central Kitchen that was created to help alleviate hunger after the Hurricane. It was originated after the earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010. He has cooked more meals than other relief organizations stationed in Puerto Rico such as Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Jose Andre and his efforts towards Puerto Rico’s hurricane relief interview with Anderson Cooper was featured on November 26, 2017 on CBS news 60 Minutes..

Other American civilians who have reached out and showing support to Puerto Rico are celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez who has donated 1 million dollars. Ricky Martin who has collected more 2.2 million dollars. Popstar Pitbull has also donated his own personal private planes to help transfer sick patients with cancer to the U.S to receive and continue with immediate medical aid. In response to the destructive hurricane. Bethany Frankel, from the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City has charted approximately four planes in immediate efforts to help Hurricane Maria victims. She has refers to Puerto Rico as the “forgotten island”. She and her crew supplied canned foods and goods as well as medical supplies, baby food, diapers and many more. She has also supplied them with $25,000 in cash and gift cards along with $30,000 in costco gift cards.

Local and International organizations

Organizations that have reached out to Puerto Rico are the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and UNICEF to just name a few. Brought forth by the First Lady of Puerto Rico, Beatriz Rosselló has initiated United For Puerto Rico with the purpose of providing aid towards the relief of Hurricane Maria. This non profit organization mission is to assist people and communities in hopes to assist their recovery. It is lead by a district board that consists of 11 private sections. Amongst these are sectors such as Microsoft Puerto Rico, Walmart, First Bank etc. Their main objectives that they have constructed consist of immediate aid to those in need which will meet their basic needs which is food, water, supplies, power, healthcare, and federal assistance with FEMA. Aiding small businesses with financial help so they can quickly resume business and operation is also part of their plan and goal. Their targets are children, disabled persons, single mothers, homeless people and the elderly. The well known, American Red Cross is also a big part of the relief towards the damage done to Puerto Rico. Their domestic response has come with providing food and water,while also helping to unite families back together. Employees and volunteers working on the ground deploys an immense amount of supplies towards the civilians of Puerto Rico. Power is one of the major issues that was lost due to the hurricane. Eight out of every ten people are without power since this powerful hurricane hit. The Red Cross has taken that into consideration by importing cellular devices and technology. These volunteers and workers are operating 15 hours a day, six days a week. They are currently working with partners and government officials disaster relief programs to help the millions of people affected by the hurricane .Other organizations they work alongside with are The Salvation army and Save the Children. The Salvation army is also another great organization that comes together during a time of crisis internationally. What the Salvation Army does is to continue to provide the basic and essential goods to individuals across Puerto Rico. In order to make sure and ensure they can put forth their best efforts and work they work alongside other local and international organizations and partners. Their mission is to ensure they provide and send services and goods to those who are in desperate immediate need. Specifically in Puerto Rico, the Salvation Army has given around 8,000 meals in San Juan, Fajardo, Loiza, and Humacao. This sums up to be around an average of 78,000 meals since the destruction of Hurricane Maria. They have also delivered supplies and hot meals to an estimate of 22,500 survivors. The Salvation Army are constantly moving and operating with their emergency mobile tents in works of giving needed supplies, food and even emotional support to the people of Puerto Rico . Save The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children is a an organization that focuses on the safety and well being of children when natural disasters occur across the globe. This non-profit organization gives relief and help support children in developing nations. They are currently working closely with local partners, FEMA and Red Cross. Their man focus and goal is to ensure children in developing nations and in need of dire help receive the medical. They have reached out to 120 nations including Puerto Rico since the category four hurricane has struck the Island.

Hurricane Maria's environmental affects on animals in El Yunque National Rain Forest

Located in Luquillo Puerto Rico, El Yunque National Rainforest is one of Puerto Rico’s main tourist attractions and is also the only tropical rain forest in the United States forest system. The rainforest houses more than 50 different bird species and also contains more than 240 varieties of trees, 23 of which cannot be found elsewhere . Hurricane Maria destroyed the trees of the rainforest by stripping the tree trunks of the dark-green moss which acts as an absorbent agent to hold rainwater which is then released into streams and then into community water systems. The bird community was also severely hit. Not only were their food destroyed due to Maria’s 155 mph winds but the winds were the cause of death for birds such as the Puerto Rican Parrot and Yellow- Shouldered Blackbird and various bat populations.

Puerto Rican Parrot

In 1493, Taíno inhabitants and the Puerto Rican parrot greeted Christopher Columbus when he sailed into the Caribbean island now known as Puerto Rico During the sixteenth century it was estimated that there were a million of these white-ringed eye birds which Taínos called Higuaca inhabiting areas of Puertos smaller island such as Mona, Vieques and the Virgin Islands. The livelihood of the colorful bright-green Puerto Rican parrot an endangered species living in El Yunque is of significant concern because they can only be found in Puerto Rico and are also the only native parrot species in the United States. The 28,000 acre (19,650 hectare) Caribbean National Forest, known locally as El Yunque, is the sole remaining forest habitat where the few surviving wild Puerto Rican parrots find trees with cavities suitable for nesting and seeds and fruits to forage Many of the parrots have died due to deforestation, competition from other species and hunting . Additionally, the parrots population has decreased due to Hurricane Hugo which hit Puerto on September 1989 destroying more than half the parrots in the wild. Today, after Hurricane Maria there are at least forty parrots living on the island

Yellow- Shouldered Black Bird

Another one of Puerto Rico’s inhabitant that can only be found on the island is the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird. The coastal songbird is the primary host of a brood parasite, the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), which arrived in Puerto Rico in 1955. By 1976, nearly all blackbird nests on the Puerto Rican mainland contained cowbird eggs. Brood parasitism caused significant reduction in Yellow-shoulder nesting success. Yellow-shoulder numbers on Puerto Rico were estimated to be 2400 in 1975, but had dwindled to less than half that number by 1983. The blackbird was classified as endangered in 1976 . Its varied diet is composed of arthropods, nectar, fruit and seeds, usually obtained in trees and shrubs, and also grains and human foods taken at ground level. The species' coastal habitats were hard-hit by Hurricane Maria, and currently there are no update on the bird’s population since the hurricane hit.

Bats

Over a million bats with over 13 varying species call Puerto Rico their home. A majority of the bats in Puerto Rico live in caves and though they may have avoided high mortality rates the bat and bird populations will be faced with the daunting task of finding new tree habitats and scavenging for food. Nectar feeders and fruit eaters are going to have a very hard time because all the major fruit and nectar trees are down. As bat populations recover, they will play a crucial role in pollinating and dispersing seeds that will help Puerto Rican forests recover . Some experts say the island’s environment will recover and eventually flourish. Hurricanes are part of Puerto Rico, natural cleansers of the tropical ecosystem, scientists say.

Tourism

Three-quarters of residents in Puerto Rico still do not have power, but San Juan was just named one of the best cities to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet, the popular guide book publisher. Restaurants and shops are still without power. Beaches are closed for swimming because of possible water contamination.The primary focus is on rebuilding the parts of the island that were heavily hit by Maria but the idea hopes to be for tourists by December 20. Many travelers, unsure what to expect, have canceled plans to visit. A full recovery from Maria will hinge in large part on how fast tourists return. In a typical year, Puerto Rico attracts more than five million visitors who spend nearly $4 billion. The industry creates jobs for more than 80,000 people . Airports and cruise ports are operational, and more than 100 hotels are open and operating. Promoting ecotourism, for example, may not be viable if natural attractions — like the mystical, glow-in-the-dark biobays and the tropical oasis of El Yunque rainforest have not recovered from the storm.

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