According to Reuters, over 1.5 million people in Puerto Rico have been without power or running water for days after a deadly Hurricane Fiona made its landfall on the Caribbean island archipelago, on Sunday two days before the five-year anniversary of the 2017 Hurricane María. Though less powerful than Maria, Fiona resulted in heavy flooding, and the collapse of the national grid, cutting power and other dependent services like water supply on the US-territory.
President Joe Biden today announced an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration to ensure the full force of the Federal government is mobilized to support the people of the US-territory. But, social justice activists are criticizing President Biden’s disaster response plan for excluding majority Afro-Puerto Rican communities, such as Loíza.
Puerto Ricans’ have been decrying poor services on the island for years, which makes residents more vulnerable to the effects on natural disasters.
While reports of extremely hot weather are currently coming from the island, Residents will have to stay put as the power company LUMA has said “full restoration could take several days.” Residents and concerned parties have since taken to social media in an effort to help themselves, pleading for aid from well-wishers.
Some parties are discouraging donations to the Red Cross or the Puerto Rican government, opting for community-based organizations instead, accusing the two institutions of corruption.
Fresh reports coming from the Atlantic say the tropical storm is now headed northward towards Bermuda and the state of New England, having strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm on Wednesday.
