Hurricane Fiona caused widespread damage and catastrophic flooding as it hit the Caribbean and Atlantic Canada. Learn more about the storm and how to help survivors through community-led relief efforts.
At least 25 storm-related deaths have been reported after Hurricane Fiona caused extreme flooding, landslides, and widespread damage.
In Puerto Rico, Fiona dumped 30 inches of rain in some areas and caused catastrophic flooding. The storm hit five years after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and killed more than 3,000 people. Many residents had not fully recovered from that storm, and thousands were still living under tarpaulin roofs.
Source: Reuters
Three and a half weeks after Hurricane Fiona knocked out power for Puerto Rico’s 3.3 million residents, service is still being restored. In the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, more than 4,000 customers are still without power after Hurricane Fiona made landfall there.
Source: Reuters + Source: The Guardian
In the Dominican Republic, more than 1 million people lost access to running water after Hurricane Fiona hit. Two-thirds of customers in Puerto Rico—more than 837,000—were cut off from water service because of water filtration issues or a lack of power. About 66,000 customers in Puerto Rico are still without water.
Source: The Associated Press + CNN
[Support community-led recovery with a donation to GlobalGiving’s Hurricane Fiona Relief Fund.]
The amount of rainfall Category 1 Hurricane Fiona caused in Puerto Rico is on par with the total from when Hurricane Maria hit the island as a Category 4 storm in 2017. In areas that are typically dry, Hurricane Fiona brought torrential downpours that couldn’t be absorbed and caused intense flooding.
Rainfall increases are one indicator of how the climate crisis is affecting storms. Warming oceans mean more energy for storms, making them more intense as they form. A warmer atmosphere leads to more moisture and more precipitation as a result.
Source: NBC News + Vox + AccuWeather
GlobalGiving’s Disaster Response Team is working with responding partners to meet the immediate needs of Hurricane Fiona survivors and first responders. Once urgent needs are met, the GlobalGiving Hurricane Fiona Relief Fund will transition to support community-led, long-term recovery efforts as needed.
Our long-term partners on the ground in Puerto Rico are contending with damaged bridges and roads and extensive flooding that has forced many people from their homes. “Our hearts are broken, but we are ready to act,” Ariadna Michelle Godreau Aubert of Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico told the GlobalGiving team. “We are … ready to respond to a catastrophic scenario that will require immediate assistance but also social impact advocacy. After five years of walking amidst disasters, we have learned a lot. We are tired and sad, but also hopeful. We know how to respond, how to defend, how to protect. And we need you all more than ever.”
Source: GlobalGiving Hurricane Fiona Relief Fund
Why? Survivors’ needs vary greatly throughout the life cycle of recovery. Some will require financial support, medical care, and psychological assistance years down the road. You can learn more about the importance of cash donations in this infographic.
Source: GlobalGiving + USAID Center for International Disaster Information
Note: This article was originally published on Sept. 20, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. and updated on Oct. 12, 2022 at 10:18 a.m.
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