Disaster Response Puerto Rico Project #29859

FUEL RELIEF - HURRICANE MARIA

Project Report | Nov 9, 2017
FUELING PUERTO RICO

By Lidewij Honcharik | Project Leader

FOOD or FUEL?

This is a choice many Puerto Ricans have had to make on a daily basis following Hurricane Maria.

The situation on the island is unprecedented. Six weeks following the devastating hurricane, the majority of people on the island still have no electricity and rely on generators to provide power. Therefore they all have to rely on FUEL. The demand for fuel is high and prices have gone up. Although more gas stations have opened, people still cannot access or afford fuel. We have received numerous requests from hospitals, dialysis clinics and elderly care facilities whose patients are running out of funds for trips for dialysis and healthcare visits or from people who cannot run their home generators long enough to meet their medical needs.

Therefore, Fuel Relief Fund has decided to make a third trip to the island! Our dedicated volunteers have arrived and are giving away free fuel today. This could not have happened without your unwavering support. THANKS for all your donations. We know we have relied heavily on your charitable gifts in the last 3 months! Please know that has enabled us to provide so much support to victims of Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria.

While we continue our work in Puerto Rico now, we already:

- gave away over 50,000 gallons of fuel

- helped over 40,000 people with either fuel for transportation or fuel for generators

- helped over 15 cities/municipalities (Loiza, Arecibo, Comerio, Barceloneta, Utuado, Orocovis, Ciales, Cataño, Corozal, Vieques, Humacao, Fishermen, Arecibo, Guaynabo, Barranquitas)

- worked with locally owned branded gas stations to purchase and distribute fuel (Total, Shell, Puma)

- worked and received support from local government officials (Secretary of State: Luis Gerardo Rivera Marin, Senators: Eric Correa and Jose Perez Rosa, Representatives: Antonio Soto, Jose Gonzales Mercado and Urayoan Hernandez Alvarado and numerous mayors) most of whom even assisted by pumping fuel in jerry cans and cars.

FUEL SAVES LIVES

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