Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 18; weeks later, the island nation is still reeling. The storm was a category 1 hurricane, yet it brought widespread flooding dumping half as much rain as some parts of the country gets in a year. Electrical infrastructure was affected across the country and entire neighborhoods were flooded out. More than 100,000 people across the country are still without power. President Biden declared an emergency in Puerto Rico, calling on both the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate disaster relief efforts for residents.Here are a few ways to help.GlobalGivingGlobalGiving is a non-profit that helps connect other non-profits with donors has launched a Hurricane Fiona relief fund with a goal of $1 million. Consider donating.Funds raised will help first responders “meet survivors' immediate needs” for food, shelter, fuel, clean water, and hygiene products, according to GlobalGiving.Hispanic FederationThe non-profit supports Latin American countries and was quickly on the ground in Puerto Rico. They also have a Hurricane Fiona relief fund if you’re interested in donating. “Because Puerto Rico is still rebuilding from the damage of Maria, the flooding and power outages caused by Fiona are already far more severe and life-threatening than they should be,” according to the organization.Red CrossCross deploying to Alaska following a monsoon, Puerto Rico, and now Florida, the Red Cross sends volunteers into disaster zones to provide support to the people there. Consider supporting the organization. Taller SaludTaller Salud is a women-led non-profit and is trying to source items such as nonperishable food, adult and baby diapers, gallons of water, toiletries, and more. They also accept monetary donations if that’s more accessible. As with any type of donation or monetary support be sure that wherever you’re donating is an attributed and reputable non-profit to avoid scams that pop up around disasters.
