Hurricane Maria Recovery One Year Later

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Local News

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Local News

By: Ashmar Mandou

During a press briefing at The National Museum Puerto Rican Arts and Culture on Tuesday, American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois CEO Celena Roldán welcomed Ana Montero as Recovery Executive Officer of Red Cross Puerto Rico where she provided an update on the ongoing response and recovery effort on the island.

“Last year Ana, a native of Puerto Rico, was serving as the CEO for the New Jersey Red Cross when Hurricane Irma hit Puerto Rico.  Ana never hesitated to answer the call to deploy and return home to serve.  And just a few weeks later Hurricane Maria made landfall, and it was the most devastating Hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years destroying the infrastructure and simple things we take for granted – communications, water, food and power were unavailable,” said Roldán.

 “Hurricane Maria was the most intense hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years. With a hurricane of this magnitude, the recovery can often last months, years or longer,” said Celena Roldán, CEO of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois. “Ana will be giving us insight into the unique response on the island and the great lengths the Red Cross and our partners are going through to aid in recovery efforts.” It has been over one year since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and hundreds of dedicated volunteers and staff descended upon the island to support hurricane survivors.

Hurricane Maria caused massive damage to key infrastructure across the island. Powered by the generosity of donors, the Red Cross was able to help reconnect nearly 15,000 families in 51 Puerto Rican municipalities; serve 12.8 million meals and snacks with the help of partners; distribute more than 5.2 million relief items; and provide more than 40,800 health and mental health services. “The response to Hurricane Maria will be referenced for years by the Red Cross and other disaster organizations so I am honored to be able to share some of the pivotal moments with this region,” said Ana Montero. “It takes a collection of willing volunteers to make a difference and many people who came to help were from right here in Chicago.” 

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Local News

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Local News

Photo Credit: Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois
Photo Caption: CEO of the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois welcomes Ana Montero as Recovery Executive Officer of Red Cross Puerto Rico during a press conference at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture on Tuesday, Nov. 13th.
Photo Caption 2: Recovery Executive Officer of Red Cross Puerto Rico Ana Montero shares updates the crowd on the recovery effort being made on the island.
Photo Caption 3: (Left to right) American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois CEO Celena Roldán with Recovery Executive Officer of Red Cross Puerto Rico Ana Montero.

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