New York this week will send 50 police officers, medical and other supplies to Puerto Rico, after the impact of Hurricane Fiona, which left the island without electricity service, flooding in the southern region and extensive damage to agriculture, Governor Kathy Hochul reported Monday.
"New York knows all too well the devastating impact Mother Nature can cause" Hochul said at a press conference referring to Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Storm Ida, which caused havoc and death in their wake.
"That is why we are ready to help the people of Puerto Rico recover and rebuild from this terrible storm."indicated the Democrat, who on Sunday contacted the island’s governor, Pedro Pierluisi, to inquire how New York could help the island.
Hochul explained that there will be a second group of 50 police officers to be sent in the following weeks and that teams from the New York Power Authority are ready to travel to Puerto Rico to help restore power.
He also indicated that he has communicated with Delta, JetBlue and Coca-Cola as well as the New York Hospital Association and the network of Latino doctors Somos, who have pledged to support efforts to help the island.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for the island, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide rapid aid to the island.
Since Hurricane Maria, New York has helped Puerto Rico obtain billions of dollars in FEMA funds to recover and rebuild the island’s energy infrastructure, in addition to having the state Power Authority conduct technical evaluations of power plants. electricity and substations on the island, recalled the governor.
Hurricane Fiona too impacted the Dominican Republic, after the catastrophe in Puerto Rico, for which Hochul has also remained in communication with its president, Luis Abinader.
