Leisally Oyola, 25, is worried. Like thousands of Puerto Ricans, the young woman took to social media to express her feelings of frustration and anxiety prior to the impact of the approaching Tropical Storm Dorian.
“Do you know why I can't 'relax' with the situation? Because in my house, a home was lost. Do you know why I can't 'relax'? Because I saw people die; because I was completely disconnected from friends from villages far from me; because even though I never ran out of food, I know that many did; because drinking water was a great struggle; because I feel and remember Maria as if it had been yesterday,” reads a post she made on her Facebook page that has been shared by several people with whom her message resonated.
Despite the fact that almost two years have passed since Hurricane Maria struck the island, the pain brought by the Maria and its aftermath is still raw in the soul of the inhabitants of the island.
“To those who believe, pray, pray with much fervor, to see if Dorian leaves. The rest, in our own way, we will do the same. Much love, peace and calm to all. If you need me, you know where to find me,” Oyola's post concludes.
That last sentence, "If you need me, you know where to find me," is a clear reflection of the population's lack of confidence in government management and of a great teaching that Maria left: the first line of response are the communities themselves.
Recent news, dotted by Ricardo Roselló's scandalous departure from the government and a controversial government transition, sharpens widespread distrust in the authorities.
On Tuesday, the secretary of the government, Zoé Laboy, said that the Joint Operational Plan for Catastrophic Incidents will be disclosed after Tropical Storm Dorian passes Puerto Rico.
“That plan is going to be made public. What happens is that there are certain things that are confidential for security reasons … the rest of the plan will go out public as soon as we finish with Dorian,” Laboy said in a interview on Radio Isla, a local station.
She indicated that former Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares had not signed the plan. Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced, who just recently took office, and the secretary of the Department of Public Security (DSP), Elmer Román, signed the plan in the past few days.
She indicated that former Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares had not signed the plan. Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced, who just recently took office, and the secretary of the Department of Public Security (DSP), Elmer Román, signed the plan in the past few days.
Post Maria damage predominates on the island
This June 18, 2018 photo shows an aerial view of the Amelia neighborhood in the municipality of Catano, east of San Juan, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Dennis M. Rivera)
Carlos Contreras, the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP), said that there are still more than 1,000 roads impacted by landslides in Puerto Rico that have not been fixed and put citizens' security at risk.
Also, the issue of blue tarps since the passage of Hurricane Maria in September 2017 remains a concern for several mayors who have activated plans ahead of Dorian.
Only hours before the anticipated passage of Dorian through the southwest of Puerto Rico, there are still 1,418 families living with expired blue tarps on the roofs of their houses in this area.
Roberto Ramírez, mayor of Cabo Rojo, one of the towns that will experience the effects of Dorian, said there are about 350 families with blue tarps in his town.
"We are very concerned about this situation and we are attending to it," Ramirez said in a interview with WKAQ, a local radio station.
Regarding the issue of the electrical system, environmental journalist Gerardo E. Alvarado León reported exclusively that three of the five helicopters that make up the air fleet of the Electric Power Authority (PREPA) are inoperative.
According to the sources of the journalist, among the damaged helicopters is the "Super Puma," which is the only one that can lift transmission towers and carry heavy equipment to remote areas.
Also, during the weekend, it came to light that more than half of the units of the power generating plants of the island are out of service, which represents a growing problem in the face of the demonstrated fragility of the energy system of the island.
However, Vázquez said Puerto Rico is better prepared for a disaster than it was when Maria struck. The island’s Electric Power Authority has a vast inventory of equipment to cope with storm damage -- $141 million worth compared with $22 million during Maria.
That includes more than 23,000 poles, 120,000 lights and 7,400 transformers. Also, she said the power company has signed 33 deals with power companies on the U.S. mainland if more help is needed after Dorian passes.
Government agencies try to mitigate possible damage
In this Sept. 20, 2017 file photo, electricity poles and lines lie toppled on the road after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)
The mayor of Ponce, María "Mayita" Meléndez, began to evacuate communities in the coastal area of the municipality, which is located on the island's southern coast, in the face of the heavy rains that will be brought by Dorian.
The municipal executive said her town is prepared with 11 shelters for the benefit of some 1,200 families still living under blue tarps.
Similarly, the commissioner of the Police Bureau, Henry Escalera Rivera, suspended the days off and vacations to activate the police and officers in 12-hour shifts to advance work.
The official said Ponce is ready with 22 electric generators, 13 water cisterns, 3,366 portable radios, 85% of the telephone panels have migrated to the fiber optic system, 10 satellite phone units were acquired and the fleet was expanded to 211 vehicles, which include 150 motorboats.
For its part, the Department of the Family of Puerto Rico advanced the benefits of the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN) to the 143,661 families that were scheduled to receive their benefit the first week of September.
As of August 2019, the PAN program benefits 706,419 families living below the poverty level on the island.
Rainfall of 4-8 inches and wind gusts of 60-80 mph are forecast over the Dominican Republic and western Puerto Rico. Locally higher amounts of rain can occur over the mountains.
The combination of steep terrain and heavy rainfall will lead to incidents of flash flooding and mudslides, regardless of prior drought conditions over the Dominican Republic and western Puerto Rico. Locally gusty winds can trigger sporadic power outages.
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