"The crisis won't bring us down, and neither does Maria" // Foto | Photo by Eric Rojas x AL Magazine
Disclaimer: I've decided to write this email mainly in English rather than Spanish because of the broken signal we all have in Puerto Rico, and so this newsletter may reach out efficiently to a wider and foreign audience. If you happen to know people outside from Puerto Rico who might be interested in knowing what's happening and helping out some way, forward this email immediately.
Here's what's happening, and this is what you can do.
As you already know Puerto Rico has gone through one of its major catastrophic natural incidents since the 1920's. Hurricane Maria has left all 78 municipalities of the state declared completely destroyed. The danger is still imminent, as a few fragile sectors keep collapsing and taking lives, days after the big event. Fortunately I was able to find my way into the Governor’s Press Conference, from where I’m currently writing from, and where the top and latest news about the country are being talked about.
So, here I summarize in bullet points the main and latest news about what’s happening in Puerto Rico right now:
Puerto Rican panorama has dramatically and completely changed, and whoever doesn’t understand that, has lost touch with reality.
Gasoline and diesel reserves are OK. Even though people are going crazy at the gas stations and making waiting lines of 3+ hours, to fill their tanks and power plants, we have enough supply, but the personnel needed to be restructured, according to the governor Ricardo Roselló.
There have been 9 confirmed certified deaths in the Island: 1 from Bayamon, 3 from Utuado, 2 from Toa Baja, 1 from Arecibo, 2 police man in Aguada.
Around 15,000 people are and have been refugeed.
Communication in the Island is at a 25% of functioning capacity and its functionality is concentrated in the Metropolitan area, the rest of the Island is a 100% isolated from communication.
Electricity reestablishment efforts will go mainly to power the Medical Center of Puerto Rico and secondly to power back the main towers of telecommunications.
The 10th highway has a section that connects to other highways, that collapsed completely.
In 2 – 3 days, 250 satellite phones will arrive to distribute to all city mayors.
The elder citizens living in asylums will be gathered at one or at a couple of main refugee centers equipped with all electricity needs, HOWEVER these run the risk of running out of basic care supplies.
There is devastation at the mountains, and the government will be paying helicopter rescue flights to heavily affected areas to rescue people.
Reestablishing everything back when Hurricane George occurred in 1998, took 7 to 8 billion dollars, and getting back from Maria will take much more money than that.
A curfew was established since the day after the hurricane from 6pm to 6am, now it has changed, from 7pm to 5am, and besides from the police, all federal agents in the Island will be activated at a local level, as Peace Officers, who will be capacitated to arrest violators of the curfew, for up to 6 months. Only immediate health and disaster officers are legally allowed to roam the streets at any hour.
The IVU Tax for prepared foods, will continue to be inactive for two more weeks in all businesses. Meaning that people do not have to pay for it for the next 2 weeks.
Keep up to date with the latest we can broadcast at our Instagram Story @armariolocal.
Help & Relief
The Puerto Rico Convention Center will function as a gathering center of all help received. It will divided into 2 sections: Help through FEMA, and help through all other efforts.
The Governor is calling out everyone to donate in an orderly and structured way, so that the help can effectively reach the people, how? By doing it through FEMA, and/or the other traditional channels such as the Red Cross Volunteers and Salvation Army.
Also, there are two telephone numbers of the Washington's PRAFA Offices you can call to come to Puerto Rico as a volunteer and or donate effectively: 202-800-3133, and 202-800-3134.
All 78 municipalities are eligible to receive help and relief from FEMA.
And 74 municipalities are eligible to apply for help from FEMA.
To apply for FEMA help: residents and business owners can start the process subscribing by Internet at www.DisasterAssistance.gov/es, calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or visiting the mobile online site at m.fema.gov/es. People with hearing or talk impairment can call 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). People that use sign language (VRS) can call 1-800-621-3362. Phone lines are open from 7am to 10pm, local hour, seven days a week. Applicants must be prepared to provide basic personal information such as: name, permanent address, phone number, insurance coverage, and any other information that can help confirm losses.
Other alternative ways of helping can be done by accessing:
Send money directly to Unidos Por Puerto Rico First Bank account: 0108501910, or Paypal: paypal.me/unitedforpuertorico
If in New York, drop off supplies at:
Queens: MoMA PS1, Thu-Mon, 12-6pm
Manhattan: Casabe Senior Houses, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Bronx: El Maestro, Inc., Mon-Fri, 2-8pm
Brooklyn: Paul’s Parish Hall, Sun, 1-5pm
Share FEMA information on how to apply for help, in Spanish, from here.
What will happen to AL Magazine? Thankfully, our offices remained intact even though the offices above ours had some exploded windows. A little water entered through the glass windows, but nothing serious.
The situation, although already extremely, extremely sad, since nobody knows when things will truly get back to normal, and it seems it will take a long time for that to happen, is particularly sad for AL Magazine the fact that since we focus on local cultural news, we get 100% left without any work or news to cover now.
Of course, our plans and aspirations have always been bigger than what you see out there. Since day 1, AL Magazine have had in its agenda, to establish itself in other cities around the world and to finally print a collection magazine of the best of the independent and emergent culture. We will continue to strive and fight for that dream, and lifetime goal.
Maybe now, its time for us to move at a greater and faster pace and go out there in the world and make some serious noise. OF COURSE, always, always, ALWAYS, coming back to our BELOVED Island, and finish what we started.
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I personally thank you for being a true supporter of our cultural management through all this time.
Any small help, know that it will have a great impact. Even if its just keeping informed people in Puerto Rico that are without communication and you can reach out to. With much love, Estefanía Colón Founder & Editor-In-Chief
A gallery of some metropolitan areas and our safe offices:
AUTHOR
Estefanía Colón
Fundadora & Editora en Jefe de AL Magazine. (y tan 0% de aburrida como esta descripción)
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Founder & Editor in Chief of AL Magazine. (and as 0% of boring as this description)
