Hurricane Maria Relief News for Today - Research and Commentary

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley delivers food and water from FEMA to Vieques, Puerto Rico, Sept. 22, 2017. The crew offloaded 750 liters of bottled water and 1,440 meals. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley)

Here is the latest news about the relief and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands due to Hurricane Maria.

Airports and Seaports

Based upon incomplete information
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) San Juan, PR (some commercial flights)
Rafael Hernandez Airport (BQN) Aguadilla, PR
Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG) San Juan, PR
St. Thomas VI International Airport
St. Croix VI airfield (to receive critical supplies)

The U.S. Coast Guard [9/24/2017] reports the ports of Salinas and Tallaboa are fully open, and the ports of Guayanilla, San Juan, Fajardo, Culebra, Guayama, and Vieques are open with restrictions in Puerto Rico.
The ports of Crown Bay, East Gregerie Channel, West Gregerie Channel, and Redhook Bay on St. Thomas, the ports of Krause Lagoon, Limetree Bay, and Frederiksted on St. Croix, and the port of Cruz Bay on St. John are open with restrictions. Other ports are undergoing assessments.

As of Monday, September 25, limited ferry service is available during daylight hours in Puerto Rico to transport emergency supplies to Vieques and Culebra.

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Philip C. Sackett, with Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands, helps escort U.S. citizens to the evacuation control center at Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica, Sept. 24, 2017. The control center was set up to assist in the voluntary evacuation of U.S. citizens stranded on Dominica after Hurricane Maria. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ian Leones)

Search and Rescue

Eight FEMA Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) task forces continue to conduct operations in Puerto Rico. To date, the US&R teams rescued 516 lives and two pets, while searching over 2,500 structures.

U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and U.S. Sailors with Expeditionary Strike Group 2 remove a tree branch blocking a road in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 25, 2017. The 26th MEU is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, and local authorities in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with the combined goal of protecting the lives and safety of those in affected areas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Santino D. Martinez)

Water and Power

Temporary Emergency Power assessments are underway in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. With 83 generators in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and nine generators are installed. An additional 186 generators are en route to the impacted area.

Hospitals

In Puerto Rico, power is restored to the following hospitals:Centro Médico Hospital in San Juan, also serving as the HHS Disaster Medical Assistance Team Base of Operations for critical and acute care services AND San Pablo Hospital in Bayamón
The Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital in St. Croix and the Schneider Regional Medical Center Emergency Room in St. Thomas were re-energized and re-established as mobile hospitals over the weekend
More than half of the dialysis centers in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are now operational.

U.S Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) load supplies and equipment on to a U.S. Navy landing craft, utility in the well deck of the USS Kearsarge, in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 25, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan A. Soto-Delgado)

Communications

FCC 9/25/2017
Both 911 Call Centers in Puerto Rico are operational. St. Thomas VI is partially operational. St. Croix VI is completely down.
91.2 percent of cell sites are out of service. 34/78 counties have no cell service. No county has more than 25 percent of its sites operational.
In the Virgin Islands, 60.4 percent of cell sites are out of service.

U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), exit U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Utility 1654 to assist in support relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Maria in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Sept. 25, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexis C. Schneider)

Personnel

Navy - 2,400+
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) - 2,200+
Virginia National Guard - 450
Missouri National Guard - 30 & UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters
Kentucky Air National Guard - 7 to reopen airfields
Puerto Rico National Guard - 2,200
Utah Air National Guard - 6 reestablish communications
Army Corps of Engineers - 670
Department of Health and Human Services - 300+
Department of the Interior - 139
Environmental Protection Agency - 100

Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crew offloads 450 liters of water to the people of Coral Bay, St. John, Sept. 22, 2017. The Napier’s crew also provided the local fire department diesel fuel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier)

New Deliveries

9/26 Twitter: #Maria Update: @FEMA & fed partners have provided +4 million meals, +6 million liters of water, 70,000 tarps; 15,000 rolls of roof sheeting
In Puerto Rico, five flights are scheduled to arrive today with mobile communications, helicopters, and medical teams and equipment.
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, 11 flights are scheduled to arrive Monday with 200,000 meals, 144,000 liters of water, and tarps.
Barge movements are scheduled to arrive with over 70,000 tarps, vehicles and relief cargo.
USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group … delivered 44,177 pounds of relief supplies and cargo to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies is providing 12 generators to Puerto Rico Center for Independent Living and The University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities.
VI - Four portable reverse osmosis drinking water treatment units from the Department of Defense

A U.S. Navy landing craft, utility assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) exits the well deck carrying personnel, supplies and equipment to support relief efforts in Puerto Rico aboard, Sept. 25, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan A. Soto-Delgado)

Navy and Coast Guard Response

USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group - USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), USS Wasp (LHD-1) [Leeward Islands] and USS Oak Hill (LSD-51)
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
602nd Area Support Medical Company (VI)
Civil Authority Information Support Element (VI)
Coast Guard - 13 cutters and 10 aircraft

Sources

Federal Response Continues to Focus on Saving and Sustaining Lives FEMA 9/25/2017
Federal Agencies Continue Hurricane Maria Response and Relief Operations FEMA 9/25/2017