Local help for Puerto Rico
Whether or not the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has done all it can to aid in Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria will be debated for years to come, but in the meantime the people of the island continue to suffer.
Nearly 50 days after the hurricane hit more than half of Puerto Rico’s homes and businesses––867,000––are without electricity. Officials say it could be months more before all power is restored.
A month after Maria struck, more than a third of households in the U.S. territory––around one million citizens––were without safe drinking water, and there are many areas still where no quick solution is in sight.
Fortunately, the official government response is not the only help forthcoming. Numerous individuals and independent groups always step in to help whenever a natural disaster strikes.
One such organization is SIFAT, based in Randolph County. As they did following hurricane devastation in Haiti, SIFAT has responded to help improve the drinking water situation in Puerto Rico.
Other local groups also responded when storms and flooding devastated parts of Texas, collecting donations and sending trucks full of relief supplies.
Puerto Rico is harder to reach, though, and that’s where the greatest urgency and need is now. That’s where SIFAT, which has missions and work throughout the Southern Hemisphere, comes in.
And that’s where we can help the citizens of Puerto Rico, by funneling our contributions through SIFAT. If you are able to help, donations can be made to SIFAT PR Relief Effort, 2944 County Road 113, Lineville, AL 36266.
