Severe weather forecasts indicate a brutal 2020. The U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 13-19 named storms, the majority of which will become hurricanes before reaching landfall*. As resources are already stretched thin in response to COVID-19 and the economic fall-out, first responders are concerned about what this means for disaster relief in places that are still recovering from past environmental emergencies. Recovery has been especially difficult on the islands of Puerto Rico.
After Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico in 2017, Footprint Project partnered with Oscar Ruiz and Sail Relief Team to tackle some of the most pressing problems after the storm. Together with Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, Clean Energy Group, Blue Haven Initiative, and the Puerto Rico Science Technology and Research Trust, we built a solar trailer for Vieques and installed permanent solar battery systems in four community centers. In the months after Maria, the Footprint Project donated over 1,000 solar panels to farmers on the island of Vieques. We’re proud of this work, but there is still more work to do.
Hurricane Maria was the worst storm to strike the islands in over 80 years, residents are still on the road to recovery.
As restoration efforts continue, the islands have faced more destruction. Since the beginning of this year, Puerto Rico has already endured about twelve earthquakes of M5 or greater, and two hurricanes, Hanna and Isaias. When the earthquakes occurred in January, Footprint Project partnered again with the Sail Relief Team and deployed ten mobile solar systems and charging stations.
On July 31st, approximately 400,000 residents struggled to obtain access to the power grid. Due to recent efforts, that number has now decreased to around 20,000.
In partnership with Empowered By Light (and with the help of Oscar and Sail Relief Team), Footprint Project is in the process of mobilizing a new solar unit known as Mobile Solar Incident Command Center (MSICC). In addition to the multiple portable solar generators the team already has stationed on the island, this asset will provide accessible and clean energy.
Without the long standing partners who have provided Footprint Project with invaluable support and have facilitated the relocation of several solar assets, deployments in Puerto Rico would not be possible.
A large part of disaster response is adapting to the fast-changing circumstances that often create adversities along the way. For instance, the Empowered By Light Trailer would ideally have been constructed and relocated before Hurricane Isaias hit, but with the unpredictability of extreme weather, the Footprint Project and Sail Relief Team had to pause operations. Now that Isaias has passed, operations are again underway. More updates to come on the development of this new unit.
The breadth and reach of Footprint Project has grown considerably in the past couple of years. As daunting as 2020 is, volunteers from all across the country are stepping up to help combat the additional friction.
Thank you to all who have helped to fund our work in Puerto Rico. We are proud to stand with and support these local communities as they build back greener.
If you’d like to contribute to Footprint Project and support future deployments in Puerto Rico and beyond, make a donation today!
* source Link : https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/busy-atlantic-hurricane-season-predicted-for-2020
