Coast Guard continues efforts with federal, local partners to deliver aide to Puerto Rican communities impacted by Hurricane Maria

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 10/13/2017 06:52 PM EDT

united states coast guard

News Release  

Oct. 13, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard
MIAMI
Office: 305-415-6683
786-367-7649

U.S. Coast Guard 
PUERTO RICO
Office: 787-729-2381
787-510-7923

Press inquiries: MariaUSCGD7@gmail.com
786-254-6316

Photos/Video Available: Coast Guard continues efforts with federal, local partners to deliver aide to Puerto Rican communities impacted by Hurricane Maria

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution photos and video. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Coast Guard, FEMA, U.S. Army and Puerto Rico “Hacienda” personnel combined efforts throughout the week to deliver water and thousands of meals to local towns and isolated affected regions as part of ongoing Hurricane Maria relief efforts on the island.

 

“The Coast Guard continues to work with FEMA, DOD, volunteer organizations and local partners in the response following Hurricane Maria,” said Capt. Eric King, Coast Guard Hurricane Maria Incident Commander. “I could not be prouder of our cutter, boat, aircraft, and ground crews who have spent the last several weeks working day and night to conduct search and rescue, open ports and bring relief to hurricane stricken areas by air, land and sea.”

 

Thursday Oct. 12, 2017:

 A convoy comprised of Coast Guard Investigative Service, Coast Guard TACLET South, Army Reserve personnel and Hacienda law enforcement officers traveled to the municipality of Utuado, Puerto Rico, located in the central mountainous region of the island, which had been heavily impacted by Hurricane Maria Oct. 12, 2017. Despite the land slides in the area and cut-off road ways, the joint team delivered FEMA relief supplies consisting of five pallets of food and three of water to local residents in the area. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios. A child stands in what is left of his house in Utuado, Puerto Rico, which was almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Maria Oct. 12, 2017. Despite the land slides in the area and cut-off road ways, the joint team of Coast Guard, Army, and Puerto Rico "Hacienda" delivered FEMA relief supplies consisting of five pallets of food and three of water to local residents in the area. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios.  
A resident of Utuado, Puerto Rico, gives a "thumbs up" after receiving water from members of the Coast Guard, U.S. Army and Puerto Rico “Hacienda” as part of ongoing Hurricane Maria relief efforts Oct. 12, 2017. Despite the land slides in the area and cut-off road ways, the joint team delivered FEMA relief supplies consisting of five pallets of food and three of water to local residents in the area. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios.  Members of the Coast Guard, FEMA, U.S. Army and Puerto Rico “Hacienda” deliver water and meals to local residents of Utuado, Puerto Rico, as part of ongoing Hurricane Maria relief efforts Oct. 12, 2017. Despite the land slides in the area and cut-off road ways, the joint team delivered FEMA relief supplies consisting of five pallets of food and three of water to local residents in the area. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios.

 

A convoy comprised of Coast Guard Investigative Service, Coast Guard TACLET South, Army Reserve personnel and Hacienda law enforcement officers led a convoy to the municipality of Utuado, located in the central mountainous region of the island, which had been heavily impacted by Hurricane Maria. Despite the land slides in the area and cut-off road ways, the joint team delivered FEMA relief supplies consisting of five pallets of food and three of water to local residents in the area.

 

Wednesday Oct. 11, 2017:

 

A convoy comprised of CGIS, Coast Guard TACLET South, Army Reserve personnel and Hacienda law enforcement officers led a convoy to the eastern coastal town of Punta Santiago, Humacao, where they delivered FEMA relief supplies consisting of five pallets of food and three of water to local residents.

 

In a second mission to Utuado, a combined team of CGIS and Coast Guard Health Services personnel went to conduct an assessment for a potential medevac of a local citizen. After treating the patient on scene, the team was redirected to an area where the roads had been washed out and access for transportation vehicles had been cut off. The Coast Guard team hiked through the difficult terrain and gained access to an isolated community, where they were able to deliver water to over 70 families.

 

Tuesday Oct. 10, 2017:

 A convoy comprised of the Coast Guard, FEMA, and the U.S. Army delivered eight pallets of food and water to the mountainous region of Villalba, Puerto Rico, in support of Hurricane Maria relief efforts Oct. 10, 2017. As part of the Department of Homeland Security team, the Coast Guard is linked directly to FEMA and the overall federal hurricane recovery phase of the response to Hurricane Maria. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David Flores.

 

A convoy comprised of CGIS, Coast Guard TACLET South, Army Reserve personnel and Hacienda law enforcement officers led a convoy to the mountainous region of Villalba, Puerto Rico, where they delivered FEMA relief supplies consisting of four pallets of food and four of water.

 

“The devastation caused by Hurricane Maria to these areas was significant,” said Miguel Rivera, Coast Guard Special Investigative Service Resident Agent-in-Charge for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Our Coast Guardsmen are proud to be able to serve our citizens.”

 

-USCG-

IMPORTANT LINKS

Official U.S. Coast Guard Hurricane Maria Response News

Official U.S. Coast Guard Hurricane Maria video and imagery

FEMA Hurricane Maria resources