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SALT LAKE CITY — Residents in Puerto Rico Tuesday continued to cope with a humanitarian crisis — including shortages of food, drinking water, electricity and various forms of communication — after Hurricane Maria devastated the island earlier this month.
President Trump said Tuesday that he'll visit Puerto Rico next Tuesday. His administration has been criticized for its response to the damage on the island that is home to more than 3 million U.S. citizens.
Power remained out for most of Puerto Rico Tuesday and most food stores and restaurants remained closed. However, some supermarkets gradually began to re-open, the Associated Press reported.
The shops that were open Monday had long lines outside and vast empty shelves where they once held milk, meat and other perishables. Drinking water was nowhere to be found, according to the AP report.
Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said the island faces a humanitarian crisis and urged Congress to approve a commensurate aid package, according to CNN.
How to help
Many organizations are collecting donations to help those affected by the hurricane in Puerto Rico. They include:
- UNICEF
- Catholic Relief Services
- Americares
- United for Puerto Rico (spearheaded by the First Lady of Puerto Rico)
- All Hands Volunteers
- American Red Cross
- Salvation Army
- LDS Philanthropies Humanitarian Services Giving
The Federal Trade Commission warns citizens to do some research before making a donation, because disasters often spawn scams. Review the FTC's Charity Checklist and Signs of a Charity Scam here.
And Charity Navigator provides a list of charities responding to Hurricane Maria, with information on each reputable organization.
