In September of 2017, Hurricane Maria broke records as the largest disaster in Puerto Rico since 1928. 155-mile-per hour winds knocked out power for the entire U.S. territory. Thousands of island residents continue to live without electricity, water and sanitation. Save the Children is committed to helping more than 200,000 children and adults who live in the 40 communities where the needs are greatest.
Recovery progress overall has been slow; the level of destruction is massive and families are struggling under the hardship and loss that the storm has caused. Many schools were damaged and continue to be closed for long periods of time.
Save the Children continues to be on the ground, providing ongoing support. We distribute clean water, family hygiene supplies, shelter/home repair kits and solar light kits. We provide emotional support to children dealing with stress and uncertainty. And our goal is to provide children ages 0-18 access to education, so they can continue to grow and learn.
Save the Children is prioritizing rural, low-income communities where damage was extreme and where children and families have the fewest resources to aid in their recovery. We seek to ensure that children, families, caregivers and communities are resilient and ready for the next disaster. We seek to benefit more than 200,000 children and adults in 40 communities through September of 2019.
