N.Y. TO RESCUE
J.Lo & Cuomo lead push to get P.R. back on its feet
POP STAR Jennifer Lopez joined other Puerto Rican celebrities and Gov. Cuomo on Sunday to launch a state effort to funnel aid to storm wracked Puerto Rico.
Officials will be collecting bigbucks donations from businesses and encouraging New Yorkers to drop off needed supplies after Hurricane Maria knocked out power and left much of the island in ruins.
“This is going to be a long, hard road for Puerto Rico,” Cuomo said at Manhattan’s Javits Center, where donations will be coordinated.
“Puerto Rico needs help and needs it urgently,” added Cuomo, who was also joined by Mets pitcher Seth Lugo and actress and activist Rosie Perez.
As part of the push, known as the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort for Puerto Rico, the state is working with the Partnership for New York City to get businesses to kick in gifts starting at $10,000, which will be given out to local Puerto Rican charities.
A donation drive will collect supplies like batteries, flashlights, portable lanterns, diapers, cases of water and feminine hygiene products at spots across the city and state.
Lopez said she would donate $1 million for relief efforts.
“Puerto Ricans are American citizens, and today Puerto Rico needs our help,” said the Bronx-born singer and actress, who will co-chair New York’s effort.
“The consequences have been disastrous,” she said, adding she still hasn’t been able to get in touch with some relatives on the island. The Mets are asking fans attending games at Citi Field on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to bring donations, and supplies can also be dropped off at Citi Field on Thursday and Friday.
New Yorkers can bring requested items to the Javits Center, the Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building in Brooklyn, the Jamaica Street Armory on 168th St. in Queens and Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx.
Teams of doctors and nurses will be heading from New York to Puerto Rico, and the Port Authority will send 45 aviation specialists to help at damaged San Juan International Airport and other airports.
Cuomo, who traveled to Puerto Rico on Friday with emergency responders, pushed the federal government to do more, saying New York’s congressional delegation would stand up for the island, which is a commonwealth and has a nonvoting rep in Congress.
Hurricane Maria slammed Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm, knocking out power for more than 3 million residents. At least 10 people have been killed and more than 15,000 are living in shelters. On Saturday, federal aid began to arrive. The island opened its main port in the capital of San Juan to allow 11 ships to deliver 1.6 million gallons of water, 23,000 cots, dozens of generators and food. Dozens of additional shipments are expected in the next few days.
Still, many towns across the island do not have fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service.
Meanwhile, a mandatory evacuation has been ordered for Ocracoke Island in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The order takes effect at 5 a.m. Monday in advance of Maria, now a Category 2 hurricane.