Gilly joins senators to say keep crews on job

Conditions have steadily, if slowly, improved. A FEMA spokesman said the agency will continue to provide federal aid — which has cost over $5.6 billion — to the commonwealth, and that it currently has nine staging areas across the island to distribute food and water to 78 municipalities.

A spokesman for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, which has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said its goal is to restore 95% of power to the island by the end of March, and the rest in April or May.

But much of the humanitarian help has been the result of a coalition of local Hispanic organizations such as Power 4 Puerto Rico, and the efforts of such celebrities as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jennifer Lopez and former Mets and Yankees slugger Carlos Beltran.

Miranda — Luis Miranda’s son — is planning to star in a San Juan production of his hit musical “Hamilton” early next year to raise money for the decimated arts scene there.

In the meantime, Sanabria says she’s remaining strong for her family and community in Orocovis.

“I’ve lived in New Jersey most of my life,” she said. “But now this is my community, and I have to stay here. If we leave, who is going to help these people? To me leaving is not the answer, it’s helping them get back on their feet.” THIRTEEN SENATORS led by Kirsten Gillibrand are worried it’s too soon for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be pulling the pl ug on power restoration efforts in Puerto Rico. The group sent a letter to Army officials demanding answers by Wednesday on the reported drawdown of personnel. “It’s now been six months since Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit Puerto Rico, and power still hasn’t been fully restored,” Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) told the Daily News. “It’s completely inexcusable that the Army Corps of Engineers is reducing the number of utility workers in Puerto Rico now, before their work is finished, while so many Americans continue to suffer.” The letter, obtained by The News, states that 8.2% of electricity customers are still without power. Its demands include an accounting of the criteria used to reassign Corps of Engineers contractors.