Palm Beach County exploring ways to help

Palm Beach County officials are looking for ways to provide assistance to those on the storm-ravaged island.

Residents of Puerto Rican descent, led by Juan Pagan, president of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, met with county officials this week to accelerate local relief efforts to the U.S. territory in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. But several realities and questions make it unclear how the county should proceed, said Jon Van Arnam, deputy county administrator.

Pagan and others have asked the county to consider using Fire Rescue stations as donation drop-off points, but Van Arnam said it could make more sense to use other county facilities that are staffed, have more room and don't have emergency response duties.

Puerto Ricans have begun arriving in Florida, including about 6,000 on Tuesday through Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Port Everglades. But it's not clear how many will come to Palm Beach County.

Van Arnam said he and other county officials will continue to meet to find ways to help.

“We want to help, but we want to make sure it's something that's needed,” he said.

Some 43,390 Puerto Ricans live in Palm Beach County, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. As a whole, Florida is home to more than 1 million Puerto Ricans.