Houston to deliver 55 pallets of disaster relief supplies to Puerto Rico

HOUSTON – More than 1,900 miles from Houston, the need for disaster relief in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria is still palpable.

Back here at home, volunteers with the Harvey Relief Hub are hard at work, wrapping pallet full of medical equipment and boxing up personal hygiene items.

Thursday morning, a United Airlines plane will deliver 55 pallets of disaster relief supplies to Puerto Rico.

Diapers, canned food and mosquito repellent are all included.

“We owe it to show the world that Houston gives back also and we give back to any in need as he nation has done so for us,” Bill Baldwin, with the Harvey Relief hub, said.

The contingency includes doctors, some Houston city council members, members of the Harvey Relief Hub and the group Texas United for Puerto Rico.

They’ll be working with their counterparts on the ground to make sure these supplies don’t just sit in a warehouse in San Juan.

They have a team of people coming in with forklifts and trucks to make sure they get to hospitals and other points of distribution across the island.

“The goal is not to do this and say one and done. The goal is to continue to provide help to the people in Puerto Rico as long as help is needed,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

Former Houston Astros player Jose Cruz is from Puerto Rico and is truly touched by the outpouring of support.

“They really need the help because the island is in trouble,” Cruz said.

Download the Click2Houston news app in your app store to stay up-to-date with the latest news while you're on the go.

Sign up for KPRC 2 newsletters to get breaking news, sports, entertainment, contests and more delivered straight to your email inbox.


About the Author:

Award-winning journalist, adventure seeker, explorer, dog lover.