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You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Donation Sites for Puerto Rico & the Islands Hurricane Relief?

Donation Sites for Puerto Rico & the Islands Hurricane Relief?

by | 176 Comments

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The need is dire, and will be for many months if not years. And since the GOP perceives even Puerto Ricans as the wrong kind of American citizens, it will be a battle to get any government support. Who’s got links for the groups that can make best and fastest use of our donations?

Commentors have suggested a couple already:

The Hispanic Federation’s “Unidos”: A Hurricane Relief Fund for Hurricane Maria Victims in Puerto Rico

First lady of Puerto Rico Beatriz Rosselló’s United for Puerto Rico

And GoFundMe’s Hurricane Maria Relief Page, which includes fund drives dedicated to Dominica as well.

Add your favorite groups in the comments (or tell us more about the ones here) and I’ll post an updated list tomorrow.

Reader Interactions

176Comments

  4. 4.

    WaterGirl

    Thanks for this thread, AL. We need to take care of Puerto Rico and other islands.

    Very much hoping our other Betty is okay. Would it be too soon to start a GoFundMe here for our other Betty so we are ready to go when she eventually checks in to let us know she is okay? Fervently hoping she is okay.

  6. 6.

    clay

    Um, are we at war with North Korea? I mean actual war, not “well we never signed a treaty so technically…”. Because THEY seem to think we’re at war.

  8. 8.

    rikyrah

    @Major Major Major Major:

    So trump is already having his Katrina. Time is fucked right now

    If one didn’t believe in Karma, wouldn’t you have to start now?
    It’s like Karma is saying..
    “Oh, you thought you could go backwards and elect this vessel of White Supremacy and not pay any price?”

    I mean…It literally took Shrub 6 years to get to where Dolt45 is in 9 months?

  9. 9.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Talking to a friend who lives near Palm Beach, Florida and she said they got hit hard by tornados during Irma so a lot of damage there. Brother-in-law who lives in Houston says a lot of the major roads are still flooded out, and then there is Puerto Ricco and the Virgin Islands.

    Words just fail me.

  11. 11.

    Fenix

    Question in a related vein….. This is 12 weeks away or so, but this disaster and need are going to persist for a while.

    I’m a professor, so I have a month off over the Christmas holidays. Can anyone with more knowledge and experience than me suggest organizations I could donate myself to, for a month of labor? I don’t know where to even start asking and planning for something like this, if it’s doable?

    (No, I don’t have any particular disaster-related skillsets. Just a desire to physically do something if I can find a place where I can help without being in the way. And I’ll pay my way to Puerto Rico.)

  12. 12.

    Yutsano

    @clay: There has never been an armistice with North Korea signed by either South Korea or the US. We never really stopped being at war with them. We just don’t actively pursue it because other than the fact they could devastate two major US trading partners on the world stage they’re just a gadfly.

    It is worth noting that neither Korean army has been battle tested. But the US has been training the ever loving snot out of the South for a very long time.

    @Fenix: Check with FEMA and the SBA. They’ve been asking for volunteers from other federal agencies to start helping out. Not sure if they have a civilian solicitation but it can’t hurt to at least check.

  14. 14.

    Brachiator

    @clay:

    ..Um, are we at war with North Korea? I mean actual war, not “well we never signed a treaty so technically…”. Because THEY seem to think we’re at war.

    Ironically enough, Puerto Rico is probably well beyond the range of any North Korean missiles. The island might end up the remnant US of A.

    ..

  19. 19.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Yutsano: @clay: CNN

    Washington (CNN)North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on Monday accused US President Donald Trump of declaring war on his country by tweeting over the weekend that North Korea “won’t be around much longer.”
    “Last weekend Trump claimed that our leadership wouldn’t be around much longer and declared a war on our country,” Ri said, according to an official translation of his remarks to reporters in New York.
    “Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make all self-defensive counter measures, including the right to shoot down the United States strategic bombers at any time even when they are not yet inside the aerospace border of our country,” Ri said.

  22. 22.

    Fenix

    @Yutsano:

    Check with FEMA and the SBA. They’ve been asking for volunteers from other federal agencies to start helping out. Not sure if they have a civilian solicitation but it can’t hurt to at least check.

    Will do!

    I wonder if other teachers/professors may be interested in going down as a group since we have that unique time block available?

  23. 23.

    The Moar You Know

    Um, are we at war with North Korea? I mean actual war, not “well we never signed a treaty so technically…”.

    @clay: There’s no “technically” about it. The war never ended. Something which the North and South Koreans have always been very aware of. They’re sitting across the border with more artillery aimed at each other than the US could make over the next ten years.

    We…we just do that American thing, y’know, just wander around in a daze cause nothing affects us at all.

    ETA: regarding the Trump speech, well, I’ve heard of wars fought over far less. Were I on the receiving end of that insanity, I’d consider my nation at war. But there’s nothing that’s gonna make Donnie Two Scoops shut his fat dumb mouth, no way no how.

  25. 25.

    Yutsano

    @Fenix: Hmm…I should drop this idea with a friend of mine at the University of Virginia. Granted he’s doing his doctorate so he might not be able to get away as easily, but I’ll throw the notion at him anyway.

  26. 26.

    clay

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Did Trump really tweet that? I somehow (blissfully) missed that one. The WH has stated that his tweets carry the weight of official statements… I wonder if that will ever sink in for Trump himself?

    Jesus, of course NK is freaking out! The President of the United States just made an existential threat against them!! Goddammit, we have a dangerous, thoughtless mental patient running our ship-of-state.

    We can’t wait for Mueller; we need the co-equal branches to provide some of those checks and balances that the Constitution demands. You’d think that self-professed lovers of the Constitution like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell would realize this and take action. But they aren’t Americans anymore. They’re only Republicans, and they’ll only do what’s good for the Republican Party.

  27. 27.

    Yutsano

    @clay:

    You’d think that self-professed lovers of the Constitution like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell would realize this and take action.

    Not with removing the stain of the black guy, eliminating health care on the federal level, and sweet sweet tax cuts for their wealthy donors on the table. Dolt45 is their rubber stamp. He’s also their cover story for their own Russian involvement in their own campaigns.

  28. 28.

    clay

    @The Moar You Know: Has there ever been a situation where one nation unintentionally (i.e., through incompetence) declared war on another? And then the other nation took it seriously and did a first strike?

    Seriously, is history any guide here? ‘Cause we might be looking at this exact scenario.

  29. 29.

    Aimai

    @Fenix: no. Don’t be ridiculous. Fund someone with disaster relief skills. Or volunteer locally so someine can take time to go. But you have nothing useful to offer. And it can be quite harmful to engage in disaster tourism.

  30. 30.

    Felanius Kootea

    Thank you Anne Laurie for putting up the donation links!

  31. 31.

    Amir Khalid

    @The Moar You Know:
    So it would be a resumption of an ongoing albeit long-dormant war. Then Trump wouldn’t even need a declaration of war from Congress. Although, as I understand, there was never a formal declaration by Congress in the first place.

  32. 32.

    clay

    @Yutsano: I just don’t get it. Pence would be just as much of a rubber stamp, if not more so. And there MUST be some conversations in the halls of Congress about Trump’s mental state and potential treason. And he certainly isn’t winning any friends over there. I really don’t know, what is preventing them from impeachment?

    I’d say it was fear of the Republican voting base, but 2016 proved they’ll vote for any R, no matter who it is.

  33. 33.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @clay:
    No, but there have been a lot of situations where countries that don’t like us state that something or other amounts to a declaration of war. That was our situation with Iran for a long time, for example. And China. And frankly, North Korea does it twice on Sundays.

  35. 35.

    Damned at Random

    I’m recommending Shelterboxusa.org, rated 4 stars by Charity Navigator.
    They are responding to the hurricane victims in the Caribbean, earthquake survivors in Mexico and persons displaced by flooding in Bangladesh and war in Syria.
    From their website:
    The aid we supply comes in the form of ShelterBoxes and ShelterKits. Our sturdy green ShelterBoxes contain family-sized tents specially designed to withstand the elements and provide people with temporary shelter until they are able to start the process of rebuilding a home. Our ShelterKits contain all of the essential tools people need to start repairing and rebuilding homes straight away.

    That’s not all. We know that a home is much more than bricks and mortar or tarps and tent pegs. Our kits and boxes contain the items that help transform shelter into a home, like cooking sets, solar lights and activity sets for children.

  36. 36.

    Cermet

    @clay: Not unlike the US with Japan (in 1941) that force the Japanese hand to strike us. Cutting off all scrap steel meant their military future building programs would end in the near future but most of all, the cut off of oil meant that their entire economy would fail in six months or so. Yet we weren’t really expecting them to attack …

  37. 37.

    sherparick

    @clay: If you mean a shooting war, no; the 1953 Armistice still holds (although I am sure any day Trump will say that this was just another bad deal negotiated by Obama who channeled back in time to take over Dwight Eisenhower’s mind. There have been incidents of violence almost daily, the worse being the PRNK attack on the U.S.S. Pueblo and Blue House attack on the President of South Korea in 1968. And the war came very close to resuming when 2 American officers were killed over a dispute about trimming a tree (no shit) in 1976. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_murder_incident

  38. 38.

    Yutsano

    @clay:

    I’d say it was fear of the Republican voting base

    Not the Republican voting base. HIS voting base. The ones that so thoroughly bought the con they’re all in no matter what. The ones who now have permission to act on their racist impulses and start grinding their “lessors” under their bootheel. It’s the (almost all) white people who want to maintain their dominance in American society no matter what. Dolt45 got himself a rather powerful nationalist movement to come out from the shadows. And they have already made it clear they will not brook dissent against him.

  39. 39.

    Brachiator

    @raven:

    ..Yea because North Korea has an arsenal that would completely destroy the Continental US right?

    No. Hell, we don’t know if Not Korea has much in the way of a significant threat.

    But what psychological impact would even a single successful missile have, apart from any damage caused?

    ..

  42. 42.

    sherparick

    One consequence of this hurricane and President Orange Hair response (or lack thereof) is likely to be an even greater increase of Puerto Ricans to Florida. floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/08/31/florida-desperation-hope-change-puerto-rican-arrivals/1… This has been a basic “wash” voting wise the newly arrive Puerto Ricans either don’t vote or have split pretty evenly between Republicans and Democrats, but one has to wonder if this big FU from the Repugs to Puerto Rico may cause a shift.

  44. 44.

    Feathers

    @Fenix: What Aimai said. What Puerto Rico needs is skilled people who can step right in and do the work. Or money to support locals while they rebuild their own homes. Unskilled volunteers eat food and use water that locals need AND they take more effort to teach and train than the work they do. Ugly but true.

    If you want to physically help, stepping up to help a US org which might be shorthanded because their people are in PR.

    There will probably be lots of refugees as well. Going someplace where you can tutor the kids or help with US college admissions would be another better use of your skills.

  45. 45.

    Adam L Silverman

    @clay: @Yutsano: @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Technically the economic sanctions, because they include a fuel embargo, constitute an act of war. Whenever folks advocate for sanctions they usually don’t realize that sanctions can be an act of war. And are often/usually perceived that way by the sanctioned country.

  48. 48.

    WaterGirl

    @Fenix: @Aimai:

    But you have nothing useful to offer. And it can be quite harmful to engage in disaster tourism.

    That seems kind of harsh when directed at someone who seriously wants to help Puerto Rico.

    He’s not talking about showing up unannounced and being a burden. I cannot imagine that they don’t need someone competent that can help for a month – continuity goes a long way. They surely don’t just need people who are skilled in disaster relief.

  49. 49.

    satby

    @Aimai: actually, people with all levels of skill can volunteer with Habitat, and perform usefully.

    But most agencies will only send specific skill sets to disaster zones: rescue, medical, logistics, shelter management, etc. For helping refugees from disaster, this is the US agency, and this is a nationwide non-profit also looking for volunteers.

  50. 50.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Yutsano:

    And they have already made it clear they will not brook dissent against him.

    How, exactly? I don’t see them doing a Hell of a lot. He’s not moving votes, and pro-Trump demonstrations have been pathetic.

  54. 54.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Omnes Omnibus: Of course. But sometimes a semantic difference makes all the difference in the world. That and a fleet commander being unwilling to start WW III.

  57. 57.

    Fenix

    @Aimai:

    @Fenix: no. Don’t be ridiculous. Fund someone with disaster relief skills. Or volunteer locally so someine can take time to go. But you have nothing useful to offer. And it can be quite harmful to engage in disaster tourism.

    Unnecessarily rude & harsh. I do give money and volunteer locally (Houston) already, and I have plenty useful to offer. Just wanted to see if I could ALSO find a group/organization that could make use of my (self-funded) labor. Not to self-deploy as a “disaster tourist”.

    Thanks for reminding me why I usually stick to lurking.

    @satby:

    @Fenix: Habitat for Humanity has a hurricane volunteer signup here. And this is a roundup of sites working in the Caribbean right now.

    Thanks! I think Habitat might be just what I’m looking for. Something a little down the road, time to sign up & train, a sponsored group….. perhaps even find or assemble a team of educators…..

    @Adam L Silverman:

    @Yutsano: @Fenix: Go here and see what FEMA is doing:
    careers.fema.gov/hurricane

    They have a part time reservist program to pull people in from standby when they need them.

    Thanks, a lot to sort thru at that link. I like the “reservist” idea, to keep this up in the future as needed. (unfortunately, with the prospect of increasingly frequent and intense natural disasters…..)

  58. 58.

    TenguPhule

    @clay:

    I’m talking about RIGHT NOW, North Korea seems to think we’ve declared open war on them.

    Can’t blame them.

    Of course, its hard to tell if they actually mean it or its just posturing.

    If people start dying, we’ll know they’re serious.

  61. 61.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Fenix: FEMA also pays you if they call you up. Once you do some due diligence you can decide how you can best be of assistance and through which organization. Whether it’s FEMA’s reservist program or an NGO.

  63. 63.

    Feathers

    @WaterGirl: Please read up on the harm caused in Haiti and other places by disaster tourism. I’m not saying that Fenix is that particular sort of asshole, but wanting to help faraway rather than close to home, where you are probably part of the problem, is inherently problematic. Again, my suggestion is that he do something to help the university students who may need help in coming to a US university, i.e. Thinking about his skill set and where he could be most useful, rather than just reacting to the images on TV.

    ETA realizing I didn’t specify university students, but that is probably where he could help most.

  64. 64.

    Felanius Kootea

    @Aimai: @Fenix: He’s planning to go over the December holiday break, not right now. That’s enough time to learn skills that can be put to use by Habitat for Humanity, Puerto Rico. I have friends in Puerto Rico whose homes are completely destroyed and they will be needing all the help that organizations like Habitat can give them. Most Habitat volunteers are trained by the organization and don’t need prior skills as builders.

  65. 65.

    WaterGirl

    @Fenix: Why stick to lurking? You got a lot of useful information, and a couple of us stood up for you in response to the harsh response. Don’t give up on us.

  67. 67.

    catclub

    @Major Major Major Major:

    So trump is already having his Katrina.

    Somehow the liberal press has not gotten around to that with him, versus Obama getting that treatment within 15 minutes of anything bad happening in the US.

  68. 68.

    Fenix

    @satby:

    @Aimai: actually, people with all levels of skill can volunteer with Habitat, and perform usefully.

    But most agencies will only send specific skill sets to disaster zones: rescue, medical, logistics, shelter management, etc. For helping refugees from disaster, this is the US agency, and this is a nationwide non-profit also looking for volunteers.

    I had thought in the past about how I could help refugees, and I’m in a position now where I have a home with a spare room. This is worth revisiting with the imminent influx of disaster refugees. Thanks for the links!

  69. 69.

    satby

    @Fenix: Habitat has a great track record and you’ll be able to be (and feel) valued. Down the road, there will certainly be Habitat builds in Puerto Rico too, but it’s too early now. I encourage anyone who wants to get their hands dirty to volunteer for them. Your fees for the program seem hefty, but it covers both your expenses AND a nice donation to the local group to continue their work.

    Getting specifically trained for disaster response by the Red Cross is how I qualified to be deployed, so anyone who thinks they want to be a responder should get that training and certification and then keep it current. They will call if you’re needed.

  70. 70.

    satby

    @Fenix: the one I didn’t include and should have is Catholic Charities. Whatever you think of the church (and I don’t belong to it) they do good work with refugees and don’t prostletize while helping. That may be the only organization near you if you’re not in a large city. I think the Lutheran church also has an active program for refugees, but I don’t have that info available.

  71. 71.

    Feathers

    @Fenix: Finding a home and position for a colleague from Puerto Rico would be huge, especially someone junior so their career is not derailed.

  72. 72.

    Adam L Silverman

    Glad to see they’re on the ball:

  76. 76.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: Uh… I think you need to go back and reread this. This law, if I’m understanding it correctly, requires any cargo carrier taking goods to Puerto Rico to firs make port in US. And a tax is then levied on Puerto Ricans for those goods. Waiving this, especially given the amount of aid and then commercial goods purchased that will be needed in Puerto Rico would seem to both save a lot of time and not add financial insult to natural disaster injury.

  78. 78.

    satby

    @Feathers: Haiti is one of the disasters I was deployed on, and it’s problems are from much longer term issues than disaster tourism. I’m not a fan of orgs that send unprepared people into disaster zones, obviously; but getting negative about someone’s desire to help is pretty counterproductive. There’s plenty of work for everyone to do, we just have to consider the best place for everyone who wants to contribute. After all, plenty of people never even care enough to bother.

  79. 79.

    Yutsano

    @Adam L Silverman: A lot of the part time rules have changed for feds also. Part timers can kick in to TSP and even qualify for heath benefits under FEHB. The rules might be different under the FEMA volunteer program but it’s a nice incentive.

  82. 82.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman: The Jones act is the maritime merchant marine law. The other Jones act is the one that gives citizenship to PR, so maybe they want to just write them off entirely?

    ETA (Wiki): The Jones Act prevents foreign-flagged ships from carrying cargo between the US mainland and noncontiguous parts of the US, such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam. Foreign ships inbound with goods cannot stop any of these four locations, offload goods, load mainland-bound goods, and continue to US mainland ports.

    ETA 2: Requests for waivers of the Act and its provisions are reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security on a case-by-case basis, and can only be granted based on interest of national defense. Historically, waivers have only been granted in cases of national emergencies or upon the request of the Secretary of Defense.

    In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff temporarily waived the coastwise laws for foreign vessels carrying oil and natural gas from September 1 to 19, 2005

  84. 84.

    Barbara

    @Fenix: The main thing is that you stay open to providing assistance when you are needed. Interest in disasters is often keen initially, and then diverted. There is no modern corollary in the U.S. to what has happened in Puerto Rico. Katrina doesn’t even come close. They are going to need help for years and years.

  86. 86.

    WaterGirl

    @Feathers: I get that, but he started out asking for ideas of which organizations he could contact to be of service. If they ask about his skill sets and they tell him he wold be better off here, doing A or B or C, then great. He seems like a reasonable guy, so I’m sure he would take that to heart if that’s what he’s told by multiple organizations. But for all you know, all we know, he could be a professor of engineering or some other field that could be of tremendous use. So an accusation of disaster tourism was way harsh in my opinion, and then you chimed in with “what aimai said”, which also seemed harsh. Just my view.

  87. 87.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    And a tax is then levied on Puerto Ricans for those goods.

    This part is incorrect, Adam.

    The Jones Act does no such thing.

    That’s their own local government which imposed sales tax on them.

  88. 88.

    Fenix

    @Adam L Silverman:

    When you’re calling your senators and representatives about Cassidy-Graham today, you may also want to mention this in regard to helping Puerto Rico:

    Regarding the Jones Act, this is very useful! Perhaps worthy of frontpaging? (Sorry if it already was and I missed it.)
    I am very phone shy, and bad about calling my reps. But I called mine (Sheila Jackson Lee) this morning regarding Puerto Rico, and was left feeling put off with a vague response. This is something concrete to request. I’m calling back now!
    (Hey, is it better to call Washington or local offices, or both?)

    @Feathers:

    @WaterGirl: Please read up on the harm caused in Haiti and other places by disaster tourism. I’m not saying that Fenix is that particular sort of asshole, but wanting to help faraway rather than close to home, where you are probably part of the problem, is inherently problematic. Again, my suggestion is that he do something to help the university students who may need help in coming to a US university, i.e. Thinking about his skill set and where he could be most useful, rather than just reacting to the images on TV.

    ETA realizing I didn’t specify university students, but that is probably where he could help most.

    Um, yeah, I’m not that particular sort of asshole.
    I disagree that there is anything “inherently problematic” about helping far from home. I already do a lot of work with our (community college) students who have been affected by Harvey, and other issues like immigration. But I’m physically fit & low maintenance (experienced primitive backpacker), a quick learner, and eager to help. And my eagerness to help does not stem from sitting at home, emotionally “just reacting to the images on TV”.

    So what “inherent problem” exists with me helping far from home too, if I can find an organization that could use my labor?

    FYI, I’m a woman.

    @Felanius Kootea:

    @Aimai: @Fenix: He’s planning to go over the December holiday break, not right now. That’s enough time to learn skills that can be put to use by Habitat for Humanity, Puerto Rico. I have friends in Puerto Rico whose homes are completely destroyed and they will be needing all the help that organizations like Habitat can give them. Most Habitat volunteers are trained by the organization and don’t need prior skills as builders

    This is exactly what I’m drawn to most this morning. Habitat has long been on my “I need to look into that” list. Now is the time!

    @WaterGirl:

    @Fenix: Why stick to lurking? You got a lot of useful information, and a couple of us stood up for you in response to the harsh response. Don’t give up on us.

    :-) Thank you!

  90. 90.

    Barbara

    @WaterGirl: It’s not clear to me what is going to happen in PR or how relief is going to be organized, but in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, my brother in law, a roofer, took his entire crew to New Orleans a couple of months later, along with some supplies, and was told where to go to help put on new roofs. Another relative, a mental health worker, took a month off and was assigned to a shelter where she worked with young children trying to process what had happened.

  91. 91.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: Look, I’m very busy trying to prevent Kurdish independence in the previous post. Since this seems to have piqueed your interest, I’m delegating it to you to either waive or not waive the Jones Act and any applicable Federal or territorial taxes. Thanks!

  92. 92.

    ruemara

    I hate these people. I hate them passionately. I despise the bullshit, the hard headed arrogance from the left and the right that got us here. I hate the techbro libertarian bullshit that empowered this crap. And I viscerally hate our media for not FUCKING ASKING WHEN AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE GOING TO GET HELP FROM THAT MASSIVE DOUCHECANOE CONFEDERACY CALLED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. No matter how much charity we give, we cannot match the resources our taxes have already paid for. God, I hate this country.

  96. 96.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    So we need a waiver right now as part of the relief and aide package in the wake of Maria.

    Yeah. But all that does is allow foreign flagged ships to drop off supplies,

    That “Jones act tax” meme is a zombie lie that needs to be killed anew every time. Suspending the Jones Act is a national security level issue. One the Republicans have been working on for years, it just doesn’t get as much press as the younger, sexier bad ideas they favor these days.

  98. 98.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: Tracking. Look, I’m going back to denying national aspirations in the developing world. Please stay on top of this and be prepared to report back later today.

  99. 99.

    marcopolo

    @Adam L Silverman: This was snark, right? Going two to three weeks without electricity, communications and clean water (and by extension the ability to preserve food, moderate tropical temperatures, communicate with the outside world, etc…) and really many if not most folks in PR will be lacking those amenities for months according to the reports I’ve read.

    Anyways, I did my daily calls to my Senators and Rep and mentioned PR directly after stating my opposition to Cassidy/Graham. And then went on to mention my thoughts on DACA, the Equifax data breach, and the pending tax legislation. I didn’t even talk about the Russia/election stuff. Or complain about Trump folks abusing charter planes or mention the NK stuff.

    Basically there is to much shit happening. I know I am suffering from Trump/Republican governance fatigue. Anyone else out there? How are all you other BJers staying sane at the moment? And remembering and constructively dealing with all the shit we need to be worried about and address when there is new shit coming down the pike every day. I am curious to hear folks responses. Of course, living here in St. Louis we have (and will have for the next 90 or so days) the ongoing protests about BLM and law enforcement treatment of PoC–and now law enforcement treatment of the protestors. I’ve been to two of the actions and everyone protesting was peaceful and mostly respectful of the police presence but other actions have had different outcomes.

  101. 101.

    TenguPhule

    @Fenix:

    Regarding the Jones Act, this is very useful! Perhaps worthy of frontpaging?

    No! No! And HELL No!

    Please read about the Jones Act before believing twitter about it.

    See Adam, now look what you’ve done.

  103. 103.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    @Damned at Random: Shelterbox was going to be my suggestion also. One of the things I like about them is that they tailor the contents of their kits and boxes to the locale in need. There is a way in which they stay very close to the recipients so they can meet the needs in a culturally appropriate way. I’m not sure that expresses what I mean to say, but it’s as close as I can come. They just seem very aware of recipients as people. They have always been my go-to charity for environmental disasters such as earthquakes and floods.

    Anyway, I sent them $500 last night. I feel like it’s not enough given the extent of the devastation everywhere, but…

  105. 105.

    Amir Khalid

    @Adam L Silverman:
    If I may …

    Since this seems to have piqued your interest, I’m delegating it to you to either waive or not waive the Jones Act …

    They’re just tiny little errors, but they do bother me. Carry on.

  106. 106.

    satby

    @Barbara: up until now, Katrina was the worst and most costly hurricane to hit the mainland, and they’re still rebuilding 12 years later. Puerto Rico will beat that, in a contest none of us want.

  108. 108.

    woodrowfan

    For the pet lovers here please consider giving to Second Chance Animal Rescue. They rescue street dogs in Puerto Rico and adoption groups on the mainland (Like Lost Dog & Cat in northern Va) find homes for them. We got our Sonia that way. (Shes one of ours on the old BJ Pet calendars.) Apparently they can’t reach their shelter, which has over 100 dogs, one volunteer on site when the storm hit, and no power or water.

    scarpr.org/

  109. 109.

    Fenix

    @satby:

    @Fenix: Habitat has a great track record and you’ll be able to be (and feel) valued. Down the road, there will certainly be Habitat builds in Puerto Rico too, but it’s too early now. I encourage anyone who wants to get their hands dirty to volunteer for them. Your fees for the program seem hefty, but it covers both your expenses AND a nice donation to the local group to continue their work.

    Getting specifically trained for disaster response by the Red Cross is how I qualified to be deployed, so anyone who thinks they want to be a responder should get that training and certification and then keep it current. They will call if you’re needed.

    @Barbara:

    @Fenix: The main thing is that you stay open to providing assistance when you are needed. Interest in disasters is often keen initially, and then diverted. There is no modern corollary in the U.S. to what has happened in Puerto Rico. Katrina doesn’t even come close. They are going to need help for years and years.

    Great points, staying in it (and training) for the long haul….. and future disasters. Habitat seems it may be the right place for me to start today. Satby, is Red Cross disaster response training & certification just for those with medical skillsets and such, or for general volunteers too?

    @WaterGirl:

    @Feathers: I get that, but he started out asking for ideas of which organizations he could contact to be of service. If they ask about his skill sets and they tell him he wold be better off here, doing A or B or C, then great. He seems like a reasonable guy, so I’m sure he would take that to heart if that’s what he’s told by multiple organizations. But for all you know, all we know, he could be a professor of engineering or some other field that could be of tremendous use. So an accusation of disaster tourism was way harsh in my opinion, and then you chimed in with “what aimai said”, which also seemed harsh. Just my view.

    Yeah, I’m a pretty reasonable gal. I promise that if I get turned down by multiple organizations, I won’t just yell, “screw you all!” and jump on a plane to the Caribbean.

    And a professor of mathematics, actually. So, yeah, all those times my students ask me, “What are we ever going to use this for?!”, my answer is probably not “disaster response”!

  110. 110.

    Adam L Silverman

    @marcopolo: My stating “glad to see they’re on the ball”? Yes, that was me being snarky. An initial aide package could clear both chambers of Congress within 2 hours today and be signed by the President shortly thereafter if they wanted to do it. More importantly a US Navy hospital ship, as well as a Coast Guard float and a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF, pronounced MAGTAF) for disaster management and emergency response could be afloat right now en route to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. That requires no congressional action whatsoever.

  119. 119.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @A Ghost To Most: Hey, to be fair to aimai, she usually has great insights and is hardly a purity pony. I recall she was going to have a stressful day today, and her sharpness may have come from that. Most, if not all, of us have made regrettable comments out of our own stress or in the heat of the moment. So lighten up on her too.

  120. 120.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    You have not been conscripted. You’ve been delegated. Completely different thing.

    So you mean that I won’t get paid. //

  122. 122.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    More importantly a US Navy hospital ship, as well as a Coast Guard float and a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF, pronounced MAGTAF) for disaster management and emergency response could be afloat right now en route to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. That requires no congressional action whatsoever.

    But the way things are going, congressional action might be the only way to actually get them there.

    Trump sure as hell isn’t going to think of it on his own.

  123. 123.

    zhena gogolia

    @Fenix:

    Don’t be discouraged from commenting. We all get zapped every once in a while, you just have to let it roll off. Most people understood what you were saying.

  125. 125.

    Mary G

    @TenguPhule:Links to further explanation? Because what you quoted from Wiki doesn’t really give me a reason why it shouldn’t be waived for Puerto Rico.

    @Fenix: Please keep commenting! I’d love to know what you end up doing and it would be good to have some pictures and a story for the “On the Road” feature after you get back, because I am sure they will still need a lot of help and everyone will be complaining about Trump’s gold-plated Christmas tree or whatever and will need the reminder to look for some change in the sofa cushions to donate.

    I gave through the Hispanic Federation, the first link above, because Lin-Manuel Miranda recommended them on Twitter and they have a 4 rating from Charity Navigator. Their website is pretty basic, so they may be overwhelmed, but I am sure they will know what is needed the most.

  126. 126.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: I’m very distracted trying to prevent Nambian independence. Could have happened to anyone.

    More seriously, I’ve deleted the comment. And I sincerely apologize for making this egregious error.

    Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got some indigenous folks in Latin America whose rights I need to stifle in the previous post.

  127. 127.

    Yutsano

    @TenguPhule: Putting up a source from the lobbying organization that has a lot at stake with the implementation of the Jones Act doesn’t help your case. If we’re talking a suspension of the rules so foreign ships can get to Puerto Rico directly the DHS secretary (or the current acting) can just do that without involving Congress.

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got some indigenous folks in Latin America whose rights I need to stifle in the previous post.

    “Weezer you’re almost chipper! What’d you do run over a small child or somethin’?”

  129. 129.

    rikyrah

    “It’s inhumane” what’s happening at the airport in San Juan, a nurse from Little Rock, Arkansas told me – they need food, water and fans. pic.twitter.com/Fcm3QBiMVB
    — David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 25, 2017

  130. 130.

    A Ghost To Most

    @marcopolo:

    I know I am suffering from Trump/Republican governance fatigue. Anyone else out there? How are all you other BJers staying sane at the moment?

    Actually, I’m not. I’m sinking a little more every day. Work is hell, surrounded by Trumpists and terrible management. Only 11 more months until retirement, and less confident I will make it to then every day. I have told my coworkers that every day from now on is a gift, and am rapidly trying to convey all that I know to the new guy before I crash. I feel like only my anti-depression medication is keeping me going at this point. Sorry for spewing. I hope the rest of you are doing better.

  131. 131.

    TenguPhule

    @Yutsano: They point out the GAO found that the other side’s claims were bullshit. Which they were. And the other side is a Koch backed think tank.

    Sure, they’ve got a bias. Doesn’t mean they’re wrong.

  134. 134.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: Doesn’t even need the President. Just the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the SecDef, and the appropriate Geographic Combatant Command and Service Component Commands.

  135. 135.

    Yutsano

    @TenguPhule: Fine. Just waive the requirement that foreign ships have to dock in Florida (or any other US port) first until the disaster is over (a la Katrina in 2005) and it’s a done deal. Nothing else should need to be waived and the acting DHS secretary can do that now.

  136. 136.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Yutsano: I can either get angry and curse out people accusing me of trying to permanently stifle Kurdish independence and then linking it to African American protests in the US or I can be a smartass about it and keep my sense of humor.

    Also, I got a good night’s sleep last night.

  137. 137.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I can either get angry and curse out people accusing me of trying to permanently stifle Kurdish independence and then linking it to African American protests in the US or I can be a smartass about it and keep my sense of humor.

    Why not both?

    /I am morbidly curious about what the former would actually look like on here. I can’t recall you ever going beyond sharply peevish on BJ.

  140. 140.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @A Ghost To Most: We’re with you. It is a rough and disheartening time and I hope you can hang in there. I got slammed on FB yesterday and am curiously shaken by that. I suspect many of us are feeling raw and vulnerable these days.

  143. 143.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Just the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the SecDef, and the appropriate Geographic Combatant Command and Service Component Commands.

    Have we even heard anything about the Joint Chiefs of Staff other then their installation?

    And is that a good thing or a bad thing?

  145. 145.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: They were already in place before the inauguration. While they serve at the pleasure of the President, so far he’s kept them all in place. Even after they refused to go along with him on transgender Americans serving in the military.

    The reason the Pentagon isn’t leaking these days, which is almost unprecedented, is because even when folks disagree with SecDef or the Service Chiefs or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the worry is that publicly airing that could get rid of people that are perceived as being one of the few checks on the President and who are working hard to keep us out of even more trouble.

  146. 146.

    Yutsano

    @Adam L Silverman: Eh. Steep is pretty tough. He also is good at keeping me honest. Pretty sure there was little if anything to forgive there. We are all jackals existing in DougJ’s brain after all..

    Take a deep breath, pace yourself, and do what you contribute. Even the little things matter.

    Also, too. THIS. (Rough grammar in the sentence notwithstanding.)

  147. 147.

    A Ghost To Most

    @Adam L Silverman: Thanks. Technically, I am still sharp,but I am being slammed around by the company for being insufficiently social with people I want nothing to do with. And as a (probable) Aspergers person, my social skills have always sucked. The good news is if I have to retire early, I can.

    How do you socially well-adjusted people cope with “those people”? I got no clue.

  148. 148.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @A Ghost To Most: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come across as a scold, nor add to your distress. I just have valued aimai’s comments over the years and haven’t noticed a purity pony trend (although I agree that her remark to Fenix today wasn’t helpful or kind). In any case, peace to you.

  151. 151.

    Davebo

    You want to see Trump and the GOP congress critters LEAP into action?

    Remind them that there are 3.5 American citizens with no lights, no water, but relatives in CONUS and once they get here their votes will count!

  152. 152.

    satby

    @Fenix: The Red Cross has training for different disaster response roles, not just medical ones (disclosure, I was an EMT, so I was a medical responder).

    Here’s the website with the class listings. Despite my often voiced disillusionment with donating money to the American Red Cross, they are the leaders in this and their classes are required by other organizations.

  154. 154.

    satby

    @A Ghost To Most:

    How do you socially well-adjusted people cope with “those people”

    Honestly? As little as possible. Work often forces us to be with people we wouldn’t associate with of our own free will, so I never pretend that I’m friends with people that I’m not. I’m polite enough, and distantly friendly enough to get through the day, and that’s it. It’s what we need to do until we have another alternative, but do the bare minimum you need to and don’t stress about them. Easier said than done, I know.
    And if you’re due any sick or vacation time, start using it up.

  156. 156.

    Yutsano

    @satby:

    And if you’re due any sick or vacation time, start using it up.

    This. As a fed I get to cash mine out at end of service/retirement but I would still be taking as much time off as I could before then.

  159. 159.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: USS Wasp is also on station:

    As are the aforementioned Kearsarge and the OakHill:

  165. 165.

    celticdragonchick

    Just going to say that I’ve been avoiding the news because of blood pressure concerns and when I look in on this today…fuck.

  167. 167.

    🌎 🇺🇸 Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) 🗳 🌷

    @Adam L Silverman:
    Well, you did ask. It does warm my heart though to see the AfD in disarray. I thought Germans were smart enough to not elect any fascists.

  168. 168.

    WaterGirl

    @satby: I was right about something? I guess my work is done and I can go back to bed!

    edit: at least one person thought I was…

  169. 169.

    WaterGirl

    @Fenix: Yeah, I wondered about “he” when I wrote my comment, but I decided to go for clarity in what I was saying. Didn’t meant to offend.

  170. 170.

    jj

    Foundation Beyond Belief does a great job vetting organizations to make sure your donated money is used wisely.

    fbbgive.org

  173. 173.

    Felanius Kootea

    @Fenix: Whoops – sorry for assuming you were a guy! I hate it when people do that to me online and here I am doing the same thing :-(.

  174. 174.

    J R in WV

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I saw or heard that 3 USNS amphibious landing ships are either en route to Puerto Rico or perhaps already arriving on station. As I understand it, these ships have fleets of helicopters, tons of appropriate cargo, medical facilities, and can provide docking services to other freighters arriving in ports where facilities are probably unavailable following the storm.

    That’s not the end of what’s needed, but it sounds like a good start. I have also heard that C-130s are delivering pallets of water and meals on the islands where runways have been cleared. This may be over optimistic, but it sounds like some folks are on the ball and getting the pipeline filled up with material and personnel.

    If I was a little more in-shape I would be at the front of the line for Habitat, but I’m no longer up for 10 hour days stooping on a roof, or bucking 4×8 sheets of OSM or sheet rock. I’m elderly, partially disabled, and regreting that I can’t go to work clearing and rebuilding on one of the islands swept clear.

    I can and will continue to contribute to agencies doing good work in disaster zones.

  175. 175.

    hedgehog the occasional commenter

    Just donated to Unidos por Puerto Rico. Will also donate to ShelterBox with next paycheck.
    Thanks for the thread…sorry got here late, it’s been a Monday.

  176. 176.

    J R in WV

    @J R in WV:

    OK, sorry all for not reading all the comments… you all already knew the Navy was on station! Obvously room for more help sooner, but at least someone had the integrity to move resources where they are needed.

Comments are closed.