Members of the Virgin Islands National Guard and the Virgin Islands Fire Department distributes food and water to civilians at St. Croix Educational Complex
General sent to Puerto Rico to push repair and reconstruction of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; passengers of Royal Caribbean blast cruise line failing to reschedule looming voyages from San Juan
U.S. Coast Guard members and partner agencies transport and deliver food and water to residents of Utuado, Puerto Rico, Sept. 29, 2017. As part of the Department of Homeland Security team, the Coast Guard is linked directly to FEMA and the overall federal hurricane recovery phase of the response to Hurricane Maria. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Meredith Manning)
An Air and Marine Operations P-3 Airborne Early Warning crew land in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The aircraft was filled with much-needed supplies for residents affected by Hurricane Maria.
U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service agents and Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, Miami, crewmembers load a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, with food and water for residents in Utuado, Puerto Rico, Sept. 29, 2017. As part of the Department of Homeland Security team, the Coast Guard is linked directly to FEMA and the overall federal hurricane recovery phase of the response to Hurricane Maria. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Meredith Manning)
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Joe Kelly, a Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, Miami crewmember, hands a bottle of water to a child in Utuado, Puerto Rico, Sept. 29, 2017. As part of the Department of Homeland Security team, the Coast Guard is linked directly to FEMA and the overall federal hurricane recovery phase of the response to Hurricane Maria. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Meredith Manning)
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Oceguera, Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, Miami, crewmember carries Angie Santiago, a resident of Utuado, Puerto Rico, and cancer patient, to medical aid, Sept. 29, 2017. As part of the Department of Homeland Security team, the Coast Guard is linked directly to FEMA and the overall federal hurricane recovery phase of the response to Hurricane Maria. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Meredith Manning)
President Donald Trump needs to establish Marshal Plan to rebuild Puerto Rico
Department of Homeland Security awaits word from Coast Guard Lt. Luke A. Walsh, commanding officer of the Cutter Winslow W. Griesser, on if any piers in Lime Tree Bay, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, are safe to offload relief supplies Sept. 28, 2017. The 154-foot cutter is one of 13 cutters which are deployed throughout the USVI and Puerto Rico to help bring relief to the American citizens of these U.S. Territories in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Zach Zubricki.)
Updates of efforts to bring relief and reconstruction to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, a 210-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, arrives to deliver aid near the port of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The crew delivered food and supplies to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local law enforcement officials who will distribute the aid to the victims of Hurricane Maria. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse)
On September 27, 2017, the 156th Air Lift Wing located on Muñiz Air Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico delivered emergency relief supplies to the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.
From Royal Caribbean: The Caribbean is our home, and we’re doing everything we can to help impacted islands get back on their feet. Today, Adventure of the Seas arrived in San Juan with medical teams, relief supplies, and 500 generators to help our friends in Puerto Rico. From there, Adventure will head to St. Thomas and St. Croix to drop off much-needed supplies. With the assistance of local government, Adventure will also pick up almost 3,000 evacuees from these islands, including families of our employees, and bring them back to Fort Lauderdale. Our work isn’t done here. We’re matching up to $1 million for every donation we receive. For more info on how you can get involved, visit: http://bit.ly/2xWkf7i
Read these comments posted on the Royal Caribbean Facebook page for Adventure of the Seas as customers of the cruise line school the cruise line on their refusal to reschedule cruises.
Royal Caribbean passengers beg cruise line to speed up rescheduling of voyages, pointing out the flights and hotels of those taking Adventure of The Seas cruises are unavailable. This is from Facebook:
Weather & Itinerary Update
September 25, 2017 @ 11 AM EDT
Our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbors in San Juan and the other affected islands as they rebuild after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The following sailing is being canceled:
Adventure of the Seas: September 30
Given the impact of Hurricane Maria, we are canceling this cruise to utilize the ship for evacuation and humanitarian efforts. The ship will arrive on Wednesday, September 27 and will operate humanitarian calls in San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Croix to aid in the evacuation and donate critical supplies to each destination. The ship will bring evacuees to Fort Lauderdale before returning to San Juan on October 6 to prepare for the October 7th cruise.
We are very sorry for the impact this storm has had on your vacation. The cruise fare and fees will be 100% refunded to the original form of payment, and we are also offering a 25% future cruise credit, based on the cruise fare if a new cruise is booked in the next 30 days. Pre-booked shore excursions will also be refunded to your original form of payment.
Future itineraries:
Given Hurricane Irma’s impact to St. Maarten and St. Thomas, as well as Hurricane Maria’s impact to San Juan, we are altering the following ports for future sailings until these islands have fully recovered.
As the recovery effort remains fluid and each island is working diligently to get back to normal operations, we will continue to communicate any port changes approximately four weeks prior to departure.
Adventure of the Seas:
10/7 – St. Croix to Martinique
10/14 – St. Croix to Antigua
Allure of the Seas:
10/1 – St. Thomas & San Juan to Cozumel & Costa Maya
10/15 – St. Maarten & San Juan to Cozumel & Costa Maya
Enchantment of the Seas:
10/2 & 10/9 – Freeport back to Key West
Harmony of the Seas:
10/7 – St. Maarten, San Juan & Labadee to Nassau, Cozumel & Costa Maya
10/21 – St. Thomas, San Juan & Labadee to Nassau, Cozumel & Costa Maya
Serenade of the Seas:
10/20 – St. Thomas & St. Maarten to St. Kitts & Antigua
Oasis of the Seas:
10/8 – St. Maarten, San Juan & Labadee to Nassau, Cozumel & Costa Maya
10/22 – St. Maarten & San Juan to Nassau & Falmouth
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez, a Fast Response Cutter homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico, deliver food near the port of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse)
PONCE, PUERTO RICO— The Coast Guard continues to work with local agencies to provide relief after the destruction of Hurricane Maria.
The Coast Guard, through the transfer of supplies such as food and water and the inspection of port facilities, has been actively involved in the Hurricane Maria relief effort.
Trees uprooted at St. Croix due to Hurricane Maria, September 28, 2017. Hurricane Maria devastated the island, National Guard members work to aid the island in a time of need. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Gregory Ferreira/Released)
Downed power lines lay on the streets of St. Croix Island, September 28, 2017. Hurricane Maria devastated the island, National Guard members work to aid the local community in a time of need. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Gregory Ferreira/
Citizen-Soldiers from Army Aviation of the Puerto Rico National Guard transported food and water to the municipality of Jayuya, P.R., Sept. 27. The PRNG in support to federal and state agencies, distributed supplies to the cities of the central part of the island, where access has been difficult due to the debris left by Hurricane Maria. (Photo by Sgt. José Ahiram Díaz-Ramos/PRNG-PAO)
Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley loads water to deliver to Puerto Rico
Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley, a 154-foot Fast Response Cutter homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico, load bottled water onto the cutter while moored in Curacao, Sept. 20, 2017.
The cutter’s crew will deliver the water to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for hurricane relief support in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Katherine Ustler.
Members of the Virgin Islands National Guard and the Virgin Islands Fire Department distributes food and water to civilians at St. Croix Educational Complex, one of the four points of distribution, Friday, September 22. Hurricane Maria, a category 5 hurricane, left St. Croix devastated after making landfall early Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Governor Larry Hogan Directs National Guard to Assist Puerto Rico Following Hurricane Maria
Maryland National Guard’s 29th Combat Aviation Brigade to Assist with Water Purification Efforts
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced that he has directed the Maryland National Guard to send resources requested by Puerto Rico to assist in response and relief efforts following Hurricane Maria. The governor’s directive follows conversations with the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, and other communications between staff-level officials. The governor has authorized the deployment of a 26-member detachment of the Maryland National Guard’s 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, which will deploy for potentially 60 days to conduct water purification with two tactical systems that can each purify 1,200 gallons of water per hour. Fresh water has been in critically short supply in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20th. Putting their equipment to use, the National Guard members will be assigned with converting hazardous water into water that is safe for drinking, cooking, and hygiene.
“During my conversation with Governor Rossello, I offered the full support of the State of Maryland to Puerto Rico and all areas devastated by these recent storms,” said Governor Hogan. “Maryland is fortunate to have been spared the worst effects of this hurricane season so far, and we stand ready to respond to those in desperate need of resources.”
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) leads the state’s coordination of resource support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows for states and territories to share resources during and after disasters.
“The emergency management system in Maryland is filled with local, state, private, and non-governmental partners dedicated to ensuring the safety and resiliency of Maryland citizens. They also stand ready to support our sister states and territories in times of need,” said Executive Director Russell Strickland. “MEMA will continue to coordinate requests for assistance in response to and recovery from disasters.”
Maryland currently has a mission deployed to Florida supporting response and recovery operations. Twenty-two members of the Maryland Incident Management Team (IMT) have been managing four separate base camps in Florida that house and feed responding personnel. The assisting IMT members are from Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Washington Counties, the City of Baltimore, and the Town of Ocean City.
Maryland has recently completed five support missions in Texas and Florida following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, respectively. These include:
- The Maryland Department of Human Services sent staff to support disaster sheltering in the Houston, Texas area. The human service workers provided shelter set up, logistical support, and additional disaster services.
- Howard County Recreation and Parks sent a debris clearing and removal team to Southern Florida in order to assist the opening of roadways.
- The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems and MEMA coordinated the deployment of a critical incident stress management (CISM) team. The CISM team, who are from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, supported shelter workers and first responders in southwest Florida and the Florida Keys.
- The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) supported the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s energy infrastructure fuels support team. MEA organized fuel delivery to gas stations, fueling depots, emergency generators, and critical infrastructure.
- The Howard County Office of Emergency Management conducted volunteer and donations management assistance in the Florida State Emergency Operations Center.
- Members of the Virgin Islands National Guard and the Virgin Islands Fire Department distributes food and water to civilians at St. Croix Educational Complex
