A Tampa-based non-profit is gearing up to help people in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona.
Jeannie Calderin is the President and founder of Somos Puerto Rico-Tampa, and says the impact on the island has been worse than Hurricane Maria 5 years ago. "Hurricane Maria came with a lot of wind, and this one came with a lot of water," Calderin said. "So there's a lot of damage, water-wise. A lot of people are saying they cannot believe, and they were not expecting this to be worse than Maria.
Calderin tells Newsradio WFLA she learned some hard lessons about relief efforts during Maria. This time, she says she's focusing on raising money for specific items that people need, namely lanterns and mosquito repellent. She plans to personally deliver everything in a couple of weeks.
For more information, you can log in at Somos Puerto Rico Tampa | Facebook
Also, a Brandon-based group is standing by to help families in Puerto Rico. Boricuas de Corazon has a rescue team in Puerto Rico already, but Linda Perez says they want to make sure people are safe. "Right now, Puerto Rico is devastated," Perez said. "not because of the hurricane, but because of the flooding, and the water that came through the area."
For more information about Boricuas de Corazon, log on to Disaster Relief Team & CERT (boricuasdecorazoninc.com)
photo: Getty Images