Puerto Rico

Americares is training more than 350 school teachers, social workers, counselors, psychologists and administrative staff to better identify, assess and respond to the mental health needs of students dealing with the psychological effects caused by major storms. The Americares Mental Health and Psychosocial Support team based in San Juan began the trainings in five schools across Bayamón, Morovis, Naranjito, Orocovis and Toa Alta.

In September, after Hurricane Fiona battered Puerto Rico with wind and rain, Wendy Morales made sure her family was safe. Then, as administrator of the Migrant Health Center in Yauco, Puerto Rico, she turned her attention to the community’s health needs. Solar power made the difference.

Hurricane Fiona brought torrential rains to Puerto Rico, causing catastrophic flooding, mudslides and widespread destruction. Americares Puerto Rico team is responding.

Stamford, Conn. – Jan. 8, 2020 – Americares is responding to the devastating 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Puerto Rico’s southwest coast on Tuesday, killing at least one person, toppling buildings and causing power outages across the island. Gov. Wanda Vázquez declared a state of emergency and activated Puerto Rico’s National Guard, cautioning residents to prepare for additional aftershocks.

As Puerto Rico heads into hurricane season, thousands of health workers and first responders across the island are better prepared to cope with stress and trauma caused by major storms.

Americares has welcomed Brenda Rivera-Garci­a, DVM, MPH, as director of its Puerto Rico Recovery Program. overseeing Americares Hurricane Maria recovery operations in Puerto Rico.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded Americares $800,000 to address the mental health needs of health workers in Puerto Rico recovering from Hurricane Maria.

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) has awarded Americares $500,000 to support mental health and psychosocial programs for Hurricane Maria survivors in Puerto Rico with an emphasis on helping older, low-income adults.

In the year since Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico and Dominica, Americares has provided more than $40 million in aid to support the recovery.

Americares has made a commitment to expand access to mental health and psychosocial services for health workers and first responders on the frontlines of the Hurricane Maria recovery in Puerto Rico.

The Facts 51+ inches of U.S. record rainfall from a tropical storm– flooded an area…

After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Elia and thousands like her had empty prescription bottles and no way to refill them, until Americares brought medical teams and delivered supplies to help people in crisis.

Press Release Americares Announces Mobile Clinic Donation to Puerto Rico November 28, 2017 Twitter Facebook…

Stamford, Conn.— Sept. 29, 2017— Americares is airlifting more than $3 million in essential medicines for hospitals and health centers in Puerto Rico and Dominica running critically low on supplies after Hurricane Maria.

After Hurricane Maria smashed into Puerto Rico, Dominica, the Virgin Islands and other beleaguered Caribbean islands, Americares emergency team continues response and recovery work.

Stamford, Conn.– July 25, 2016– AmeriCares will provide 300,000 cans of OFF!i‚® aerosol repellent to protect low-income and uninsured families from mosquitoes that could be carrying the Zika virus this summer. AmeriCares will deliver the repellent, donated by SC Johnson, free of charge to clinics, health departments and nonprofit partners in the southern United States and Puerto Rico.