HURRICANE FIONA 2022
UPDATED FRIDAY JUNE 14, 2024 11:42 AM EST
Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico. The Category 1 hurricane struck Puerto Rico with destructive winds on Sunday, 9/18, knocking out power to the entire island population of over 3 million and leaving behind life-threatening flash flooding and the potential for mudslides and landslides. Wind gusts reached 50 to 100 sustained mph with the strongest gust clocked at 103 mph. The storm initially made landfall along the southwestern coast of the island and many locations experienced rainfall of over 10 inches, with some experiencing up to 20 inches or more. Matthew 25 shipped over 70,000 pounds of relief supplies to help meet te immediate and ongoing needs of those impacted.
Almost five years ago to the day, Puerto Rico was battered by Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 4 storm, with winds up to 155 mph that also knocked out the entire power grid. Maria came on the heels of Hurricane Irma, which had also heavily damaged the island. In the months immediately following Hurricane Maria, Matthew 25 shipped 21 containers of aid, almost half a million pounds, to on-the-ground partners and also sent a medical mission team that spent two weeks on the ground providing medical care to approximately 900 people, and distributing disaster supplies to approximately 10,000 people. Matthew 25 also distributed more than 30,000 water purifier sachets (the prepared equivalent of 16 truckloads of water).
