Tell Congress: We can't abandon Puerto Ricans
There's still time to action to help our sisters and brothers recover from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Read this letter from Richard Honeycutt, Vice President of CWA District 3 and then take action!
Dear CWA Member,
Like many of you, I am deeply saddened and shocked by the images coming out of the devastation from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico. My heart goes out to the many Puerto Ricans who have lost their loved ones and livelihoods in the aftermath of this natural disaster.
Puerto Rico's island geography makes relief and recovery challenging. Most of Puerto Rico lies within the Cordillera Central mountain range, which divides the island in half. Many areas remain disconnected due to blocked mountain roads, collapsed bridges and flooding.
These are the sorts of challenges that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is supposed to help overcome when disaster strikes. But our CWA local leaders in Puerto Rico report that even now, weeks after Hurricane Maria, over 3 million people are without electricity and 1 million have no access to clean water. Hospitals are running low on fuel for generators and on medication for preexisting conditions and supplies needed to treat injuries from Hurricane Maria. Food is beginning to become scarce and expensive.
This is an urgent crisis that demands an urgent response. If you agree, call your Senators today at 1-877-782-8274 or click here to ask them to demand that FEMA send more help to Puerto Rico.
Calling your Senator's office is easy and makes a huge difference. Here's what you can say to the person who answers the phone:
I’m calling to request that the Senator call FEMA Administrator Brock Long to demand that he send additional rescue and relief resources to Puerto Rico immediately. The safety of 3.5 million U.S. citizens is at stake.
They may ask your name and your address to verify that you are a constituent, but that's about it. It just takes a few minutes.
In times of crisis our CWA family shows just what it means to be CWA STRONG. Our local leadership in Puerto Rico and with local 3140 in Florida has worked tirelessly to make sure members and retirees on the island are safe and have the resources they need to begin rebuilding their lives. Members of those locals are rebuilding communications lines, reporting on the crisis, and helping travellers fly to and from Puerto Rico. AFA-CWA members helped fly more than 300 volunteers and a planeload of supplies to the island. We have received an overwhelming amount of donations to the D3 Disaster Relief Fund, however donations are still needed due to the extensive amount of damage. If you have not yet made a donation, you may donate at www.cwa-union.org/d3-relief. I am deeply appreciative of your support and know that I can count on you to call your Senators to make sure that all Puerto Ricans get the help they need to survive.
In solidarity,
Richard Honeycutt
Vice President CWA District 3
