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Puerto Rico Earthquakes Resources Round-Up

January 17, 2020

by Amy Aronoff

Artists impacted by the Puerto Rico Earthquakes, find the support and community you need.

Para leer este articulo en Español presione aquí.

Recovering from a disaster is never easy, but it does not (and should not) have to be a lonely process. Several organizations out there can help you either through access to the right information on how to request federal assistance or via emergency grants and donations in kind. Whether you’re in Puerto Rico yourself, knows someone on the island, or are willing to offer a helping hand, take a look at the resources at your disposal in the round-up below.

Find help through NYFA.

NYFA.org offers relevant information about Current Disaster Resources, Emergency Grants, Legal Resources, Public Assistance, and more. You can also search for more grants and resources using NYFA Source, an online arts database with over 12,000 resources and opportunities for artists in all disciplines. If access to the internet is an issue or if you feel more comfortable speaking over the phone, you can call the NYFA Source Hotline at (800) 232-2789, from Monday – Friday, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST. Inquiries may also be submitted via email to [email protected]. Please note that assistance over the phone will be in English, but emails in Spanish can be accommodated if needed.

If possible, keep an eye on social media.

Information is usually scarce in the early stages of recovery. Following the appropriate social media feeds is one of the best ways to receive immediate updates from organizations, local news outlets, and federal agencies. Here are a few relevant Twitter feeds:

Seek federal assistance.

Individuals in the municipalities of Adjuntas, Cabo Rojo, Corozal, Guanica, Guayanilla, Jayuya, Lajas, Lares, Maricao, Penuelas, Ponce, San German, San Sebastian, Utuado, Villalba, and Yauco may apply for individual assistance through FEMA. Applications for federal assistance are also available in Spanish.

For more information, please call the FEMA Helpline, 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM EST, seven days a week at 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585.

For other information, including what to do when returning home, avoiding charity fraud and false rumors, and more, check USA.gov.

Don’t neglect your mental health.

Feeling anxious and stressed after a natural disaster is not a sign of weakness. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and is unable to seek immediate medical assistance, please call the PAS line at 1-800-981-0023 or the National Disaster Line at 1-800-985-5990 and press “2” to be connected to a bilingual counselor. Help on both lines is available 24/7.

How to help.

Before making a donation or volunteering, please read these Guidelines for Giving from the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI). Pages like Charity Navigator are also a good place to research reputable charities, from food banks to animal care. Colorlines and Bustle have also published a round-up of organizations accepting donations and other kinds of support. Hyperallergic lists several arts organizations on the island that are collecting and distributing donations and opening their doors to the community via art therapy and other events. If you are an artist wishing to offer workshops to the impacted public, please complete this form from El Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico.

If you have any other relevant information or resources to add, please email [email protected]. We’ll update this post as soon as more information is available. To learn more about emergency preparedness, check our “Business of Art | Protect Your Work from Natural Disasters” blog post.

– Luiza Teixeira-Vesey, Designer/Marketing Officer

Image: Donise Ellen English (Fellow in Painting ’18), Hulga, 2017, encaustic and oil on panel