Guzman and Burgos join efforts to aid people affected by Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic

HARRISBURG, Sept. 19 – State Reps. Manuel Guzman, D-Berks, and Danilo Burgos, D-Phila., today announced they are joining forces to help people affected by severe flooding and damages caused by Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

The lawmakers, who lead the Pennsylvania Latino Caucus, thanked Governor Tom Wolf for deploying two members of PA Task Force 1 to Puerto Rico to support Hurricane Fiona response. They also urge Wolf to use the full force of his power to help the islands of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. 

“The flooding has already impacted the water system and many families are now homeless. Puerto Rico is still suffering from the lingering effects of Hurricane Maria and currently experiencing an island-wide black out,” Guzman said.

Guzman and Burgos call on Gov. Wolf to use PEMA to immediately offer humanitarian assistance to these islands. Pennsylvania has the fourth largest population of Puerto Ricans outside the island.

“A lot of people are suffering the effects of Hurricane Fiona. As a legislator I feel compelled to work diligently to provide resources and the necessary help to people impacted by this natural catastrophe. To help them is also to help the people that I represent in my district because they are concerned about the well-being of their relatives back home in the islands,” Guzman said.

Burgos emphasized that it is crucial to receive the support of PEMA because it would make a major difference in the living conditions of the hundreds of victims of the hurricane.

“I am concerned about the aftermath of the hurricane; a lot of people are being evacuated from high-risk areas and they won’t be able to return to their houses any time soon. They need our help; we urge the solidarity of all state-related institutions, in particular PEMA, to join us in this humanitarian cause. We cannot leave behind our Puerto Rican and Dominican brothers and sisters who are facing devastation,” Burgos said.