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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF THE RELIEF EFFORTS ORGANIZED TO HELP MEXICO AND PUERTO RICO
WHEREAS, originating from a tropical wave that the National Hurricane Center began monitoring on September 13, Maria developed into a tropical storm on September 16 strengthening just a couple of days later to a Category 5 hurricane, sustaining wind speeds of up to 160 mph and making the 2017 season the first since 2007 to feature two Category 5 hurricanes; and
WHEREAS, Maria weakened to a high-end Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph before making landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20th, making Maria the strongest to hit the territory since the 1928 San Felipe hurricane; and
WHEREAS, with Maria hitting just 2 weeks after hurricane Irma skirted the Island, Puerto Rico has seen their death toll rise to 34 as of October 4th, with many still unaccounted for, and has suffered catastrophic damage including complete destruction of its previously damaged electrical grid, accumulating losses estimated at $40-85 billion USD; and
WHEREAS, of the 3.4 million people living in the Island, 95% are without power, less than half the population have potable water, 95% have no cell phone service and approximately 80% of the territory’s agriculture has been lost, causing historic catastrophe and a humanitarian crisis in urgent need of attending; and
WHEREAS, at 13:14 Central Time on September 19th, a 7.1 earthquake struck the metropolitan area of Mexico City, with an epicenter in Puebla, located just 34 miles south of Mexico, causing the collapse of more than 40 buildings, trapping people inside, creating large plumes of dust, starting fires, killing 367 people, and injuring more than 6,000; and
WHEREAS, the September 19th quake coincidentally occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, which killed around 10,000 people, hitting just two hours after a drill was conducted to commemorate the 1985 earthquake, and twelve days after an even larger earthquake struck 400 miles away, off the coast of the state of Chiapas, killing more than 90 people; and
WHEREAS, the incredibly devastating loss of life and catastrophic damage caused by these natural disasters have created crises in Mexico and Puerto Rico that need the attention and help from the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS, residents from Chicago and the County of Cook have organized in multiple ways to send supplies and volunteers to the affected areas to assist those in immediate need of food, water, medicine and basic everyday goods; and
WHEREAS, the organizations involved in the relief efforts should be commended and promoted to help spread the word and increase the amount of donations collected to help those in dire need in the communities affected in Mexico and Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of Puerto Rican residents have sought shelter with their families and friends living in the Chicago metropolitan area, and more are expected to relocate due to the long-term hardships of the rebuilding process; and
WHEREAS, it is the mission of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System to provide care within their capabilities to all patients regardless of race, color, gender, religion, physical or mental disability, national origin, age, culture, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran and/or the ability to pay.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County requests that the Cook County Health and Hospitals System prepare protocols for providing services in an efficient and timely manner to the residents of Puerto Rico who have relocated to the Cook County area for relief from the hurricane devastation and who may have lost their documentation during the disaster; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County hereby expresses their upmost gratitude to the organizations helping send relief to Mexico and Puerto Rico and encourages the residents of Cook County to join in the effort by donating goods or money to any of the following organizations:
La Casa Puertorriqueña, 1237 N. California, Chicago IL, lacasapuertorriquena.org
The National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA) nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/relief
The Puerto Rican Agenda www.generosity.com/emergencies-fundraising/pallets-and-planes-puerto-rico-hurricane-relief
UNICEF Puerto Rico Relief, www.unicefusa.org/Hurricane/Donationsý
United for Puerto Rico, unidosporpuertorico.com/en/
UNICEF Mexico Relief, www.unicefusa.org/Earthquake/Emergency
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