(CHICAGO) November 9, 2018 — The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois is proud to welcome Ana Montero, Recovery Executive Officer of Red Cross Puerto Rico, to Chicago where she will be providing an update on the ongoing response and recovery effort on the island at an event on Tuesday, November 13 from 12:00pm-1:30pm at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture at 3015 West Division Street. It has been over one year since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and hundreds of dedicated volunteers and staff descended upon the island to support hurricane survivors. This meeting is also hosted by the Puerto Rican Agenda.

“Hurricane Maria was the most intense hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years. With a hurricane of this magnitude, the recovery can often last months, years or longer,” said Celena Roldán, CEO of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois. “Ana will be giving us insight into the unique response on the island and the great lengths the Red Cross and our partners are going through to aid in recovery efforts.”

“The response to Hurricane Maria will be referenced for years by the Red Cross and other disaster organizations so I am honored to be able to share some of the pivotal moments with this region,” said Ana Montero. “It takes a collection of willing volunteers to make a difference and many people who came to help were from right here in Chicago.” 

Hurricane Maria caused massive damage to key infrastructure across the island. Powered by the generosity of donors, the Red Cross was able to:

• Help reconnect nearly 15,000 families in 51 Puerto Rican municipalities
• Serve 12.8 million meals and snacks with the help of partners
• Distribute more than 5.2 million relief items
• Provide more than 40,800 health and mental health services
• Provide more than 2,700 generators for people with medical equipment needs

*All numbers are cumulative and reflect Red Cross response efforts since September 20, 2017

WHAT: Recovery, Resiliency and the Red Cross: A Community Briefing

WHERE: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture

3015 West Division Street, Chicago

WHEN: Tuesday, November 13, 2018, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Ana Montero is available for interviews at this event. Contact Holly Baker, Communications Manager, at 312-833-1753 to arrange.

About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:

The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.

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