Disaster Recovery Following Hurricane Maria

Executive Summary

From September 19 to 21, 2017, Hurricane Maria impacted Puerto Rico, causing immense destruction that triggered a major humanitarian crisis. As a Category 5 hurricane, Maria was the most damaging and indestructible hurricane in over 90 years, devastating the island with catastrophic winds and rain. Buildings were destroyed, infrastructure was crippled, and essential services were disrupted. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated post-disaster aid to upgrade, rebuild, and restore damaged facilities focused on recovery and strengthening the island’s infrastructure. Ideally, this will mitigate the risk of public safety hazards and structural damage that could be caused by future storms. Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017, LED Lighting Supply partnered with a local Puerto Rico contractor, SGC Construction, to install a durable pole and lighting solution for a local baseball field rebuild project, Helechal Park. The poles were specifically engineered to withstand high-wind conditions at the sports field using government-provided EPA wind data. The improvements facilitated by LED Lighting Supply and SGC Construction contributed to community efforts to repair and rebuild various sports and recreational facilities across Puerto Rico.

The Impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria’s extensive damage to Puerto Rico’s infrastructure left a lasting impact on the island. The hurricane’s powerful winds and relentless heavy rains wreaked havoc on buildings, roads, and bridges, causing widespread destruction. Many structures including homes, schools, and hospitals, were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, displacing thousands of residents and disrupting daily life. The storm severely compromised the island’s electrical grid, plunging entire communities into darkness and leaving millions without power for months. This prolonged outage crippled critical services, such as healthcare and emergency response resources, further exacerbating the crisis. Additionally, the storm disrupted water and sewage systems across Puerto Rico and contaminated water supplies leading to a significant public health crisis that put additional strain on an already overwhelmed infrastructure. The combined effects of these damages underscored the vulnerability of the island maximizing the urgent need for comprehensive rebuilding and resiliency efforts.

What is FEMA Relief?

FEMA relief refers to the assistance provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help communities recover from disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and wildfires. This relief can include financial aid to individuals and households, grants for temporary housing, and funds to repair or replace damaged homes. FEMA also supports local governments by providing resources for emergency response and recovery efforts. The goal of FEMA relief is to ensure that those affected by disasters receive the necessary support to rebuild communities as rapidly and safely as possible.

FEMA’s Contributions to Help Repair Puerto Rico

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) took significant measures to help rebuild and repair damages in various locations across Puerto Rico. Due to the inhabitable impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, FEMA allocated over $706 million to restore and improve 57 sports and recreational facilities across the island that also function as shelters in times of disaster. However, FEMA’s commitment to restoring Puerto Rico’s infrastructure goes beyond mere repairs. The agency emphasized building resilience and public safety in these projects, ensuring the new structures are more durable and better equipped to handle the island’s unique environmental conditions. This comprehensive approach reflects FEMA’s dedication to restoring what was lost while investing in the long-term safety and well-being of the communities affected.

Our island is recognized for the quality of its athletes. Therefore, it is important to provide them with the necessary conditions and tools to achieve their goals. – Laboy Rivera, Executive Director of COR3 Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency

Rebuilding Helechal Park

After reviewing space and EPA requirements, LED Lighting Supply’s Lighting and Pole Specialists designed a lighting layout and recommended a resiliently engineered light pole solution. The primary goals were to illuminate the baseball field for optimal visibility and to withstand future hardening weather events. The partnership not only focused on upgrading the lighting systems for Helechal Park but also on reducing the risk of structural damage and mitigating potential public safety hazards. LED Lighting Supply carefully considered the hurricane-prone nature and Effective Projected Area (EPA) of the environment throughout the outdoor sports field reconstruction project.

• The Solution:
  • Sturdy, Durable Stadium Poles:
    • (3) 60-foot hurricane-resistant steel poles
    • (5) 45-foot hurricane-resistant steel poles
  • High-Power Stadium Lights:
    • (24) Rugged wet location rated flood lights
  • Stadium Pole & Light Layout Specific to Puerto Rico

Helechal Park Pole Solution

The project included the installation of three 60-foot steel poles, five 45-foot durable steel poles, all engineered for high-wind zones. The rugged, high-strength steel poles provided for this project are a durable alternative to wood poles that have an increased service life of up to 30 years due to their superior EPA ratings. EPA Ratings, also known as Effective Projected Area ratings, measure the amount of wind that light fixtures and light poles can resist in specific locations. Consideration of these ratings was critical throughout the project planning phase, specifically while engineering the layout plan. Product recommendations were then made that ensured optimal safety and structural integrity.

Helechal Park Lighting Solution

In addition to these rugged poles, 24 high-performance LED stadium lights were supplied and installed to provide high end visibility and safety at the facility. The field lights used for this project are unique due to their special optics, high energy efficiency, and durability. These fixtures paired with LED Lighting Supply’s high-performance steel light poles ensure the lighting installation will withstand future harsh weather conditions.

Conclusion

In summary, the Helechal Park sports field reconstruction project focused on restoring and upgrading key infrastructure with modern LED lighting and hurricane-resistant poles. Ensuring these facilities are safe, durable, and energy-efficient was a top priority for all parties involved. By carefully considering factors such as wind ratings and Effective Projected Area (EPA), the project guaranteed that the rebuilt facilities would be resilient and reliable, providing long-lasting value to the communities they serve. LED Lighting Supply’s Lighting and Pole Specialists have worked with sports and industrial customers for over 15 years to ensure they select the perfect commercial, industrial, and sports solutions for their projects with exceptional product support. Our team will run lighting plans before purchase to ensure appropriate lighting levels and recommend the proper light fixture and pole count necessary.