Contact: Colleen Roche or Nydia Negron (212) 788-2958
Joining the Mayor and the Speaker were team members, Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra, Councilmembers Victor Robles and Jose Rivera, and David Turney, Deputy Director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management. This four-member team worked in collaboration with 17 technical specialists representing nine New York City agencies.
"I would like to commend the efforts of this Inter-Agency Team, led by Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra and Councilmembers Victor Robles and Jose Rivera, for laboring under very tough conditions over the course of four days to provide assistance, relief and support to the people of Puerto Rico," said Mayor Giuliani. "Their mission, and what they accomplished, exemplify what is best about our City--our compassion and willingness to help others in their time of need."
The Mayor also said, "I want to extend my deepest appreciation toTower Air and its Chairman, Morris Nachtomi, who very generously came forward and transported our 24-member team to and from Puerto Rico free of charge. Tower is a terrific example of what good corporate citizenship is all about."
Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone remarked, "I want to thank Councilmembers Robles and Rivera and the rest of the team for the fine job they did in assessing the effects of last week's hurricane," said Speaker Vallone. "The damage on the island is extensive and much help is needed. I urge all New Yorkers and charitable organizations to donate money and supplies to the relief effort. I am confident that, once again, New Yorkers will come through."
The team traveled more than 3,500 miles during its four-day mission, visiting 30 towns and municipalities throughout the island. Team representatives assessed structural, electrical, medical and sanitary conditions; provided immediate relief; and determined priority areas for action. This included emergency medical assistance to more than 26 patients at a local hospital in Guayama; delivering thousands of bottles of water and electric generators to the Towns of Loiza, Bayamon, Arroyo, and Salinas; and meeting with hundreds of residents, local clergy and community leaders to re-assure them that additional help was on the way.
"The people of Puerto Rico are very much like the people of New York - they are resilient and determined in the face of a crisis," said Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra. "Their response to our presence on the Island was simply amazing. They were extremely warm and grateful, and felt a real sense of friendship and solidarity with the people of New York as we struggled together to bring relief to those in need. Together we began the process of rebuilding their communities in the wake of this devastating natural disaster," she continued.
In addition to meeting with Commonwealth officials, the team was briefed regularly by members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and coordinated the distribution of relief supplies with Federal authorities.
The Mayor will attend a Telethon sponsored by the Hispanic Federation of New York City on Saturday, September 21st, at Hostos Community College in the Bronx in an attempt to raise private funds to continue the on-going relief efforts on the Island.
The members of the New York City Inter-Agency Task Force included:
Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra
Councilman Victor Robles
Councilman Jose Rivera
Debra Clinton, Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra's Office
Carmen Ambert, Executive Deputy Administrator, Intergovernmental Affairs, HRA
Angel Lopez, City Council Operations Office
Sal Lifrieri, Detective OEM
David Turney, Deputy Director of OEM
Juan Garcia, Sergeant, Emergency Service Unit, T2, NYPD
John McArdle, Lieutenant, Emergency Service Unit, NYPD
Stephen T. Spall, Lieutenant, FDNY
John Flynn, FDNY
Raul Perez, Paramedic, FDNY
Robert Chicola, Executive Chief Inspector, Department of Buildings
Joe Trivisonno, Brooklyn Borough Commander, Department of Buildings
Laura Osorio, Deputy Borough Superintendent, Department of Buildings
Michael Abbatine, Department of Environmental Protection
Ricardo Murphy, Chief of Operations, Department of Parks and Recreation
Don Breen, Department of Parks and Recreation
Robert Suarez, Bureau of Environmental Investigation, Department of Health
Efrain Alvarez, Assistant Electrical Supervisor, NYCHA
Nestor Martinez,Operating Supervisor, Electrical Construction, Consolidated Edison
Daniel Brea, Section Manager, Consolidated Edison
Steve Taylor Chief Program Officer, American Red Cross