SPRINGFIELD – Although the relief situation in Puerto Rico is changing daily, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Richard Neal met with constituents in an hour-long Town Hall meeting to discuss the condition as of Sept. 29.

Warren said there is “a simple message [to describe the effort to help to date]: it’s too little and it’s coming too slowly.”

Warren explained this she is looking ahead past the immediate relief needs to the island commonwealth’s overall economy. “It was fragile economy even before the first winds picked up,” she said.

Several hundred people filled the gym of the Chestnut Middle School for the event, which also featured state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, as well as Mayor Domenic Sarno and Mayor Alex Morse of Holyoke.

She called for a plan to help Puerto Rico now and for the future. The senator urged people to “tell your story” on social media.  She added, “We need to make this real to the rest of America.”

Before the elected officials took comments and questions, Warren shared steps that have been taken to that date at the lobbying of members of Congress, including naming one person to be charge of the relief efforts, pushing FEMA to fund 100 percent of the assistance and asking the military to there to help.  

Warren said she would work with Congress and the Trump Administration to ask for emergency funding for the government of Puerto Rico, which she said will run out of money in two weeks.

“It will cause the government to seize up,” she said.

Neal said helping Puerto Rico is part of the “American principle” of the rest of the nation coming together to help part of the country that has been devastated by a natural disaster.

FEMA at this time is “the gold standard” in terms of how it responds to disasters and Neal urged people to make donations to reputable charities.

“This [the rebuilding] is going to be very expensive,” he said.

He noted that only 25 percent of the cell phone network on the island is in operation. Neal added estimates have been made the electric power grid may take up to six months to repair.

The expected visit to the island by President Donald Trump is hoped to convey “a sense of urgency,” Neal said. He stressed effort made to advocate for Puerto Rico are staying “above partisanship.”

Neal also said members of Congress has been discouraged from visiting Puerto Rico as they would only “get in the way” of relief workers.

Neal added the U.S. Virgin Islands were “really pummeled as well.”

According to a FEMA press statement issued on Sept. 28, “FEMA, working in coordination with federal partners, provided millions of meals and millions of liters of water to Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Additional meals and water continue to arrive to the islands daily.  Puerto Rico established eleven regional staging areas, serving 77 communities.  The U.S. Virgin Islands established 17 distribution sites.”

Morse said families that have been evacuated from the island are coming to join their families in Holyoke and the area must be prepared to accommodate the refugees.

“When folks arrive in Holyoke we want to make sure they have a safe place to stay," he said.

Morse described issues surrounding refugees who need prescriptions or health care. Jay Breines, chief executive officer of the Holyoke Health Center would work to help the refugees the medical help they require.

Several people asked about contributing specific items such as baby formula and wheelchairs. Warren said, “My sense now is we’re just now there. Supplies are stacking up at the port. We don’t know what the needs are and we don’t know where the needs are.”

Sarah Page of Wayfinders said the housing agency is working with the state to find housing solutions for the refugees.

Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentin spoke of the difficulties to buy airline tickets to evacuate family members and said flights are booked three weeks in advance, posing a problem for the elderly in need of health care such as her 81 year-old father who is a diabetic.

She also asked what are the conditions like for those incarcerated in Puerto Rico’s jails and federal facilities.

Valentin asked that information about how people can help be distributed.

Neal suggested contacting the American Red Cross of Western Massachusetts at 737-4306 for more information on the best ways to assist the effort.

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The city of Springfield will immediately cease accepting donations at its designated donation centers for Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico, due to the overwhelming amount of items collected.

The city is currently working with Western Mass. United for Puerto Rico in packaging and preparing these items for shipment to Puerto Rico. Those interested in contributing are encouraged to make monetary donations. All funds received will benefit Puerto Rican organizations directly working with victims of the hurricane.

Freedom Credit Union (FCU) has established an account for these donations. For a list of FCU branch locations, https://freedom.coop/about-us/contact-us/hours-locations. Checks can be made payable to: Attn:  Edward Nuñez, Western MA Puerto Rico Relief Fund, c/o Freedom Credit Union, P.O. Box 3009, Springfield, MA 01101-3009.

Donations can also be made through www.PayPal.me/wmu4pr.