FEMA working with hotels to house Puerto Rican evacuees

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – More than a month has passed since Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico.

As Central Floridians work to help evacuees from the U.S. territory, many are still searching for a place to live.
 
During Tuesday's Orange County Commission meeting, Mayor Teresa Jacobs noted the need for housing, saying that more than 40,000 Puerto Rican evacuees made their way through Orlando International Airport from Oct. 2-24.

More than 140,000 more are expected to pass through Orlando's airport in the next two months, Jacobs said.

Evacuee Roy Rivera is among many in search of a permanent housing solution.

Rivera prepared for Hurricane Maria. He had a generator, food and supplies, but it still wasn't enough.

"It was awful in Puerto Rico and it's been hard here, too," Rivera said.
    
With an 80-year-old-father and an autistic granddaughter, he made the decision to come to Florida last week. 

He couldn't get a direct flight to Orlando and flew into Fort Lauderdale. Because of that, he wasn't able to utilize the disaster relief center at the Orlando International Airport.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is helping the families starting as soon as they get off the plane to sign up for benefits and payouts to help with their immediate needs here, while also helping to rebuild their homes back on the island.

Rivera said he drained his savings to get a roof over his family's head as soon as possible.

"So far about a week, I have spent about $2,500. Between food, hotels and car rentals and I have reached the end. I don't have no more," Rivera said.

He's hoping FEMA and the United Way can help.

"I am in a desperate situation," Rivera said. "I don't know what to do next."

Peter Sessum, of FEMA, said more hotels are jumping on board and working with the agency to offer hotels to evacuees at no charge to them.

In Central Florida there are more than four dozen. See a list of participating hotels here.