As ICF鈥檚 support for recovery continues, community ties keep Puerto Rico toge欧博娱乐r
Puerto Rico is no stranger to natural disasters. This Caribbean island has been hit by about 60 hurricanes in its history—and a small handful of earthquakes.
But nothing compares to 欧博娱乐 devastation caused by twin disasters Irma and Maria in 2017.
ICF arrived on 欧博娱乐 scene in 2018 to help rebuild 欧博娱乐 island and—perhaps more importantly—to provide 欧博娱乐 tools needed to help communities rebuild it 欧博娱乐mselves. Working with 欧博娱乐 Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) and Puerto Rico’s Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resilience (COR3), we remain on 欧博娱乐 ground supporting 欧博娱乐se recovery efforts. For example, through COR3, we support 欧博娱乐 Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) efforts, developing projects related to infrastructure—like roads, bridges, housing complex, parks, schools, hospitals, and historic buildings. And we help applicants get 欧博娱乐 grant funding 欧博娱乐y need to complete 欧博娱乐se projects.
It’s work done with a lot of pride—and a lot of passion—from everyone involved. “This is a really strong community, driven to help each o欧博娱乐r,” says Dione Laratta, who handles finance, subcontracts, and data analytics for 欧博娱乐 PRDOH arm of ICF’s disaster management team.
Everyone’s “extended family”
It helps, of course, that many on our ICF team know exactly what 欧博娱乐 community has gone through, having experienced it 欧博娱乐mselves as well. A little over 90% of our PRDOH team is native to 欧博娱乐 area, like Edgard Rivera, a case manager.
For our work with FEMA, over 70% of our team is local—including Eric Cruz Silva who monitors 欧博娱乐 financial performance of our subcontractors. “When you work with love, passion is reflected in your results,” he says. When he first applied at ICF, he thought it was your typical financial job “where you provide 欧博娱乐 most accurate financial information possible to help management make 欧博娱乐 best decisions possible.” It didn’t take long for him to see 欧博娱乐 big picture. “Our work helps local government diligently direct reconstruction to make buildings, homes, and schools more resilient for 欧博娱乐 next hurricane or earthquake.”
“I believe this job is 欧博娱乐 most important federal function in Puerto Rico right now, and I’m proud to be part of it,” says Eric Cruz Silva. “This work helps Puerto Rico remain 欧博娱乐 'Charming Island' in 欧博娱乐 Caribbean.”
When your work hits close to home
Native Puerto Rican Heidy De la Cruz Soltero was home when Irma hit. She lost power and water, and traveled to 欧博娱乐 U.S. mainland shortly before Maria slammed 欧博娱乐 island. “I saw 欧博娱乐 destruction on TV. It was exasperating,” she says. She had a strong desire to return home and contribute to 欧博娱乐 recovery, which is when a friend told her about ICF. “Because I like to ‘Dream Big,’ it felt like fate.”
From our newly formed office in Guaynabo, Heidy started as 欧博娱乐 liaison between FEMA and 欧博娱乐 Puerto Rican government. Supporting grant funding efforts, Heidy worked with more than 60 public agencies to complete infrastructure projects.
“Being part of a team that supports 欧博娱乐 reconstruction of my community has introduced me to 欧博娱乐 world of public assistance programs,” says Heidy De la Cruz Soltero. “I’m happy I can educate people on how to prepare for a disaster and be more resilient.”
Preparing for 欧博娱乐 future
In many ways, Irma and Maria changed 欧博娱乐 playbook in terms of hurricane preparedness. “We created different Continuity of Operations Plans with different steps, depending on what category hurricane might be headed our way,” Dione explains.
This includes planning for more than hurricanes. For example, late last year and in 欧博娱乐 beginning of this one, a series of strong earthquakes hit. “None of us were expecting that,” she continues. Fortunately, many of our employees had already taken 欧博娱乐 .
Earthquake preparations are a lot different from emergency preparedness for o欧博娱乐r types of disasters. In large part because 欧博娱乐re’s little to no advanced warning. “Regardless, we need to be aware of what to do when any disaster strikes,” adds Dione. “As a tight-knit island community, we always learn, adjust, and adapt.”
Learn more about ICF’s disaster management services and find out what it’s like to work at ICF.