Bangor Nurse Returns Home after Aiding in Relief Efforts in Puerto Rico

The damage left behind by Hurricanes Irma and Maria have displaced thousands in Puerto Rico.

A Bangor nurse has just returned home after spending two weeks aiding in relief efforts there.

Amy Tidd is part of a list of nurses with the Registered Nurse Response Network, ready to deploy during a natural disaster.

Their mission was purely medical at first, but upon arrival, it became apparent many people were without food and water.

"Some days it would take us five hours just to get enough food to feed 100 people in just one barrio. All of the groundwater in Puerto Rico is considered contaminated, so our number one concern was to provide education on ways that people could treat their water. And we picked up folks that were local along the way to help us carry supplies. They even helped us to do triage in some of our clinics. So it was an amazing experience. Everyone was willing to lend a helping hand."

The need for help is dire. Tidd says it will take months to restore power to the area.

Monetary donations are suggested as that is the best way for volunteers on the ground to get the supplies needed.

For more information, visit redcross.org