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Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands as the Result of Hurricane Irma

Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists


As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Irma on the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Thomas E. Price, M.D., Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 5, 2017 in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands.



September 6, 2017
_____________________________
Date

                         

/s/
_____________________________
Thomas E. Price, M.D.



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Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists in the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as the Result of Hurricane Maria

Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists


As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Maria on the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Thomas E. Price, M.D., Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 16, 2017, in the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and since September 17, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.



September 19, 2017
_____________________________
Date

                         

/s/
_____________________________
Thomas E. Price, M.D.



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Renewal ofetermination that a Public Health Emergency Exists in the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as the Result of Hurricane Maria (December 11, 2017)

Renewal of Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists


As a result of the continued consequences of Hurricane Maria on the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Eric D. Hargan, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby renew, effective December 15, 2017, in the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and December 16, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the September 19, 2017 determination by former Secretary Thomas E. Price that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 16, 2017, in the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and since September 17, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 



December 11, 2017
_____________________________
Date

                         

/s/
_____________________________
Eric D. Hargan   
Acting Secretary



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Renewal of Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as a Result of Hurricane Maria (March 16, 2018)

Renewal of Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists


As a result of the continued consequences of Hurricane Maria on the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby renew, effective March 16, 2018, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the September 19, 2017, determination by former Secretary Thomas E. Price, which former Acting Secretary Eric D. Hargan previously renewed effective December 16, 2017, that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 17, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.



March 16, 2018
_____________________________
Date

                         

/s/
_____________________________
Alex M. Azar, II



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Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists As a Result of the Consequences of Hurricane Fiona on the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

DETERMINATION THAT A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS


As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Fiona on the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 17, 2022, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.



September 20, 2022
_____________________________
Date

                         

/s/
_____________________________
Xavier Becerra



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Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as the Result of Tropical Storm Dorian

Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists


​As a result of the consequences of Tropical Storm Dorian on the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since August 26, 2019, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 



August 28, 2019
_____________________________
Date

                         

/s/
_____________________________
Alex M. Azar, II



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“I’m NDMS for Life!”

“I’m NDMS for Life!”

Local Paramedic’s First Deployment is to Help Family, Friends, & Neighbors After Hurricane Maria: Now He Says, “I’m NDMS for Life!”

Rafael Baucage has lived his entire life in Aguadilla, a community of 60,000 on the west coast of Puerto Rico that, before Hurricane Maria, was best known for its beautiful beaches and its very popular Parque Acuático Las Cascadas, the only aquatic theme park in the Caribbean.

Post Hurricane Maria, his beloved community is in shambles. Rafael’s’ home was located in the middle of the hardest hit area in Aguadilla. More than three feet of water seeped through the walls of his home, which he shares with his wife Maria and their 15-year-old twins.

On September 22, two days after Hurricane Maria struck, Rafael was able to locate his NDMS administrative officer. His first question was, “Are you ok?” His second question: “What can I do? I’m here. I’m ok. My wife and children are ok, and I’m ready to help.”

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An image of the National Disaster Medical System uniform sleeve

The hurricane marked Rafael’s first deployment as a paramedic for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). Although he has been a member of NDMS’ Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) since 2009, this is the first time his team has been deployed to a federal disaster zone, and it just happens to be in their own backyard.

Since his deployment, Rafael has been doing what he is most passionate about: working as a paramedic on an ambulance. Four days ago, Rafael found a patient outside unconscious just around the corner from where his team set up a medical area on the town’s main street. “I got the doctors and nurses who stabilized him and then I transported him to Centro Medico in San Juan. It was my birthday that day, and helping that patient was my best birthday gift.”

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NDMS team working on a patient on an ambulance

For the last three weeks, Raphael has helped many patients, often transferring them down a mountain and across debris-filled streets to Centro Medico more than 90 miles away or bringing patients from his community back to the medical tents set up on main street. During these transports he sees people from his neighborhood doing everything they can: cutting up trees, removing debris, repairing their homes and cleaning the streets. Everyone is working together to help each other and make things better.

Although as awful as this storm is, Rafael says serving his community with NDMS has been a great experience for him. “The doctors, nurses, and EMTs on my DMAT are great.” According to Rafael, the best part about serving on the team is that he got to work with NDMS team members from California and New Jersey. These folks have been deployed to many disasters, and have a great deal of experience that they to share.

This may be Rafael’s first deployment, but he says: “I’m NDMS for life! I’m so glad I have this knowledge for my future job and deployments are one way to get even better at what I do.”

Rafael’s story is just one of many from NDMS responders helping patients get the care that they need and supporting the health care system as it recovers from Hurricane Maria. There are many great ways for both medical and non-medical professionals to help communities in the wake of a disaster, but the best time to choose to serve is before a disaster strikes. Are you up for the challenge? Take a few minutes to learn how you can help the next time disaster strikes, visit Joining NDMS. 

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