Our first lab moves to a local host
The Puerto Rico RIL has fulfilled its initial mandate and closeout all Hurricane Maria activities. Working with our local host entity - The Puerto Rico Science Trust (PRST) - we have determined the same need and output of the RIL wouldn't be needed, especially as other activities within the PRST are filling current gaps. As of June 2020, we have sunset the Puerto Rico lab, which is a RIL success!
A principal of the RIL isn't to be around forever, but rather to fill a gap in the response ecosystem and build local capacity to respond. As we continue to expand with additional labs and pop-ups, we are thrilled to have worked through our first lab transition and exit strategy. We are excited to see PRST build on RIL activities, advance humanitarian innovation locally, and continue looking for ways to support their efforts across Puerto Rico.
Emergency Responses: Seismic Event
Puerto Rico was faced multiple seismic events that started on 6 January 2020 that led to the Presidential Declaration of 18 municipalities for disaster assistance due to the severity of the damages. Over 1,200 were destroyed or suffered major damage, and 200+ public buildings were destroyed, including public schools and other critical lifeline facilities. Many NGOs and nonprofits regrouped and redirected all support and to the earthquake-affected areas. Puerto Rico RIL supported the network of NGOs with technical information, access to databases, facilitation of bulk procurement, and use of the Trust facilities in the city of Ponce for co-working spaces. Specialized resources managed by the RIL agreements with NASA and other scientific bodies supported the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau (PREMB) in their response.
COVID-19 Response
On 29 February 2020, Puerto Rico governor Hon. Wanda Vázquez Garced established a task force to look into how the virus could affect Puerto Rico could mitigate outbreaks. The Executive Order closed all businesses to start addressing the pandemic early on. Modernization of supply chain systems, coordination of actions among diverse responders, access to communication means, fairness in the distribution of aid, and energy resiliency were among the most noticeable challenges. The Puerto Rico RIL continued uninterrupted as the staff telecommuted and responded by coordinating and convening with local actors to enable efficient communication and knowledge sharing.
Creating America’s clearing house
The Puerto Rico RIL worked with the NASA Disaster Program to transfer all their databases, satellite imagery, and information available to the RIL. Part of the agreement was to provide specialized training which began with a three-day event and included a panel from the Aero-Space industry who addressed the application and usage in their cluster. Future work will consist of the development of algorithmic data cubes created by NASA scientists to allow for an easy query of the databases and the linking of imagery with data for first responders. Currently, the access to the servers from NASA and the PRSTRT are linked, and the entrance is open to the public. The next training is scheduled on Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems and will happen before the coming hurricane season.
Energizing the next generation around resilience and recovery
The Puerto Rico RIL hosted a contest for 6-12th grade students from all public and private schools on the island. The contest was a call for local students to develop concepts and prototypes of technology, systems that better a response. An orientation was provided to the teachers and university Professors on the RIL methodology, to support the development of the student-led solutions. Currently, a request to have the methodology translated and available before the start of the next school year is being considered.
Cooperative Development and Investment Fund
The biggest concern from the 14+ months of electricity disruption post-Hurricane Maria is the effects on multiple municipalities and thousands of island residents making life support services unavailable. While this is being addressed through the installations of photo-voltaic and other alternative energy options, customers and industry purveyors have been hampered by the lack of universal financing contracts and a single APR. Banking and other financial intermediaries have been slow in offering financing options. RIL had instituted a number of cluster meetings and participated with Clinton Global Initiative to develop 1) consensus on workforce development 2) creating a universal contract 3) a standard APR. Fidecoop was the first institution to adopt the recommendations and institute a loan program with a pool of $42 million dollars for commercial loans. The autonomous Savings & Loan Cooperatives are considering the same for their institutions.
Multiple Insurance Cooperative
The Puerto Rico RIL conducted convenings with Parallel 18 start-ups and insurance industry leaders to seek an expedient and unencumbered insurance coverage solution without affecting the base-rate requirements and that would be allowed by local regulations. Parametric insurance was the best option for a new product and was adopted by the Multiple Insurance Cooperative to be developed by a commercial line. This new product is expected to be marketed prior to the next hurricane season.
Strengthening community resilience through the creation of simple WASH technology
Oxfam America conducted a field research project that shed light on the specific WASH-related challenges for community members from a gender perspective post-Hurricane Maria. Issues like maintaining home hygiene, hauling water, doing laundry by hand, and showering were taking a toll on community members. Domestic tasks were identified as falling disproportionately on the shoulders of women. A team from Oxfam America, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, and Puerto Rico RIL carried out a pilot project based on the Oxfam study recommendations. The team has developed and executed a series of interactive workshops designed to strengthen community-level resilience through the creation of simple technology.