Unemployment claims soar as Puerto Rico’s economy reels from a ‘Category 5’ hit
"My kitchen, my carpet, my bed, my couch, my clothes. My personal stuff. My shoes. Everything," he said.
But the most devastating loss has been his job at a
"I don't have food in my house, nothing," he said. "Please, I need help."
Like thousands of Puerto Ricans who have suddenly found themselves without work, Ferrao's only options are to leave the island or apply for a meager unemployment check -- at most
Since the
Even more Puerto Ricans have left the island. In
With hundreds of the island's businesses expected to shutter permanently -- and countless others to remain closed until electricity is restored -- it's unclear if, or when, Puerto Ricans will be able to return to work.
"We knew that one of the effects that hurricanes have in any jurisdiction is a potential effect on jobs," said Carlos Saavedra Gutiérrez,
Long lines, small checks
In the first few days after the
By the end of October, five weeks after the storm, the lines in
Julio Vallejo González had spent the weeks following the storm trying to repair his home while he waited for the restaurant where he worked as a line cook to reopen. On
Others had already filed unemployment claims, but were picking up the checks in person because of the disruptions in postal service.
Analia Ríos had been one of the lucky few who was able to return to work after the hurricane. The dermatology clinic where she worked as a nurse had a generator. But a week after the storm, the diesel ran out and the clinic struggled to find more fuel. They decided to close.
Now, Rios was collecting
"I can't get help from the government, I can't get food stamps, I can't get anything," she said.
Saavedra Gutiérrez acknowledged that unemployment benefits aren't a substitute for a regular salary. "Even though it's help that's available, it's still an economic crisis for people that lost their livelihoods," he said. Unemployment benefits are "designed as sort of a stop-gap measure" until the recipient "hopefully" finds another job, he added.
With 70 percent of the island still in the dark, however, finding another job is proving nearly impossible.
'Hanging on by a thread'
Before Puerto Ricans can go back to work, businesses have to reopen. And for that to happen, they need electricity.
"Without a doubt, the majority of small businesses have had to close," said Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, speaking last week outside a newly reopened elementary school. "We're looking for mechanisms to help small and medium-sized businesses survive during this crisis. But the reality is that there's going to be no greater help than getting electricity back in
That is proving much easier said than done. Nearly six weeks after Hurricane Maria,
Although Puerto Rican officials announced Monday that the governors of
And restoring power alone won't put everyone back in business, said
"That everything's going to normalize when the electricity comes, I don't think that's going to be exactly what happens," she said. "I hope I'm wrong, but being realistic I think it's going to take a long time."
In addition to the lack of power, some companies have struggled to find supplies since the hurricane. Others have limited their hours of operation because of the high costs of running generators.
"There are some businesses that are hanging on by a thread," Lamboy said.
Local and federal agencies are also attempting to keep the island's businesses afloat. There are low-interest disaster loans available to help cover the costs of repairing storm damage, and small business owners who don't qualify for regular unemployment benefits can apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance from the
But while businesses decide on their next steps, thousands of Puerto Rican employees remain in limbo.
Closed until further notice
It would be enough to devastate even the healthiest of economies. In
"
It's unclear what the unemployment rate is now.
In the town of Humacao, 35 miles southeast of
A car stereo store, Carolina Music II, hadn't fired anyone yet. "We're trying not to for as long as we can," said Carmen Rodríguez, who owns the store with her husband.
Sales had gone down 60 percent since Maria hit and some of the store's suppliers had stopped delivering to Humacao. With crime on the rise in the neighborhood, Rodriguez had been locking up early every day. "They're looting a lot," she said.
At nearby Martinizing Dry Cleaning, owners
When electricity returns, "they know they can count on us," Dávila said.
But he wasn't optimistic about getting power any time soon. There were rumors about when local power lines would be repaired, but no official information. "They say it's going to be this week, the next week, the one after that," he said.
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