Hurricane Maria: How to Help Loved Ones in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands

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If you have friends, family, or other loved ones in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, or other hurricane-affected areas, you can help ensure they stay safe by sending them health and safety information. This toolkit offers different messages in both English and Spanish you can send via text message, email, or social media. Even if you do not personally know anyone in the affected areas, you can still help spread these important messages.

Post on social media

Post these messages on Twitter or Facebook and tag your friends and family in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, or other areas affected by hurricanes this year. You can also follow CDC on our social media channels and share or retweet our health and safety messages.

Share an image

Share these images via text message, email, or social media.

Send a text message

Send a quick text message with key health and safety information.

Send an email

Send this email to your friends and family on the islands, and encourage them to forward or share this email to others.

Make a phone call

CDC has a number of webpages and other resources with health and safety information after a hurricane. Please share the information on these pages with your loved ones to make sure they are getting the information they need to stay safe and healthy.

Take care of yourself

Make sure you are tending to your own mental and physical wellbeing. If you need counseling support, you can reach out to the SAMHSA Distress Hotline at:

  • US Residents: Call 1-800-985-5990 (Deaf/hearing impaired can use your preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990) or text TalkWithUs to 66746. Spanish speakers in the US can call 1-800-985-5990 or text HÁBLANOS to 66746.
  • Spanish speakers in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands: Call or Text Háblanos to 1-212-461-4635.

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