Published September 5, 2018 – Mukilteo Beacon
By Brandon Gustafson
With Puerto Rico still recovering from damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria between August and October of last year, Lillian Ortiz-Self traveled to her parents’ homeland in August to see the damage first hand, and help however she could.
Ortiz-Self, a state representative for the 21st Legislative District, was a guest speaker at the 21st Legislative District Democrats’ Aug. 29 meeting at Mukilteo City Hall.
She was in Puerto Rico from Aug. 2-21, assisting with repairs caused by Hurricane Irma, which slammed the island between Aug. 30– Sept. 13, 2017, and Hurricane Maria, which wreaked havoc just a few days later and lasted from Sept. 16-Oct. 2, 2017.
A recent report showed roughly 3,000 people died as a result of the hurricanes, and it is estimated there was more than $150 billion in damages.
“I wanted to go and visit my dad, and I wanted to help the island and do what I could,” she said.
She and much of her family assisted various humanitarian groups on the island by helping build roofs, dig ditches, and put up walls.
