An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Sept. 26, 2016

Puerto Rico Guard assists with response to island-wide power outages

By Army Sgt. Alexis Velez Joint Forces Headquarters, Puerto Rico National Guard

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The Puerto Rico National Guard has been transporting and distributing electrical generators supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in response to large-scale power outages throughout the island.

 

Beginning Friday evening, Guard members used tactical vehicles, escorted by officers of the Puerto Rico Police Department, to transport generators ranging in power output from 240 kW to 800 kW to the towns of Gurabo and Yabucoa.

 

"With this support from our National Guard we reaffirm our commitment and duty to help relieve the citizens of Puerto Rico during the emergency facing our Island,” said Army Maj. Gen. Marta Carcana, the adjutant general of the Puerto Rico Guard.  “I am very proud and grateful of my Soldiers who always answer the call to help others in need."

 

Sgt. Maribel Maldonado, who is part of the group of Soldiers activated during the emergency, said she was honored to take part in the mission.

 

"I am proud and honored to serve my country,” she said.  “It is fulfilling for me to know that I can contribute in some way to improve this situation.  For me this is much more than just an obligation, it is a satisfaction for me to be part of the Guard.”

 

Guard members were activated Thursday to help in the distribution of the power plant generators. According to FEMA officials in Puerto Rico, 77 electrical generators have been provided in response to the blackout occurred which has left roughly 1.5 million families without electricity.

 

 

Related Articles
Soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team practice various close quarter battle techniques at the live fire shoot house complex at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, June 10, 2025. The Soldiers conducted several iterations to practice movement while firing live rounds. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Campbell)
Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Train at Live-Fire Shoot House
By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Campbell, | July 17, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Soldiers from Pennsylvania Army Guard’s B Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team conducted training at the live-fire shoot house here during the unit’s...

New York Air and Army National Guard medical personnel examine a “casualty’s ” triage tag before loading victim into the  cargo bay of a 105th Airlift Wing Globemaster III airlifter at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, on June 6, 2025 during a medical evacuation training exercise. The Army Army and Air Guard medical personnel joined Active Soldiers from Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point in conducting a “tail-to-tail” drill in which casualties were off-loaded directly from an Army Medevac helicopter into the C-17.
N.Y. Army, Air Guard Partner for Medical Evacuation Exercise
By Eric Durr, | July 17, 2025
NEWBURGH, N.Y. — New York Army and Air National Guard medical personnel teamed up with their active component Army counterparts from West Point’s Keller Army Community Hospital for a three-day exercise that tested all parts...

U.S. Army Spc. Massan Signon, wheeled vehicle mechanic (91B) with the D.C. National Guard’s 104th Maintenance Company, stands for a photograph at the Combined Support Maintenance Shop at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2025. Spc. Signon is part of a dedicated team that performs routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and recovery operations, which are vital for keeping the Army's vehicles operational and ready for deployment at a moment's notice. Their work directly impacts the ability to respond to missions.
Why I Serve: D.C. Guard Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic Excels in Operational Relevance
By Ayan Sheikh, | July 17, 2025
WASHINGTON — From Togo to the nation’s capital, U.S. Army Spc. Massan Signon of the 104th Maintenance Company has embraced every challenge with determination and a commitment to service.A wheeled vehicle mechanic with the...