In the wake of Hurricane Maria's destruction in Puerto Rico, Orange County is preparing for an influx of thousands of the island's residents to the Sunshine State.
- Thousands of Puerto Ricans expected in Central Florida
- Islanders displaced after destruction from Hurricane Maria
- RELATED: MARIA: Schools, UCF prepare for students from Puerto Rico
At a county commission meeting Tuesday, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs expressed concern there would not be enough housing within the county.
However, commissioners said the county's resources must first be requested with the state, which then sends the request to FEMA.
"The challenge for me is that we aren't the ones who get to make the decisions," Jacobs said. "As much as we have a community that wants to do things and help, those need to be funneled up to the state EOC so that they can decide who is providing what service."
Jacobs has also been working with Osceola County officials to ensure a seamless response when the time comes.
Jacobs was expected to present details of a new section on the county’s website called, “Puerto Rico Disaster Relief: United We Can Do More," at the meeting. Information on the website will be continually updated on relief efforts, officials said.
Members of the Puerto Rican community spoke on the needs the county will face.
Some think there will be huge stresses on county resources if nearly a third of the island's population — about a million people — come to Florida looking for work and shelter.
"I'm not saying the million will come to Orange County, but it will be in the state of Florida, so housing will becomes a very serious issue," former commissioner Mildred Fernandez said.
The Puerto Rican Action Initiative, meanwhile, said it wants want to make sure affordable housing issues, medical insurance concerns and education needs are addressed.
"As much as we love the organizations that are in place, sometimes those organizations don't have enough diversity that represents the Puerto Rican community. The United Way and Red Cross are probably the ones that are going to receive the funding to help with the people coming here. So we want to take this opportunity (to ensure) that they include the PR community," the Puerto Rican Action Initiative's Jimmy Torres Velez said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also will help with housing assistance, crisis counseling, unemployment assistance and legal advice. School districts and the University of Central Florida also have announced initiatives and made preparations for Puerto Rican students.