Several years after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017 and caused around $90 billion in damage, residents were still working to repair their homes and rebuild their communities. Subsequent storms further damaged unfixed properties and the power grid continued to suffer frequent blackouts. As a result, many families were living in unsafe conditions.
In response, GAF, through our Community Matters initiative partnered with Team Rubicon and local nongovernmental organizations to provide Puerto Rico hurricane relief. GAF donated roofing materials, roof installation trainings, and hundreds of hours of volunteer labor toward the Puerto Rico hurricane relief effort. Since 2017, GAF has continued its commitment and has donated materials for over 500 roofs and helped install them all over Puerto Rico.
Video Transcript
English Translation: The storm came and took my home. If I would have been home during the storm, then I wouldn't be here speaking with you.
[00:00:07]
A lot of the homeowners either are financially short or just don't have the capabilities to do it themselves. We're able to provide the work and the labor for them and just help them out however we can.
[00:00:21]
It's really important to us that we are always putting the highest quality materials into these homes.
Yesterday, we were at el Barrio Consejo en Guayanilla, and we were teaching ProTechos, Team Rubicon, and members of the local community how to apply GAF roof coatings. After we finished our coatings portion, we actually did a Liberty rolled roofing. GAF had donated in the past material for about 500 homes that have been done for Team Rubicon.
[00:00:48]
English Translation: There is nothing more important in life than to have a place to come home to, spend quality time, sit and be at peace.
