October 3rd, 2017 by WCBC Radio

On Monday, four members of the Maryland Civil Air Patrol left for the Puerto Rico and will spend 10-days flying over the island to help assess the extent of the damage caused Sept. 20 by Hurricane Maria, which destroyed much of the territory’s infrastructure and caused widespread power, food and water shortages for more than a week.

The air patrol pilots will be relieved by another team, and then another, for three or four weeks until the entire island has been surveyed. They’re joining the 26 members of the Maryland National Guard Gov. Larry Hogan deployed last week to help with water purification efforts and other relief aid.

Hogan plans to announce soon that more Maryland workers will be deployed to the island, spokesman Doug Mayer said. He declined to elaborate.

Meanwhile, groups large and small are donating cash, and launching drives for clothes, diapers, construction materials and other supplies.

An Annapolis architecture firm, Bignell Watkins Hasser, announced Monday it would match employee’s relief aid donations up to $200 each for all of 40 their employees.

A Baltimore dance studio, Salsa Now, advertised $10 salsa classes for this coming Friday night, with 100 percent the proceeds to be donated directly to relief.

Three Towson volleyball players who grew up in Puerto Rico filmed a video urging people to collect flashlights and batteries, and donate to United for Puerto Rico. The first lady of Puerto Rico started that initiative for private industries and the public to contribute to relief efforts.

Baltimore native and NBA star Carmelo Anthony started an internet fund to help pay for relief. It raised $300,000 as of Monday night.

At Sunday’s Ravens’ game, the company Emergent BioSolutions was selling reserved parking spots and donating the money to relief efforts. B.J. Hull, a company vice president, said the firm plans to do so again for the next few games, selling access to 55 spaces total.