BLM Nevada Rangers Provide Hurricane Maria Relief
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RENO, Nev. – Bureau of Land Management Law Enforcement Rangers from Nevada are currently deployed to San Juan, Puerto Rico and are assisting with relief and search and rescue efforts in the wake of the strongest hurricane to hit the Caribbean Island and U.S. territory in nearly a century.
Rangers Bill Hart from the Ely District and Paul Zohovetz of Fernley, who is assigned to the Carson City District, arrived in San Juan prior to Hurricane Maria, which blew ashore Wednesday morning as a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph. Maria destroyed hundreds of homes, knocked out power across the entire island of 3.4million people and turned some streets into raging rivers.
Hart and Zohovetz are among several other BLM officers nationally who were on a roster to assist with national emergencies through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Support Function (ESF). BLM Ranger Ernesto Felix from the Elko District originally deployed to Orlando, Fla., and is now on his way to Puerto Rico.
The Nevada Rangers are part of a Quick Reaction Team (QRT), which became emergency first responders for guest and staff of the La Concha hotel where they were staying when Maria hit. Several of the guests and staff, including a 91-year-old woman, were treated for injuries following the devastating hurricane. Today the team is taking part in Search and Rescue Operations.
For media members interested in photos, please contact Rita Henderson at 775-861-6471.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.