【Watch In the Cut (2003)】

The Watch In the Cut (2003)news reports from Puerto Rico are hard to fathom.

The island's crops and livestock were decimated by Hurricane Maria. Survivors can't get food, water, gas, or cash. The electrical grid was all but wiped out when the storm swept over the U.S. territory last week.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Maria plunged Puerto Rico into a humanitarian crisis, and help has barely arrived

Now 3.5 million people are wondering when their lives will return to normal as they also worry about running out of supplies and medicine. Experts say it'll be several weeks, if not months, before power is restored.

There are, however, important ways you can help survivors:

1. Consider donating money to one of several fundraising efforts.

Local, national, and international organizations have launched donation campaigns in recent days. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is of Puerto Rican descent, has tweeted support of the Hispanic Federation's "Unidos" drive, which directs all proceeds to survivors and recovery efforts.

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The crowdfunding platform Global Givingis trying to raise $2 million to fund relief efforts in the Caribbean. All donations go toward providing emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine, as well as rebuilding assistance.

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UNICEF, which aids children in disaster areas, is collecting donations to support its humanitarian efforts in the Caribbean.

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Save the Children, which also focuses on children in emergency situations, is raising money for its on-the-ground efforts coordinating with local partners to determine the needs of children and families. (Ten percent of donations to specific campaigns go to Save the Children's emergency reserves.)

The New York Foundling is a New York-based charity that serves 1,500 children and families through its Head Start program. The organization's Puerto Rico-based staff is working to assess the damage to 42 Foundling sites, with the goal of getting them up and running as quickly as possible. You can donate to that effort here.

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The One America Appeal, an initiative started after Hurricane Harvey by all the living former U.S. presidents, now includes Hurricane Maria recovery efforts in its fundraising campaign.

Beatriz Rosselló, Puerto Rico's first lady, launched a fundraising campaign called United for Puerto Ricoin partnership with major corporations like Walmart, Walgreen's, and Burger King.

2. Spread the word.

Despite the widespread devastation, it's not clear that Americans fully understand how Hurricane Maria affected Puerto Rico, or that the island is a U.S. territory whose residents are American citizens.

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In addition to supporting fundraising efforts when possible, you can help spread the word about the crisis by sharing news reports on social media and tweeting your support using hashtags like #UnidosPorPR, #PuertoRicoRelief, #HelpPuertoRico, and #PrayForPuertoRico.

3. Consider how you can volunteer or help your company contribute to recovery efforts.

The government of Puerto Rico has posted a comprehensive guide for how to assist its recovery efforts. That includes providing emergency supplies like bottled water, baby wipes, garbage bags, and dish soaps, as well as construction supplies like extension cords, ropes, and safety glasses. If you work for a company that could contribute to these collection efforts in coordination with government requests, consider urging senior leaders to make donations.

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The government's guide also includes a reminder that federal Department of Homeland Security employees can leave their regular agency and volunteer for up to 45 days at a disaster location with "austere conditions." Volunteer roles include working on logistics, community relations, and public assistance.

The bottom line is that no matter how overwhelming the devastation may feel, even from hundreds or thousands of miles away, there's always something you can do.

UPDATE: Sept. 27, 2017, 1:22 p.m. PDT This story has been updated twice to include fundraising efforts by The New York Foundling and the One America Appeal.

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