HURRICANE MARIA 2017-2018
In late September 2017, while Macro was fully engaged on the mainland USA responding to Hurricane’s Harvey and Irma, Maria struck Puerto Rico, dealing a devastating blow to the entire island’s utility grid, and plunging millions into darkness. Macro was tasked by DHS, FEMA and USACE to provide fuel for vehicles and generators for a period of 16 months.
Our efforts in Puerto Rico were particularly vital, as the island’s entire electrical grid was heavily damaged. With no commercial flights available, Macro chartered a jet to fly 40 fuel truck drivers to the scene. We also utilized an oceangoing fuel barge that traveled to and from Puerto Rico to transport and disperse eight million gallons of fuel throughout the country and to surrounding islands. Macro also chartered an offshore supply boat to transport 21 bobtail fuel trucks from Louisiana to Puerto Rico as part of our 250 fuel-dispensing assets on the ground.
Macro established our own staging areas in strategic locations around the island, as well as the islands of Culebra, Vieques and the USVI. With drive up fueling points established, tens of thousands of government vehicles were fueled and daily generator fueling missions were dispatched. Temporary offices were also established at these staging and at the peak of operations, our team consisted of nearly 400 personnel on the island.
Macro established our own staging areas in strategic locations around the island, as well as the islands of Culebra, Vieques and the USVI. With drive up fueling points established, tens of thousands of government vehicles were fueled and daily generator fueling missions were dispatched. Temporary offices were also established at these staging and at the peak of operations, our team consisted of nearly 400 personnel on the island.
With telecommunications down and an urgent need to communicate with our drivers and home office, Macro established several V-SAT communication systems at staging sites around the island. Hurricane Maria was the first large-scale use of our specialized mobile app that eliminated paperwork and allowed real-time visibility of fueling activity in the field. Macro also procured and utilized an oceangoing fuel barge that dispensed over 8 million gallons of fuel onto our equipment at multiple ports across the island.
Macro’s main staging area: Pier 14 at the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Macro offloading Sea Chem-1
Supply boat delivering fuel trucks to Culebra
These relief efforts were crucial, as we were fueling generators for hospitals, nursing homes and critical infrastructure throughout the island. To ensure efficient communications, Macro also employed many local Puerto Rican residents to work as drivers, fuel attendants and translators.
On December 31, 2018, Macro finally wrapped up our operations in Puerto Rico – having served as the first and last fuel supplier on the scene. In total, over 21 million gallons of fuel was dispensed onto our equipment with over 150,000 fueling transactions collected on our mobile application. This extraordinary period covering 17 months is proof of Macro’s capabilities, commitment, and reliability. Our team is always prepared to help and able to deliver – even in the worst multiple disaster scenarios
Macro fueling FEMA vehicles near Milla de Oro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bobtails offloading on a LCM in Vieques, Puerto Rico
Macro staging at USPS office in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Secondary staging area in Ponce, Puerto Rico