TAMPA, Fla. — The path of a hurricane can change at any moment.

It’s why having a plan and the right resources in case of power outages is important. 

What You Need To Know

  • Hurricane Maria hit back in 2017, with Puerto Rico being one of the most affected areas

  • Nivia Montanez Leduc helped her community during the hurricane working with FEMA

  • She lived with no water or electricity for nine months after the hurricane

That was the case for many residents in Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria hit in 2017. The U.S. Census reported an increase in migration from Puerto Rico to other parts of the U.S. at the time.

The impact of the hurricane and the pandemic were the main reasons Nivia Montanez Leduc made the move to Hillsborough County.

When she cooks, it reminds her of her Puerto Rican roots. “We have here some bacalaitos. They’re a tradition that we eat on the beaches. It can’t be left out," she said.

Now it’s a meal she makes with a smile, but at one point, making this meal was the only way to make ends meet.

“Any way I could, I would make these quickly and I would ensure that people liked the food I made,” she said.

It was especially crucial in the months after one of the most terrifying moments of her life: Hurricane Maria.

“It was a tough moment because you didn’t know what would happen after. How many hours had passed, if the hurricane passed quickly or fast, you just felt like it lasted forever,” she said.

Leduc spent nine months with no water or electricity. Photos show the damage she encountered every day as she traveled throughout Puerto Rico to help people.

She was determined to stay strong and focused.

“I think the toughest part was having to see a woman asking me to please help her because her husband needed oxygen to survive, because they were running out, and people that didn’t have anything to eat,” she said.

Even today, she says there are still parts of Puerto Rico that haven’t fully recovered.

Eventually, she left Puerto Rico and made her way to Tampa Bay.

She’s an economic mobility mentor and coach at Enterprising Latinas, where she works with women who’ve just moved to the U.S. and with underserved communities.

“I’ve not only learned about the experience of these communities, but I’ve also been able to understand what these communities are facing because of what I have experienced," she said.

Turning her own hurricane experience and re-location into a lesson, she hopes to continue helping people in Tampa Bay.

She was even honored as a Lightning Community Hero last month.

As we prepare for this hurricane season, you can stay up to date on ways to keep your family safe with our Storm Season guide.