Jenny Ortiz-Ortiz is from Puerto Rico. She was living on the island and studying for the bar exam when Hurricane Maria hit in 2017.
In the aftermath of devastating storms, she saw firsthand the legal and administrative challenges people faced—applying for rescue assistance, negotiating with insurance, or replacing important documents.
Ortiz-Ortiz: “I started by helping a family member whose apartment was damaged meet FEMA requirements because she only spoke Spanish. Later, I also helped my then-employer apply for the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program. I I was shocked at the length of the process and the numerous requirements.
Her legal expertise helped provide her with much-needed assistance, and the experience helped shape her career path.
Today, Ortiz-Ortiz is associate director of the American Bar Association’s Disaster Legal Services Program, which provides free legal assistance to survivors.
Ortiz: “It means a lot to be able to understand the tragedy of a disaster and be able to use my skills as a lawyer to do something to support recovery.”
As the world warms and disasters become more common, the need for free legal services in multiple languages grows, she said.
Report source: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media
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