1/25/2018 Bethenny Frankel Helps Hurricane Maria Victims | PEOPLE.com

Bethenny Frankel Charters 4 Planes to Aid Hurricane Maria Victims in : 'It Is a War Zone'

AURELIE CORINTHIOS and LIZ MCNEIL October 02, 2017 12:10 PM

One week after her trip to Mexico to aid victims of the devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake, Bethenny Frankel is on the move again.

The Real Housewives of star — who is currently recovering from skin cancer removal surgery with 12 stitches on her face — traveled to Puerto Rico to help Hurricane Maria victims.

“This is a forgotten island,” she tells PEOPLE. “People have been living on their roofs for 13 days. It is like nothing I have ever seen. People’s entire homes and cars are immersed in mud, the likes I’ve never seen.”

Frankel, 46, chartered a total of four planes leaving from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and New Jersey to distribute more than 20,000 lbs. of donated medical and survival supplies: water, canned goods, diapers, baby food, medical supplies, toys, insulin (courtesy of Univision) — plus 2,000 pounds in non-perishable, nutrient- dense meals from Feeding America and City Harvest, $25,000 in cash gift cards and cash (courtesy of Yieldstreet) and $30,000 in Costco gift cards.

WATCH: Bethenny Frankel Talks Puerto Rico Relief & Her #BStrong Initiative

Besides her own money, Frankel paid for this out of thousands of dollars in donations from Andy Cohen, Donny Deutsch, Elvis Duran and others to her B Strong charity, in partnership with Delivering Good. In addition to donating

http://people.com/tv/bethenny-frankel-charters-four-planes-to-aid-hurricane-maria-victims/ 1/7 1/25/2018 Bethenny Frankel Helps Hurricane Maria Victims | PEOPLE.com $10,000 to her nonprot and pitching in $20,000 for Frankel’s four private planes, Duran pledged $100,000 to Feeding America to help with disaster relief.

bethennyfrankel Follow

2.6m views 7,106 comments #workingforyoupuertorico We got a 4th plane headed to PR and working on a 5th! I'm bringing $25k in Costco gift cards, $25k in cash gift cards and approximately 15k lbs of food, water and medical supplies. With the planes return we will be able to transport PR citizens stateside to get medical attention. #Bstrong #100percent #thisisacrisis OCTOBER 2, 2017

http://people.com/tv/bethenny-frankel-charters-four-planes-to-aid-hurricane-maria-victims/ 2/7 1/25/2018 Bethenny Frankel Helps Hurricane Maria Victims | PEOPLE.com

bethennyfrankel Follow

50.4k likes 2,538 comments Paying my own way for Puerto Rico. Filling this B up w supplies. #BStrong #thisisacrisis #100percent #workingforpuertorico Donate at http://www.bstrongdeliveringgood.org/bstrong/ @michaelcapponi @nicoledustin #alwayswithbdb #globalempowermentmission SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

http://people.com/tv/bethenny-frankel-charters-four-planes-to-aid-hurricane-maria-victims/ 3/7 1/25/2018 Bethenny Frankel Helps Hurricane Maria Victims | PEOPLE.com

bethennyfrankel Follow

27.9k likes 833 comments We call this PR911 (plane 2). Loading this B up for Puerto Rico @steelpartners #workingforpuertorico #Bstrong #guardiansofrescue #thisisacrisis #globalempowermentmission #100percent OCTOBER 1, 2017

Upon arrival, the planes were used to transport dozens of sick and wounded women and children, and cancer victims, from local hospitals to the United States for treatment.

The Global Empowerment Mission also helped with this cause, and Frankel is on track to raise more than a $1 million in donations and supplies for Puerto Rico alone.

Endorsed by FEMA and the State Department in Puerto Rico, Frankel stopped in towns surrounding San Juan, visiting homes, a children’s hospital and more.

http://people.com/tv/bethenny-frankel-charters-four-planes-to-aid-hurricane-maria-victims/ 4/7 1/25/2018 Bethenny Frankel Helps Hurricane Maria Victims | PEOPLE.com “We arrived in the rst town before their own mayor,” she says. “We pulled onto a street with a truck of basic necessities, and you would have thought I was giving out diamonds. What struck me was people politely waiting in line patiently. They are so proud. I gave them cash cards in envelopes, and they were emotional yet still proud. Their faith is intact.”

“There is no color on the island. Every palm tree is rooted. This bitch hit every inch of this island. The low death toll is only counting what happened when it hit, but a storm happens more gradually than a hurricane. Now is when people are dying. They are starving. They are thirsty. They cannot communicate. They cannot bathe themselves. They wash their babies and laundry in street water,” she adds. “It is a war zone. I do not play the blame game, but the 73 towns of Puerto Rico need to be methodically mapped out and visited, and the relief needs to be organized, delegated and executed.”

RELATED VIDEO: Bethenny Frankel Travels to Mexico to Aid Earthquake Survivors: ‘To Say They Have Nothing Is an Understatement’

So far, Hurricane Maria — which ravaged the U.S. territory Sept. 20, leaving the entire island without electricity and destroying many homes — has claimed at least 16 lives in Puerto Rico, the reports. Experts estimate that without electricity and supplies, that number could increase to thousands, and many residents are still without clean water, food and electricity.

She has already raised more than $300,000 for and $150,000 for Mexico after their respective natural disasters.

Frankel is using Twitter as a platform to rally other celebrities to donate, as well as communicate with people on the island in need.

“As of 36 hours ago, my team of complete strangers as of 36 hours ago has managed to load and distribute 3 planes (with 4 on deck) medical supplies, food, petcare, hygiene, food and transport home desperate, elderly, sick people,” she http://people.com/tv/bethenny-frankel-charters-four-planes-to-aid-hurricane-maria-victims/ 5/7 1/25/2018 Bethenny Frankel Helps Hurricane Maria Victims | PEOPLE.com says. “Everyone pitched in. Crisis and relief is all about communication and dropping zero balls. If I had a bigger army we could really make a dent. This thing has only just begun. It is a startup.”

“I need to also thank Guardians of Rescue, Omar Rosario, Nicole Castrillo, Saira Rivas, Margie Arbizo and Michael Capponi,” she concludes. “These people worked 24/7 on relief chats with her to make this happen. My friend Maria Menounos also reached out tirelessly help to connect with suppliers in her network. And without Twitter, this never would have happened. Twitter users literally saved babies’ lives by connecting me to pediatric hospital allowing me to transport patients home. It is the most incredible tool in the world.”

To donate, visit www.bstrongdeliveringgood.org/bstrong.

http://people.com/tv/bethenny-frankel-charters-four-planes-to-aid-hurricane-maria-victims/ 6/7 1/25/2018 Bethenny Frankel Helps Hurricane Maria Victims | PEOPLE.com

http://people.com/tv/bethenny-frankel-charters-four-planes-to-aid-hurricane-maria-victims/ 7/7