The director of Puerto Rico's Office of Emergency Management was fired over the weekend following the discovery of a warehouse filled with supplies believed to be from the Hurricane Maria era.
Carlos Acevedo was dismissed Saturday by Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced, per CNN, with Maj. Gen. José J. Reyes subsequently appointed as a replacement.
Footage shows residents opening the doors of a warehouse to reveal multiple pallets full of water and other emergency aid supplies. Residents then began urging the government to give out the supplies to those in need.
"There are thousands of people who have made sacrifices to bring help to the south, and it is unforgivable that resources have been kept in a warehouse," Gov. Vázquez said in a statement. She’s given local officials a 48-hour period to investigate why the emergency aid was not delivered, stating in a press conference on Sunday that there have been recent actions by government members that "are not acceptable" and will not be permitted.
Acevedo, meanwhile, has denied any wrongdoing by claiming that hundreds of pallets of water were handed out to residents in need during Hurricane Dorian and Hurricane Karen cleanup efforts. Nearly 80 pallets were kept in a warehouse due to expired dates.
Ponce mayor María Meléndez commended Gov. Vázquez for her "swift action" in handling the discovery of the supplies.
"Our people suffered greatly bc of how Hurricane María was managed," she said in a tweeted statement on Saturday. "We cannot allow history to repeat itself."
