On October 7, Puerto Rico's governor Rafael Hernández Colón declared an islandwide state of emergency and activated 300 National Guardsmen to assist in search and rescue operations. Governor Colón sought "technical advice" from Mexico, as the country had experienced a devastating earthquake two weeks prior. The United States Coast Guard flew helicopters into flooded areas to rescue stranded residents, including 18 people along a hill in the western portion of the island. About $10 million in emergency funds was allocated by Puerto Rico's legislature, of which $1 million was distributed among the most affected families with $300 checks. The American Red Cross deployed a team of 15 people to Puerto Rico, who specialized in damage assessment, health services, or other services. After the storm, the Puerto Rico's government created a Rainfall-Runoff Alert Network, designed to predict flash flooding in advance, in conjunction with the National Weather Service, the United States Geological Survey, and the territory's Department of Natural Resources.