Hurricane Maria

[flyingsit]

Glad that you are OK, Jimena!

 

[skatesindreams]

It's so good to hear from you, Jimena!

 

[purple skates]

Glad to hear from you @Jimena!

 

[Lara]

Thanks for checking in again @Jimena! So glad you're ok.

It's hard to be patient for communication to be re-established outside the San Juan metro, but no choice and everyone's in the same situation...

 

[BittyBug]

Good to hear from you, @Jimena but ((((((Isla del Encanto))))))

 

[Vash01]

Jimena, thanks for the update. You sound very courageous and strong in such a difficult situation. I hope things improve there sooner than they expect. I loved the story about the kitten. I hope you can find 'Maria' a new home soon.

 

[Buzz]

Thanks for checking in and letting us know you are okay @Jimena and I hope you get in touch with your family soon! Give Maria a cuddle for me. It's amazing such a tiny thing survived.

 

[Coco]

@Jimena thank you for sharing all this info.

@Lara My co-worker shared a FB post from a friend that said "Aguadilla and mocha have described it as a critical state but I have no details beyond. If your family is there, do not be alarmed that there are no loss of life only material so far."

 

[WildRose]

Thank you so much for posting Jimena!

 

[UMBS Go Blue]

Thanks so much for checking in @Jimena when you have so many other things on your mind. Please take care and stay safe! <3

 

[skatesindreams]

A Puerto Rican talks about what life may be like on the island, for the foreseeable future:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/opinions/hurricane-georges-puerto-rico-brinkley-opinion/index.html

 

[BittyBug]

This pictures coming out of Puerto Rico are devastating.

 

[Vash01]

I read that they have asked 70,000 in the Northwest area of PR to evacuate due to flooding. Seems to be getting worse.

 

[BittyBug]

It was reported that a dam in that area has broken.

 

[TOADS]

When mountainous regions are hit with 15-25" of rain, it results in so much runoff that dams just can't handle the strain..

 

[Lara]

My family's all safe!!!

And my grandmother's house got destroyed. But that's material. I can rest so much easier now.

Hope @Jimena is managing - I know you have way more important things to worry about but check in when you can.

 

[PRlady]

This is horrible: night in the Carribean from space, PR disappears because there's no lights at all. https://twitter.com/icyclone/status/911807404647608320

 

[Buzz]

Wishing the victims of hurricane Maria get the help they need. The pictures coming out of places like Dominica and Puerto Rico are horrible. Anyone heard from Jimena and Lara lately?

 

[Lara]

Wishing the victims of hurricane Maria get the help they need. The pictures coming out of places like Dominica and Puerto Rico are horrible. Anyone heard from Jimena and Lara lately?

I'm good (not in PR myself) but thanks for the concern!

NBC News reported tonight from San Juan - the images were devastating and while there is aid in progress, I'm so worried the response isn't enough to avoid further humanitarian crisis. Also thinking of those on the Virgin Islands who must be feeling horribly ignored.

 

[bardtoob]

This is a fact filled article.

https://www.vox.com/energy-and-envi...ry-san-juan-hospitals-electricty-cell-service

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It adds another dimension to my worry to know one of our own from the FSU community is there.

 

[dinakt]

If anybody here has recommendations for Puerto Rico relief charities, I'd like to hear them.

 

[Buzz]

If anybody here has recommendations for Puerto Rico relief charities, I'd like to hear them.

I would love to know that too.

 

[Catherine M]

I saw this fund being linked by a few people on twitter, set up by the Hispanic Federation:

http://hispanicfederation.org/media...d_for_hurricane_maria_victims_in_puerto_rico/

I also saw that Save the Children is collecting funds for Puerto Rico:

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

 

[Buzz]

I just remembered something from earlier this year. It's a story from India about poor rural families being able for the first time ever to get electricity because of solar panels. Providing power the traditional way is not possible because the infrastructure is not there. Maybe solar panels could be a short term solution until the different islands of the Caribbean effected hurricanes get their electricity grids back up and running. Just wondering out loud...

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39844446#

 

[Garden Kitty]

The fundraising campaign by the 5 former Presidents has been expanded to include Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

“Now individuals, foundations and institutions making tax deductible donations at [URL='http://barackobama.us15.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=d08b06c0c193eebf54e33b8df&id=43bfdf8c98&e=cbdc162376']OneAmericaAppeal.org

may choose to assist all three recovery efforts from Hurricanes Harvey in Texas, Irma in Florida and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — or to direct their donation to a specific recovery effort — using the drop-down menu in the website’s donation section,” the campaign said in a press release.

[/URL]

 

[skatesindreams]

Trump now says he plans to visit Puerto Rico next Tuesday.
What "relief efforts" will he take credit for, then?

 

[Jimena]

Hello all! I'm writing to you as I'm parked in line to get gas. I've been here for 3 hours and I'm going to have to be here for 3 more. There is a dire need for fuel and drinking water. And the aid isn't fast enough.

I have my daughter, mom, sister and niece staying with me. My dogs are as well, and so is the kitten. My niece decided to keep her. We have a generator, but we are running out of diesel. And we are very aware that we are the lucky ones.

It's been a hard week. I don't think people expected the situation to be this bad almost a week after the hurricane. We expected to be without power for a long time. But we didn't expect to have a fuel and potable water shortage. It's a sobering experience. We barely have cell phone signal. And many parts of the island are still incommunicated. We so lack the capacity to handle this. I hope it doesn't get much worse than this.

I'm very happy your family is safe Lara! We finally heard from my brother yesterday. It was such a relief. And we are clean, we have food and we will soon have fuel. I'm going to focus on the positive!

 

[Simone411]

Thank you for your latest update, @Jimena. Praying about the fuel and potable water shortage. Also keeping you and your family in my prayers.

 

[skatesindreams]

(((((((Jimena)))))))
Your post brings tears of relief!

 

[Buzz]

Thank you for checking in @Jimena!!! Many hugs and prayers to you, your family, and to all of Puerto Rico. It is a HUGE relief to hear from you and glad to hear your brother is okay too. Happy the little kitty has found a home with your nice.