Local high school student fears for Puerto Rican family members

Francise Casaine – Mustangs Ahead Infographic Editor

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Just two weeks ago, the people of Florida braced themselves for Hurricane Irma. All around it was empty supermarket shelves, bottled water, gasless gas stations, and backed up highways. As the storm approached, I realized that my phone was ringing more and more. Calls from family and friends wanting to help us by providing supplies or a place to stay.

In the end, we were lucky enough to dodge the bullet that was Irma’s wrath. Were trees knocked down? Yes. Were streets flooded? Yes. But when the storm was gone, we were all able to recognize our town and the places that surround us every day.

What happens when you’re on the other end of the situation? How do you rebuild after the devastation? How do you come back from evacuating only to see your home destroyed? How do you sit and wait for others to come help?

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and more than half of my family lives on the island, including my grandparents. They experienced Irma at category 5, and hadn’t had power since. Only a few days ago, Hurricane Maria made an appearance out of the blue.

With the uncertainty of where and how a storm could hit, I called my family and wished them well throughout the storm. The next day, I woke up to see images of my island completely unrecognizable. The home where I grew up under water. My first school, demolished. And my family, unheard from.

Thankfully, I heard from my grandparents about two days later, but my family and I were not able to get in touch with anyone else. Turning on the news only made us more anxious and led us to think the worst.
Eventually, we received news from my cousin that my family was okay. Hearing the voices was like coming up for air after feeling like your drowning. The relief that courses through your body is indescribable. However, we still, to this day, have not heard from everyone. Some of my family’s homes are no longer existent, and some only have a few minor flood problems.

At the end of the day, my concern, of course, lies with my family’s wellbeing. However, I’m also concerned about the relief efforts taking place to aid the island. Puerto Rico’s economy is failing, and the island is bankrupt. They do not have the money to invest in hurricane relief, or to restore the island to its previous state. Reports say that the island might be out of power for at least six months.

The Ana G. Mendez organization in Tampa is collecting donations to help. If there is anything you would like to donate, or would just like to reach out, I strongly encourage you to get in touch with the organization.
If there is anything that this experience has taught me, it is that you truly cannot appreciate or understand how much something means to you until it’s gone.

Para mi familia y mi querida Borinquen, mi corazon, mis pensamientos, y mis oraciones estan con ustedes.

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