Yesterday I had made a post saying that I would be on hiatus to go to Puerto Rico and help my family after they were hit by Hurricane María, but it turns out that I will not be able to go. Things are not in a great position for me here (in the U.S.) and my aunt and I don’t want to risk going there without notice to our families, since we have not been able to be in contact with them.
As many of you may know, the island has been affected in a far greater way than anyone expected. The entire island is 100% without any power; the local news station (WAPA), the airport and some hospitals seem to be the only ones with power. It has been a very big problem because this has caused for the people to be without communication. Some municipalities are still unreachable because of the damage. Other communities are in a great flood danger because one of the big dams is about to collapse; if it does, and people are not relocated, thousands of lives will be lost. This lack of communication has been putting the people in danger, since they can’t be warned about potential areas where bridges have collapsed, infrastructure has been damaged or areas that are still under flood warning.
I managed to speak to my mom for about a minute on Thursday. She was driving on the highway with my brother and they both got service and called me. They told me they and my neighbors are fine. My brother was able to send me some pictures of our house through Facebook and the images are devastating. My home and my neighbors’ homes are destroyed. It broke my heart to see it like that. I haven’t heard from them since and I have not heard from my father or his family at all. My uncle was also able to talk to his cousins and they told him that his parents’ house was also completely destroyed. But we still haven’t had any contact with anyone else, and we are not the only ones. Many of our friends and family here in CT, and all around the United States, have not heard anything from their families or have had a hard time trying to reach them.
I am asking my tumblr friends and the tumblr community for help. I know that there are many other horrible disasters going on, but a bit of help can make a big difference. You don’t have to donate $100,000 to make a change. Any way in which you could help, not only PR, but the other islands affected by Hurricane María and Hurricane Irma, could make a difference in whether someone someone gets a drink of water, supplies for babies or a meal that night. Here are some helpful links if you want to chip in. And if you can’t, please spread the word:
Link to Dominica Relief for Hurricane María Damages: http://dominicarelief.org/
Link to Puerto Rico Relief fund launched by P.R. First Lady, Beatriz Roselló: http://unidosporpuertorico.com/en/
Link to The Hispanic Federation fund for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic: http://hispanicfederation.org/media/press_releases/a_hurricane_relief_fund_for_hurricane_maria_victims_in_puerto_rico/
Link to AmeriCares fund to supply medical supplies: https://secure.americares.org/site/Donation2?df_id=22510&mfc_pref=T&22510.donation=form1
Link to All Hands Volunteers, who are sending volunteers and are accepting donations to help those in the Virgin Islands: https://www.hands.org/projects/hurricane-irma-maria-response/
Ricky Martin launched a fundraising page found here: https://www.youcaring.com/peopleofpuertorico-957793
Rapper Daddy Yankee said that he will be collecting donations and supplies on his concerts in New York and Chicago.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, of New York, has mentioned 18 locations where people can drop off supplies (like diapers, baby food, batteries, etc.), which will be sent to Puerto Rico.
**More information about the websites can be found on their home pages. There is also more information on this Buzzfeed article about how you can help: https://www.buzzfeed.com/amberjamieson/how-to-help-after-maria?utm_term=.nx7wE3gN9#.twdjVaeMm
Thank you for your help and for spreading the word. Please keep all the people affected in your thoughts and prayers.
PS. Para toda la gente de México, los tenemos en nuestros pensamientos y corazones. Muchas bendiciones para todos.
