ALEXANDRIA NIEVES
Special to the Leader
Over a month since both Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma hit Puerto Rico, the American territory is still trying to get back to its original state.
Families are constantly worrying about their family members that are in any part of Puerto Rico.
While in constant contact with island residents, families are trying to get any update that they can on all of the mayhem that was left after the hurricanes.
One of Fredonia’s staff members, Jose Rosario, has been a custodian at Fredonia for 40 years.
Jose Rosario’s brother, Willie, currently lives in Santurce, Puerto Rico, 30 minutes away from San Juan.
Willie said to Jose, “I am happy, nothing happened. The house stayed up like Fort Knox.”
Jose said, “I was very worried about him because we didn’t hear anything.” Jose and the entire Rosario family were worried to hear back from his brother after Hurricane Maria hit right after Hurricane Irma. Willie contacted Jose the other day, and he is “doing great,” Jose said.
Willie graduated from SUNY Fredonia, worked for American Airlines, retired and now lives in Puerto Rico.
“Hopefully he will be out of there soon,” said Jose.
Also affected by the hurricane, Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas was trying to get in contact with his 79-year-old mother who moved back to Puerto Rico in 2007. Rosas asked everyone to help him get in contact with her so he’d know she’s safe after the hurricane destruction.
About a month ago Rosas told WIVB that he couldn’t reach contact with his mother. At the time, he had no idea if she was safe.
“The not knowing is the stressful part of this. Her last words to me were, she was praying to God and puts her life in the lord’s hands.” Rosas did eventually get in contact with his mother, who is doing well and is in good health.
Only handfuls of people have access to electricity, and most of Puerto Rico has been without power for weeks. Without electricity, everyone is having difficulties staying in contact with their families here in the United States and people are dying because hospitals don’t have the electricity to help everyone.
Though more than 75 percent of Puerto Rico has access to water, the United States territory is still trying to deal with the damages caused by the hurricanes and gain a new sense of stability.