Hurricane Maria devastates, impacting DI residents with families in Puerto Rico
Wed, 10/04/2017 - 11:22am
admin
By:
KATIE ESTABROOK
KATIE ESTABROOK
katie@thedanielislandnews.com
katie@thedanielislandnews.com
Like many citizens across the United States, Daniel Island resident Gisele Woodward watched with trepidation as the monstrous Hurricane Marie closed in on Puerto Rico on Sept. 20.
But for Woodward the concern was personal. Her family has lived there for seven generations. And as news stations reported on the storm’s devastating assault, Woodward anxiously waited for word that her family members were safe.
“It took one week to hear their voice again,” said Woodward, who first received confirmation they were alive from an employee of her family’s company. “It took us only two days to hear about our family and we were the lucky ones. I know of many friends who still haven’t gotten confirmation about the well-being of their family. Through a company employee that lives in San Juan, he told us he had been to Ponce to check on his family that day and had seen my brother and father at the plant assessing damages.”
Citizens of Puerto Rico are still being forced to live without electricity, limited water and supplies with little, if any, means of communication for help because of the destruction brought on by Hurricane Maria. According to Woodward, the situation is dire.
“The devastation in Puerto Rico is like nothing I have ever seen,” she said. “In my hometown of Ponce, the second largest city, the hospital at one point was running with only one OR for critical patients only, no a/c in the building and the hallways were smelling. It has been described by my family that Puerto Rico looks like a war zone.”
Camille Labarca, a Daniel Island resident whose mother also resides in Puerto Rico, explained on a GoFundMe page that her mother lost her home and her possessions as a result of the storm.
“The difficulty with disaster is the not knowing where to even start,” writes Labarca on the GoFundMe page. “My mom lost everything. She lived alone since my Daddy passed away. I will go get her as soon possible and work towards a new beginning. I am heartbroken.”
The fundraiser for Labarca’s mother did not have a goal, but stood at $3475 earlier this week. If interested in donating, visit https://www.gofundme.com/hurricane-maria-took-my-moms-home.
“FEMA’s latest is that they can’t make it out to where she lived, yet,” writes Labarca. “No visit equals no money. Any little bit helps.”
In light of the devastation brought on by the recent hurricanes, including Harvey and Irma, the Daniel Island Community Foundation (DICF) also created a fundraiser for those affected. Monies raised will benefit non-profit efforts in communities in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. All donations made to the DICF will be dispersed to the American Red Cross, Feeding Texas and Team Rubicon, according to a post on danielisland.com.
The DICF has vowed to match up to $50,000 of donations made and according to Daniel Island Property Owners Association Vice President of Community Services Jane Baker, the fundraiser currently stands at $20,000.
Donations will be accepted at the POA office through the end of the day, Friday, Oct. 6. You can also donate by visiting www.gofundme.com/daniel-island-harvey-relief.
But for Woodward the concern was personal. Her family has lived there for seven generations. And as news stations reported on the storm’s devastating assault, Woodward anxiously waited for word that her family members were safe.
“It took one week to hear their voice again,” said Woodward, who first received confirmation they were alive from an employee of her family’s company. “It took us only two days to hear about our family and we were the lucky ones. I know of many friends who still haven’t gotten confirmation about the well-being of their family. Through a company employee that lives in San Juan, he told us he had been to Ponce to check on his family that day and had seen my brother and father at the plant assessing damages.”
Citizens of Puerto Rico are still being forced to live without electricity, limited water and supplies with little, if any, means of communication for help because of the destruction brought on by Hurricane Maria. According to Woodward, the situation is dire.
“The devastation in Puerto Rico is like nothing I have ever seen,” she said. “In my hometown of Ponce, the second largest city, the hospital at one point was running with only one OR for critical patients only, no a/c in the building and the hallways were smelling. It has been described by my family that Puerto Rico looks like a war zone.”
Camille Labarca, a Daniel Island resident whose mother also resides in Puerto Rico, explained on a GoFundMe page that her mother lost her home and her possessions as a result of the storm.
“The difficulty with disaster is the not knowing where to even start,” writes Labarca on the GoFundMe page. “My mom lost everything. She lived alone since my Daddy passed away. I will go get her as soon possible and work towards a new beginning. I am heartbroken.”
The fundraiser for Labarca’s mother did not have a goal, but stood at $3475 earlier this week. If interested in donating, visit https://www.gofundme.com/hurricane-maria-took-my-moms-home.
“FEMA’s latest is that they can’t make it out to where she lived, yet,” writes Labarca. “No visit equals no money. Any little bit helps.”
In light of the devastation brought on by the recent hurricanes, including Harvey and Irma, the Daniel Island Community Foundation (DICF) also created a fundraiser for those affected. Monies raised will benefit non-profit efforts in communities in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. All donations made to the DICF will be dispersed to the American Red Cross, Feeding Texas and Team Rubicon, according to a post on danielisland.com.
The DICF has vowed to match up to $50,000 of donations made and according to Daniel Island Property Owners Association Vice President of Community Services Jane Baker, the fundraiser currently stands at $20,000.
Donations will be accepted at the POA office through the end of the day, Friday, Oct. 6. You can also donate by visiting www.gofundme.com/daniel-island-harvey-relief.