NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — Imagine not knowing if your loved ones are alive after a storm went through their area. That’s what many people with ties to Puerto Rico are going through right now.
News 8 spoke with a man from Puerto Rico who is still trying to reach his loved ones there. Juan Ortiz moved to the U.S. just 3 months ago and now lives in New Britain. His mom is still in Puerto Rico, along with most of his family. He was worried when he heard they’d be hit by a second hurricane this month.
“I started calling everybody. They were saying they’re going to be okay,” Ortiz said. “They were going to go to shelters.”Related Content: Hurricane Maria leaves trail of death and destruction in the Caribbean
The storm made it extremely difficult – if not impossible – for the people in Puerto Rico to communicate with loved ones. Though Ortiz has pictures of what Hurricane Maria left behind, he hasn’t been able to contact his family or friends there.
“I don’t know where my mother is. I don’t know where my friend is,” said Ortiz. “I don’t know where my cousins are. I don’t know about anything.”
Ortiz has a picture of a flooded neighborhood in Puerto Rico taken after the storm hit. He says his mother lived there and that she was staying in a shelter nearby during the storm.
“You know your family’s there, and not only my family that I care about,” Ortiz said. “I care about my Puerto Rican community as well.”Related Content: Thousands in Waterbury will help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico
Ortiz has been calling and texting his family and friends. He has also been posting pictures on Facebook, trying to find out where they are. He is hoping that someone with information will come forward. However, the stress of waiting and not knowing if they’re safe has taken a toll.
“I can’t sleep. I’m exhausted,” he said. “I’ve been calling everybody to see if I can reach someone. I can’t.”
The American Red Cross has a website that aims to reconnect people after a disaster. They’re expecting it will be able to help as power and internet return to Puerto Rico: https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php