News | March 21st, 2018

Months later still no power

By: Destiny Mcintosh

It has been months since devastation hit Puerto Rico, but almost three months later residents are still without power. Puerto Rico endured two mind blowing hurricanes one after another. First was Irma then Maria killing more than 1,000 people according to Time Magazine and leaving majority of the island without power.

Reports initially stated that the island should have received power in February. It is now March and approximately  half of the island is still without power. The figure released Friday by the island’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló, and power utility company indicates that more than 1.5 million people on the island are still in the dark. Experts say some parts of the island are not expected to get power back until next spring.” According to The New York Times.

Recently I had the chance to visit the island and speak to some people who experienced the devastation first hand. “I lost everything. My roof was taken from above my head I could look at the walls expanding and I remember praying that the walls would not leave with the ceiling. I cannot control mother nature but my only question is why me.” Said Mendy Rodriguez.

Many are angry and filled with emotion. Others are waiting for insurance companies to help repair damages and others are homeless trying to decide what to do next.

She continued, “if I lived in Florida or New York do you think I would still be out of power. Look at Texas they endured the worst and yet it seems to me as if they are back up and running. After experiencing two major hurricanes back to back on an island I look at life completely different. Although it was traumatic it was a tremendous lesson. Cherish the ones you love because in a heartbeat it could all be over.”