It’s been more than two weeks since hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and Syracuse-area Hispanic residents say family and friends on the island are struggling to recover. The Spanish Action League, or La Liga, is supporting Puerto Ricans here as they cope with the impact. Executive director Elisa Morales says social media is helping to play a role in connecting people with information about whether or not their loved ones and home villages are ok.
Morales explains, “a lot of people don’t understand that when someone says ‘we’re ok,’ it means they survived the storm and they’re safe; it doesn’t mean ‘we’re not hungry’ or ‘we don’t need things’ – they do.”
Morales says the need for resources on the island is dire. She also says figuring out how to transport these resources to tiny villages in mountainous areas is just as important, and that the experience has been traumatizing for the family members she’s been able to reach.
“We have family members who have told us they’re hungry, the resources haven’t reached them at all; we’ve had people that I know that are bathing and washing clothes, and cooking and drinking creek water, that’s contaminated with dead animals, gasoline and all kinds of chemicals, and, I mean, it’s just horrifying.”
Morales says her staff is working hard to support the community despite the emotional toll.
“Half my staff is from Puerto Rico, so it’s very difficult for us to continue to do what we do – what we’re doing – and we’re strong. We’re going to make it through this and we’re going to work together," Morales says with strong determination. "We’re going to rise from the ashes like a phoenix.”
La Liga is also holding a relief drive for Sunday October 8th from 12 to 5 pm at 700 Oswego Street in Syracuse. They will be collecting non-perishable foods, toiletries, first aid kits, batteries, flashlights and insect repellent. For more information La Liga can be contacted at (315) 475-6153.
“Just having gone through a storm of this, you know, strength," Morales explains, "they never experienced anything like it, even though they’ve been on the island their whole life, and they never want to go through it again. They’re desperate, they’ve lost everything; some of them, they’re so emotional it’s hard for them to even form words.”
