Fourth Wave Editors

Summary

Kate Litts recounts her experience in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, detailing the resilience and communal spirit of the locals amidst the challenges of cleanup, limited resources, and long waits for essential services.

Abstract

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Kate Litts observes the remarkable efforts of the Puerto Rican people to clean up and rebuild their communities. Despite significant damage, including two feet of sand inside her beachside hotel, Litts notes the fortunate presence of a generator

I Was Visiting My Daughter in PR When Maria Hit: Part Four

By Kate Litts

Unfortunately, the best cell service is on this corner. Photo by author.

Main Island

It is pretty amazing. It appears the people got together and did lots of the cleanup. We are staying one block from the beach and the storm brought sand into the buildings. The hotel had 2 feet of sand inside. We are very lucky to have the generator. It means we have power and water (and fans). Most people everywhere on the island do not have generators. They are buying gallons of water when available. Banks are not open but some ATMs are. The lines can take over an hour. I tried the grocery store line but 20 min. in the sun got me nowhere. Thank goodness I don’t have a car. Those lines are 7 hours for only $20 of gas. The only police you see are directing the gas lines. People are soooo patient waiting. There is nothing like the yelling and fighting that would be going on in the mainland. There are no traffic signals and things seem to move pretty well.

Thank goodness there is a café open nearby that is not $$$. It’s a Starbucks/Smoothy/Dennys with Puerto Rican food. You can even charge your phone on the power strips they have set up.

An older man arrives today at the hotel. He appears to be 85 and on his own. His name is Phillip and he is retired Navy. I keep an eye on him for his stay and help him find cell service and make some phone calls for him. He has left his apartment in Rio Grande for food, water, and power. He drove himself and his car looks like he hit some trees on the way! We find out the Navy will come get him and he will have a trip off the island the next day. That night the restaurant lifts its alcohol restriction and Phillip comes to get me and pulls out my chair and buys me a drink. We wait the next day for his escort and he gives me a bottle of wine to celebrate his departure and leaves me his car keys in case of emergency. It is so awesome to see the military escort come for him.