Remote community in Puerto Rico struggling after Hurricane Maria

Many in community are homeless due to storm

PUERTO RICO –  Zuleyka Santos couldn't contain her tears on Monday as she walked around where her home once stood in La Hormiga, Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Maria destroyed her house when it struck the island more than a month ago. 

Santos lost everything in storm. 

On Monday volunteers with Wedobetter.org flew from South Florida to the community  with supplies for the rural part of the island.

Portable phone chargers, toiletries, food and water to last maybe a few days were among the donated supplies given out.

"The government is dealing with a lot of things and I'm not saying they're not doing their job, they're doing their job and they're doing what they can," said Jean Diaz, a community organizer. 

The group WeDoBetter.org said they refused to go through the island's governor's office to distribute the supplies to residents. 

"The information that we were getting on the ground is that the aid that was going through the office of the governor was not getting to the people quickly," Bobby Rodrigo said. 

Medical supplies were also brought to the island through the group Doctors4PuertoRico. 

Members of the nonprofit said many hospitals are still in crisis mode after the storm, and several doctors said that they believe the official death toll of 48 could increase. 

Currently, 80 percent of the island remains without power and some doctors are using generators to provide electricity as they treat patients at hospitals. 

The governor of Puerto Rico has said he has a plan to restore electricity to most of the island by the end of year. 


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