Marin nurses, back from Puerto Rico, urge more hurricane relief
Some traveled by foot six hours and longer to seek help. Many were malnourished and dehydrated, and some with chronic illnesses had been lacking medications since the storm. Several collapsed in line.
This was just one scene witnessed by
It's the reason the nurses who returned from the journey say the federal response has been ineffective, describing what they call deadly conditions, with people living in houses infested with black mold and who are contracting waterborne illnesses, such as leptospirosis, from a contaminated water supply.
The assignment in Rio Grande came on Carrera's second day on the island. She said
"I cannot express enough how urgent it is that they receive water, food and medical help and infrastructure support," said Carrera, who works at the
Carrera was among 17
'Deeply disturbing'
Some of the nurses who helped on the relief effort joined House Minority Leader
"It's deeply disturbing that the Trump administration continues to pat itself on the back," Pelosi said. Just because something has been done, it doesn't mean much more doesn't need to be done."
"Seventy-five percent of Puerto Ricans lack power, 35 percent do not have cell service, 1 million lack clean running water, one quarter of sewage treatment plants are still not functioning," she said. "We are calling on
The Category 5 storm made landfall in
Carrera and others who joined in the disaster relief effort said that when they drove caravans through towns, two and three weeks after, it was the first time that some of the communities received any help. Many volunteers took it upon themselves to buy food, water, diapers, first-aid supplies and other items to distribute to the residents whose homes were destroyed and had little to nothing.
No power, no cash
"There was no central communication center, no central office coordinating the response," which is why many communities outside of the major city hubs hadn't yet been reached -- and why several volunteers took it upon themselves to purchase and distribute supplies, she said.
"There is no power, ATMs aren't working, people who had cash ran out of it quick," she said.
"When the residents said we were the first help they had seen, that brought it home for me," he said. "I am grateful to have helped in whatever way I did."
Upon returning, Carrera started a GoFundMe.com page to raise money for water filters to send to the island, and quickly reached her goal of
The
Carrera said more help is needed and urges residents to pressure officials to offer more help.
"We are asking that they ramp up
More information is at responsenetwork.org
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