My nephew lives in Puerto Rico - in the Southwest - between Ponce and Mayaquez in an area called Cabo Rojo - which is fairly remote and basically survives as a tourist area for Puerto Ricans in the summer months and some foreign ex pats -- There was industry in Ponce back in the 50s.. and Mayaguez is a serious port city.
It was 6 days before he was able to check in with the family - and that only because a Puerto Rican friend who had a cell phone that had service stopped by. My nephew's place is reasonably remote - about 15 minutes from the town of Boqueron. It belonged to his Mom - now sadly deceased. He himself was living in San Juan and working quite successfully as a scuba dive leader in San Juan - both at the Caribe Hilton and taking tours at to Farjado - the port city for Vieques. The little house, which he rents out via Air BnB
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1159120?s=3 - evidently survived MARIA - but he has no electricity and no water.
Evidently he has run out of fuel for the generator which he has - or perhaps it could not pump from his well? I do not know as I have not been able to contact him. He connected with his cousin - I have not been able to talk or message with him. But he is young and healthy and has Puerto Rican friends who we know will look out for him.... because - well - Puerto Ricans are like Dominicans -- both with ENORMOUS HEARTS.. and if you have friends..
Cualquier cosa - tu me llames!
I have been both reading and posting on two FB groups - and on one I posted this article about the aid from the DR...
http://www.elvocero.com/el-mundo/do...cle_ff049dba-a2a9-11e7-80b2-27964fd7bda6.html
followed by this one...
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...os-por-huracan-maria-en-puerto-rico-DA8244234
I had a lot of Puerto Ricans screaming at me -- that I did not understand the Jones Act.. That the Ferry could not run... that the Ferries would not be allowed to dock... that ALL the goods into Puerto Rica had to be offloaded into Jacksonville... etc etc etc... I posted statistics of Puerto Rico's foreign trade. was told to stop posting f9909kin statistics and read the Jones Act (which I have done, btw).... Ah... well.. OF COURSE they are upset.. I mean I only have one nephew and I could barely sleep... THIS IS THEIR ISLAND.. THEY ARE ALL COUSINS!
But THEN-- There was THIS POST.. from a man who is employed at the Philadelphia Zoo...
Take a BOW.. Republica Dominicana!
"Carlos C. Martinez Rivera "Even before today's amend to the law, there is regular traffic of goods from the DR to PR on the ferry. It is coming from the DR, but the company is based in Puerto Rico. I used it regularly to travel to and from both island, there is one boat that is a cruise and ferry, and a second boat that is just for cargo. The one that is for cargo has been in operation since at least two days supplying diesel, generators, and other emergency items needed to run buildings without electricity to Mayagüez and other western towns. The port in Mayagüez wasn't really damaged, but the offices and some building were. It needed the OK from Customs, USDA and ICE before it could receive cargo on the ferry, so It took a few days, but it has saved the west from collapsing."
now.// of course.. we have not actually had any reporting from the docks in Mayaguez -- but I certainly want to thank both Carlos Rivera //
AND
The Dominican Republic