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| Home of John Rossier, Mayaguez, PR |
According to John Rossier, resident of Mayaguea, Puerto Rico the island has yet to be declared a disaster area.
After
12 days with no help, he woke up yesterday morning after a torrential
downpour dropped four more inches of water on his already destroyed
home. "I woke up to maggots crawling all over the floor! One
can only imagine where they're coming from; I'm going to be sick," he
says. "The news says you have all kinds of help.
Well, sitting amidst this destruction I can tell you the true answer;
NO, NO, NO HELP!"
The strongest storm to hit
the US in decades, Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico on September
20th. The entire island was left without power and around 95% without
reliable cell service. Long neglected, the island territory's
infrastructure and electrical grid were in a state of decay, to begin
with. Preliminary estimates indicate $85 billion in damages.
After
retiring six years ago due to health issues, Rossier move to Puerto
Rico. He is disabled and has significant healthcare needs and his
family believes it is no longer safe for him to be there. His house is
flooded and uninhabitable, yet he is forced to stay in it. He is
sleeping in a chair and having difficulty obtaining potable water and
food. His situation is not unique.
The airport closest to John, is in
Aguadilla and is one of the hardest hit. Relief flights are random and
spotty, at best, selling out in minutes. Provided there is not another
cancellation, he will get off the island on Friday, October 6th.
According to his son, Lucas in spite of spotty phone and electrical service they have been able to communicate, periodically.
There is currently a fund raiser for him at
YouCaring.org. All funds raised will be used for air transport for him and his dogs,
to make housing arrangements, pruchase clothing, food, and to replace his
belongings that were destroyed.
