Austin resident Anna Johndrow grew up in Puerto Rico and lived there for a total of 38 years. Currently she and her husband are housing a daughter and her family after they fled Puerto Rico and Hurricanes Maria and Irma. With a well-prepared slide presentation, Anna began her talk with a bit of geography and history to explain the origin of Puerto Rico’s being a part of the United States and the status as its residents as US citizens. She also shared with us the names and pictures of several Puerto Rican citizens who are nationally and globally famous, the great numbers of Puerto Ricans who have served in the US military, and the names of several large and well-known businesses that are located on the island. She left no doubt that Puerto Rico is a well-integrated part of the United States of America.
Hearing Anna’s description of the destruction throughout the land and the consequences of total loss of the power grid were all but incomprehensible. Loss of electric power means no lights, no refrigeration, no computer support for business, banking (including ATM and credit cards), schools, hospitals, government service. Loss of communication towers means no communication and sharing of critical information. Loss of roads, bridges, docks means no communication or delivery of any kind of help by land and traveling. The drowning of thousands of chickens and cattle means loss of food and livelihood. Pollution of water sources from broken pipes and rotting livestock bodies means loss of sanitary water and tragic rise in diseases. Literally hundreds, perhaps thousands are dying from starvation and/or the diseases of poor sanitation. Eighty-five percent of the agriculture economy is gone and it is impossible to calculate the suffering because of loss of jobs or no way to get to the jobs.
Summarizing her description of the total island’s devastation, the size of which was beyond the expectation and comprehension of anyone’s experience, Anna, stated that the two major problems at the moment are electricity and water, closely followed by phones and roads. No one can estimate how long it will take to rebuild Puerto Rico.
