It’s been six months since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, and while plenty of improvements have been made in rehabilitating the island, President of Ibero-American Action League Hilda Rosario Escher says they’re not close to finishing just yet.
"Throughout the mountains there is not electricity and not running water."
With a number of family members still recovering, Rosario Escher says most have gotten essentials back, but an aunt of her still lives in one of those towns with no water or electricity.
She says she has been planning a trip to Puerto Rico, but can’t find a time to leave Rochester when her help is so needed here, as families continue to come to the city seeking refuge.
"It’s very difficult for me to all of a sudden just take off because for my agency it’s my assistant and I that are taking care of the resource center, together with other agencies. But since we are the lead agency I have to be there."
Rosario Escher says there are about 600 new students in the Rochester City School District, not counting charter schools, from Puerto Rico and about 3,000 new people total. She says that number will only continue to grow as companies in Puerto Rico shut down, and people leave to look for work.
Ibero has successfully relocated some people who have come to Rochester, she says, but many are still living in hotels or with relatives.
She also said many people still come to their resource center not knowing it existed. That runs Thursdays from 10-3pm at 864 East Main Street in Rochester.