NYC relief efforts continue after earthquakes in Puerto Rico

Relief efforts are continuing in Puerto Rico after the island experienced several earthquakes in recent weeks.

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2020, 10:03 PM

Updated 1,555 days ago

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Relief efforts are continuing in Puerto Rico after the island experienced several earthquakes in recent weeks.
New York City workers are on the ground assessing all of the damage. News 12's Aime Rodriguez was in Guanica to see firsthand how the island is recovering.
Guanica is one of the most heavily affected towns since the tremors began to be felt in late December.
Many of the stores shut down business for good. There are many blocks of houses without electricity, and many other houses are now in shambles.
Pain, fear, and desperation can be heard in Jasmin Rodriguez-Rivera's voice as she cried about not wanting to spend another night inside her home. Her husband, like many on the island relying on themselves, added bricks to an already cracked foundation.
They hope it will keep their house afloat, but the big red X outside their home means that every minute inside is a risk.
 Long Island resident Ausberto Huertas Jr. is part of a group of New York City Buildings experts inspecting houses in Puerto Rico. They have completed over 1,000 assessments in two weeks, allowing many to rest easier.
Bronx resident Rafael Goyenechea is leading efforts to help residents in evacuation campsites connect with mental health professionals. "I've seen a lot of anxiety, especially with the children scared to go to sleep," said Goyenechea.
"A 5.6 earthquake hit and everyone started running, kids started screaming, parents were yelling and that was a defining moment for me, because apparently this happens constantly at night," said Otero.
People tell News 12 that Guanica is now a ghost town at night and many only come in during the daytime. At night, they stay elsewhere in fear that the next tremor may be unbearable.


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