Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Puerto Rican town wrote 'S.O.S.' in the street after Hurricane Maria. Now it has a new message.
CNN ^ | 08/20/2018 | Andrea Diaz

Posted on 08/21/2018 4:55:13 AM PDT by cll

Two messages, scrawled in chalk on the same street 11 months apart.

One desperate. One hopeful.

What a difference a year makes.

Like almost all of Puerto Rico, the beachfront community of Punta Santiago was devastated by Hurricane Maria last September. The town, on the island's southeastern coast, is near where Maria made landfall on September 20, 2017.

The town's message then ...

With no electricity and dwindling supplies, anxious residents scribbled a plea to the world on the pavement at an intersection in town. "S.O.S," it read. "Necesitamos Agua/Comida." We need water and food.

An aid official snapped a photo of the message four days later while doing an aerial assessment of Maria's devastation. It was widely shared on social media and caught the attention of Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.

With the help of the National Guard, Rosselló helped deliver a shipment of supplies to Punta Santiago a week after Maria hit.

But the Category 4 hurricane left most of the island without power for months and caused billions of dollars in damages. And Punta Santiago, whose economy relies largely on tourism, faced a long rebuilding process.

... and now

Fast forward to Monday -- 11 months to the day after Maria struck. The same spot on the same street in Punta Santiago now displays a different message, one that may inspire travel: "Bienvenidos," or welcome. Residents gathered to write it on the asphalt, along with other words of hope and a message for the media: #CoverTheProgress.

(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hurricane; maria; nationalguard; puertorico
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last
It's been a tough year, which have taught most people not to rely on the government. This is not to say that we didn't get a lot of help. We did and we're thankful for that. But for the first few weeks, we had to survive on our own. And we did. And we learned. When most needed, the government will just take care of itself.
1 posted on 08/21/2018 4:55:13 AM PDT by cll
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rrstar96; AuH2ORepublican; livius; adorno; wtc911; Willie Green; CGVet58; Clemenza; Narcoleptic; ...
Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.


2 posted on 08/21/2018 4:56:46 AM PDT by cll (Serviam!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

We have no interest in Puerto Rico. We sure didn’t take them to raise and don’t want their liability Time to cut the cord.


3 posted on 08/21/2018 5:16:12 AM PDT by raiderboy (Trump promised “shut down” in September if no wall!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

We have no interest in Puerto Rico. We sure didn’t take them to raise and don’t want their liability Time to cut the cord.


4 posted on 08/21/2018 5:17:32 AM PDT by raiderboy (Trump promised “shut down” in September if no wall!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: raiderboy

The only product of Puerto Rico is excess human beings.

Whorealdo is a prime example


5 posted on 08/21/2018 5:20:05 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12) Sanctuary is Sedition)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: bert

“The only product of Puerto Rico is excess human beings”

Yeah, like these guys?:

List – Killed in Action, Global War on Terror, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, Puerto Rico born or Puerto Rico HOR

SPC Wilbel A. Robles-Santa, USA, KIA April 6, 2013, Zabul, Afghanistan
SGT Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, USA, KIA August 16, 2012, Kandahar, Afg.
SGT Jose J. Reyes-Cruz, USA, KIA July 18, 2012, Afghanistan
SGT Louie Ramos-Velázquez, USA, KIA May 26, 2011, Kandahar, Afg.
SGT José M. Caraballo-Pietri, USA, KIA April 10, 2011, Badghis, Afghanistan
SGT José M. Cintrón-Rosado, USA, KIA January 2, 2011, Taji, Iraq
SPC José A. Delgado-Arroyo, USA, KIA January 2, 2011, Taji, Iraq
PVT Francheska Velez and her unborn child, USA, KIA, November 5, 2009, Fort Hood, Texas
SPC Israel Candelaria Mejías, USA, KIA April 5, 2009, Near Baghdad, Iraq
SrA Jonathan Vega Yelner, USAF, KIA April 29, 2008, Near Bagram AB, Afghanistan
CPT Ulises Burgos-Cruz, USA, KIA April 6, 2008, Balad, Iraq
SGT Ricardo X. Rodríguez, USA, KIA October 4, 2007, Bayji, Iraq
SSG Wilberto Suliveras, KIA July 29, 2007, Taji, Iraq
CPT Maria I. Ortiz, USA, KIA July 10, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
CPT Anthony Palermo, USA, KIA April 6, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
SGT David A. Mejías, USA, KIA April 1, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Jason Nuñez, USA, KIA March 25, 2007, Baqubah, Iraq
SGT Eduardo Santini, USA, KIA March 17, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Karl O. Soto-Pinedo, USA, KIA Feb. 27, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Jesus M. Montalvo, USA, KIA Oct.18, 2006, Baghdad, Iraq
LCpl Yull Estrada Rodriguez, USMC, KIA Sept. 20, 2006, Al Anbar, Iraq SSG Irving Hernandez, Jr., USA, KIA Jun. 12, 2006, Mosul, Iraq
SGT Jose M. Velez, USA, KIA June 9, 2006, Kirkuk, Iraq
1SG Robert Mendez, USA, KIA April 27, 2006, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Luis M. Melendez, USAF, KIA Feb. 17, 2006, Gulf of Aden
LCpl Orville Gerena, USMC, KIA Feb. 6, 2006, Hit, Iraq
SGT Radhames Camilo-Matos, USA, KIA Jan. 7, 2006, Taji, Iraq
SGT Jason Lopez-Reyes, USA, KIA Jan. 5, 2006, Baghdad, Iraq
CWO Isaias Santos, USA, KIA Dec. 26, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
SPC William Lopez-Feliciano, USA, KIA Dec. 22, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Milton Rivera-Vargas, USA, KIA Dec. 8, 2005, Kirkuk, Iraq
SPC Javier A. Villanueva, USA, KIA Nov. 24, 2005, Hit, Iraq
SPC Alexis Roman-Cruz, USA, KIA Nov. 16, 2005, Balad, Iraq
PFC Antonio Mendez-Sanchez, USA, KIA Nov. 11, 2005, Kirkut, Iraq
SFC Ramon A. Acevedo, USA, KIA Oct. 26, 2005, Rustamiyah, Iraq
1LT Carlos J. Diaz, USA, KIA Aug. 23, 2005, Baqubah, Iraq
SPC Miguel Carrasquillo, USA, KIA Aug. 9, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
PFC Emmanuel Hernandez, USA, KIA June 8, 2005, Shkin, Afghanistan
SGT Miguel A. Ramos, USA, KIA May 31, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
MAJ Ricardo A. Crocker-Garcia, USA, KIA May 26, 2005, Haditah, Iraq
SGT Angelo Lozada, Jr., USA, KIA Apr. 16, 2005, Ramadi, Iraq
SPC Alenia Ramirez-Gonzalez, USA, KIA Apr. 15, 2005, Tikrit, Iraq
MSG Edwin Matos-Colon, USA, KIA Apr. 6, 2005, Afghanistan
CWO David Ayala-Rodriguez, USA, KIA Apr. 6 2005, Afghanistan
SPC Francisco G. Martinez, USA, KIA March 20, 2005, Tamin, Iraq
SPC Lizbeth Robles, USA, KIA March 1, 2005, Bayji, Iraq
SGT Julio E. Negron, USA, KIA Feb. 28, 2005, Bayji, Iraq
SGT Carlos J. Gil, USA, KIA Feb. 18, 2005, Humaniyah, Iraq
SFC Pedro A. Muñoz, USA, KIA Jan. 2, 2005, Shindand, Afghanistan
SPC Jose Rivera-Serrano, USA, KIA Dec. 27, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Henry E. Irizarry, USA, KIA Dec. 3, 2004, Taji, Iraq
SGT Carlos Camacho-Rivera, USA, KIA Nov. 5, 2004, Fallujah, Iraq
LCpl Ramon Mateo, USMC, KIA Sept. 24, 2004, Al Anbar, Iraq
SPC Michael A. Martinez, USA, KIA Sept. 8, 2004, Baqubah, Iraq
SSG Gary A. Vaillant, USA, KIA Sept. 5, 2004, Khalidiya, Iraq
SPC Jacob D. Martir, USA, KIA Aug. 18, 2004, Iraq
SGT Melvin Mora-Lopez, USA, KIA June 6, 2004, Camp Cooke, Iraq
PO3 Fernando Mendez-Aceves, USN, KIA Apr. 6, 2004, Al Anbar, Iraq
SFC Jose A. Rivera, USA, KIA Nov. 5, 2003, Mahmudiyah, Iraq
SGT Francisco Martinez, USA, Nov. 4, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq
SGT Joel Perez, USA, KIA Nov. 2, 2003, Fallujah, Iraq
SPC Frances M. Vega, USA, KIA Nov. 2, 2003, Fallujah, Iraq
SGT Juan M. Serrano, USA, KIA July 24, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Ramon Reyes-Torres, USA, KIA July 16, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Kelvin Feliciano-Gutierrez, USA, KIA June 28, 2003, Bagram AB, Afghanistan
SPC Richard P. Orengo, USA, KIA June 26, 2003, Najaf, Iraq
SPC Gil Mercado, USA, KIA April 13, 2003, Iraq
SGT Orlando Morales, USA, KIA March 29, 2003, Helmaud, Afghanistan
LCpl Robert M. Rodriguez, USMC, KIA March 27, 2003, Al Nasiriyah, Iraq

Do you want me to add the names from Desert Storm, Vietnam, Korea, WWII and the Revolutionary War?


6 posted on 08/21/2018 5:34:03 AM PDT by cll (Serviam!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: raiderboy
We have no interest in Puerto Rico. We sure didn’t take them to raise and don’t want their liability Time to cut the cord.

Get lost, idiot!

You have no interest in P.R., and I'm pretty sure they have no interest in the tripe you have to say.

BTW, P.R. ain't going nowhere, and you're stuck with Puerto Ricans forever! Most of them are better people than you are.

So, deal with it!
7 posted on 08/21/2018 5:34:43 AM PDT by adorno
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: cll

Agree, two of my best friends in the Army were twins from PR.


8 posted on 08/21/2018 5:38:13 AM PDT by VastRWCon (LARGE PRINT GIVE IT, small print take it away.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: cll
With no electricity and dwindling supplies, anxious residents scribbled a plea to the world on the pavement at an intersection in town. "S.O.S," it read. "Necesitamos Agua/Comida." We need water and food.

In Puerto Rico, Containers Full Of Goods Sit Undistributed At Ports

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/28/554297787/puerto-rico-relief-goods-sit-undistributed-at-ports>

9 posted on 08/21/2018 5:43:39 AM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK (;I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.” Sherlock Holmes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Awesome people in Puerto Rico.


10 posted on 08/21/2018 5:52:13 AM PDT by Raycpa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Food and water are a must. If I heard a hurricane was beating down on my island I think I might stockpile and find a way to prepare knowing the governments are inept.


11 posted on 08/21/2018 5:56:12 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

State or independent. Choose one.


12 posted on 08/21/2018 6:00:14 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Media deliberately and intentionally chooses to lie, with full awareness and knowledge.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ATOMIC_PUNK
That story was through except for one detail. There's no such thing as the truckers union and that they went on strike after the storms. Simply not true. There is not one single trucker union. There are several. The drivers in my company are Teamsters and most showed up to work. EVERYONE on the island was affected by the storm. Those who could show up to work, did.
13 posted on 08/21/2018 6:02:26 AM PDT by cll (Serviam!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: cll

through = true.


14 posted on 08/21/2018 6:03:16 AM PDT by cll (Serviam!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: cll

Nice slap down.


15 posted on 08/21/2018 6:05:11 AM PDT by TADSLOS (1. DonÂ’t Forget Nothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: cll

Thank you for the information. The ‘truckers strike’ has been endlessly propagated.


16 posted on 08/21/2018 6:06:03 AM PDT by robowombat (Orthodox)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: 1Old Pro

“Food and water are a must. If I heard a hurricane was beating down on my island I think I might stockpile and find a way to prepare knowing the governments are inept”.

One of the things we learned was, the usual recommendation of a three day stockpile was totally inadequate. We needed THREE WEEKS of emergency supplies. There was a shortage of everything, but mostly food and fuel, for at least that long.


17 posted on 08/21/2018 6:06:21 AM PDT by cll (Serviam!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: cll

Thanks for this report.

How is the electricity doing in Puerto Rico now?


18 posted on 08/21/2018 6:13:48 AM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Raycpa

The mayor of San Juan was a fine woman right? Awesome indeed.


19 posted on 08/21/2018 6:20:00 AM PDT by Blue Highway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Blue Highway

As is the mayor of New York.


20 posted on 08/21/2018 6:25:31 AM PDT by Raycpa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson