Dear Friend,
We have been inundated with calls and emails regarding the ongoing earthquakes in Puerto Rico. Friends inquiring regarding our welfare and the wellbeing of the community, and whether it’s safe to travel to Puerto Rico. Travel to Puerto Rico is all the more relevant during this period of time, for many in the Jewish community have their school scheduled Midwinter vacations starting January 17th.
I take the opportunity to share with you our present reality. At about 8:52 am Shabbat morning as we were preparing for services, there was an intense tremor that turned out to be a 5.9 magnitude quake, this came following a Kaballat Shabbat evening shake at 5.4 magnitude, just as we were starting to chant L’cha Dodi and the after shocks continue.
The primary damage to property is in the southwest of the island, which is near the epicenter of the earthquakes.
Additionally, with the greater level of poverty prevalent in these townships, the homes constructed there are in many instances self-built family homes, without proper engineering oversight, this leads to a greater number of collapsed and damaged homes. Below see a picture of a home that I visited, allowing you to appreciate the fragility of these homes on an ordinary day, and why so many of these homes are more susceptible to collapse and damage. We pray and hope, that these families’ lives can be restored very soon with peace and tranquility.
On Wednesday January 8th, we visited members of our community in Guanynilla at the Tropical Fruit Farm, located near and at the epicenter of some of the quakes, and had the opportunity to see the true impact of the earthquakes. From damaged infrastructure, to toppled cabinets and computers as a result of the violent shaking. From there we visited dozens of homes that were either collapsed or compromised.
We will please G-d do what we can on our part to ease the difficulties and suffering that so many of these families are facing. See the following amazon list of products you can sponsor to provide warmth for those camping outside and in makeshift tents, with products of nourishment and well-being till they are able to return to their ordinary lives. We will be delivering aid products with our PR4PR volunteers on Tuesday, and providing relief and entertainment for the children to allow them a distraction and just be children for some period of time. To be a partner with us please CLICK HERE.
Regarding travel to Puerto Rico, the northeast is fully operational and functional with just major hotels also providing backup generators that mitigate potential electric outages. For those that have not canceled their PR trips, we look forward to welcoming you to Isla del Encanto and for those that felt the had to cancel, we hope that you can reschedule and visit soon!
To contribute for aid relief go to: JewishPuertoRico.com/relief and while your at it please share a prayer as well!
Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3U7L3JWNOZBC/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
With gratitude and blessings,
Rabbi Mendel & Rachel Zarchi
Chabad of Puerto Rico - Serving the Caribbean
News Articles of Interest:
NYTimes - ‘Too Much’: Dread Fills Puerto Ricans as New Earthquake Stuns Island
AP News - Experts warn Puerto Rico not prepared for big earthquakes
Chabad.org - Puerto Rico Chabad Earthquake Relief Underway After Devastation
