On Sept. 20, 2017, the island of Puerto Rico was hit by the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall there since 1932. The place I love and call home was left entirely without power, clean water, and communication, making Hurricane Maria the most catastrophic hurricane in the island’s modern history.
As a new member of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the United States, nothing compares to what I felt that day and the first couple of weeks that followed. As I was getting ready for work that Wednesday morning, I remember the sudden fear and impotence I felt as I watched a live stream of Hurricane Maria, its center quickly making its way across the island. I couldn’t believe my eyes; I instantly knew the impact would be devastating and that it would be a long road toward recovery.
Having moved to Austin, Texas just a month before the hurricane hit, it was particularly hard to be away from my loved ones. As I was still becoming familiar with this new and vibrant city, my heart and thoughts were back home, desperately wanting to know that my family was okay. Thankfully, they were, and have been making the most out of the situation, but not hearing from them for the first week was painful. For a month, I only received occasional texts, and if calls went through, they would not last longer than three minutes.
As the devastation quickly made headlines worldwide, I knew it was a pivotal moment in our history. Understanding the urgency of the situation, people from across the States and the world came together to lend a helping hand. In my own search for ways to contribute, I found out about several relief efforts that were happening around Austin through the local Puerto Rico Rises chapter, and I also discovered the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. Connecting with fellow Puerto Ricans in the city made me feel at home. I found comfort in our conversations, hopes for the future of our island, and our sense of unity. For a moment, our differences and backgrounds did not matter. We were all family. Todos éramos familia.
As the island still struggles in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and as I reflect on the road ahead, I rest on the extraordinary resilience and perseverance that characterize the Puerto Rican people, knowing that despite the challenges, we will grow and rise from this experience. Our drive and commitment to Puerto Rico is beyond admirable, and I am glad that in the face of this tragedy, we have a newfound strength that has brought us closer than ever before.
There is a lot to be done, but with the world’s help and pasito a pasito, Puerto Rico will get back on its feet. As Albert Einstein said, “The crisis is the best blessing that can happen to people and countries, because the crisis brings progress.” I truly believe that Puerto Rico will come back stronger, and I look forward to being part of its reconstruction.
If you, too, would like to be part of Puerto Rico’s recovery, donating through United for Puerto Rico is a great way of doing so. While there are many ways to help, this initiative was created by the First Lady of Puerto Rico, Beatriz Rosselló, and it aims to consolidate the recovery efforts and provide aid to those in need. Every little bit helps, and Puerto Rico will be eternally grateful.
Aleisha Galíndez Montañez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. After earning her Bachelor of Business from the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, she moved to Europe to complete a double master’s degree in International Business from the University of Vaasa in Finland and the University of Pavia in Italy. Her commitment to public service and education has led her to serve as a bilingual literacy tutor in Austin, TX, working with children in low-income communities. As a current AmeriCorps member and Latinitas volunteer, she hopes to make a difference in the lives of her students and continue opening doors for Latinos in the United States.
