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One Year Later: Relief efforts from Cincinnati to Puerto Rico continue

69 views · Published 5 September 2018 · 2:10 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) – It’s been nearly a year since Hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico. 

This week, a new death was reported, citing 2,975 deaths. The previously reported number was 64.

While the Category 5 hurricane hovered over Puerto Rico, Eileen Rodriguez, her husband and mother-in-law took shelter in the bathroom.

"The sound of the wind, it was like a monster,” said Rodriguez. “When you hear it -- I wanted to try to come inside to the house. In this moment, I lost [consciousness]."

Shortly after the traumatic experience, Rodriguez moved to Cincinnati to live with her daughter at the request of her husband.

"He decided, 'No, you know what? It's time to change our life. Start you, establish yourself first of all,' and then I come with my mother,'” said Rodriguez.

She’s been here almost a year. Her husband has come to visit and will soon move to Cincinnati.

At the same time Rodriguez was traveling to Ohio, Anderson Township resident Anamar Naish was trying to figure out how to get supplies to her family in Puerto Rico.

"The first day was just crying and praying, not being able to communicate with your family like how I would always do. The second day is more my personality kicking in, what am I going to do to help my family?” said Naish.

It didn’t take long after a Facebook post seeking donations for hurricane victims was posted for the movement to take off. Naish and some friends formed a nonprofit called Cincinnati For PR. In just a few short months, more than 61 tons of supplies were collected, and $100,000 worth of medical items were donated. All the items eventually made it to Puerto Rico.

“I reflect that’s there’s hope, that people care and we will be there for each other. I think that has enlightened me a lot,” said Naish.

Naish flew down to Puerto Rico in February 2018 to visit family and provide assistance. There she met some retired teachers who lost everything. However, she says, you couldn’t tell; spirits were not broken.

"You would never be able to tell they lost everything. They feel and they talked, and they communicated that they have everything in the world because of their faith,” said Naish.

During the collection and delivery, Naish says they’ve learned some things and will make adjustments to provide future help when needed -- more fundraising and buying supplies on the island versus collecting here and shipping to those areas affected.

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