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Local volunteers reflect on Puerto Rico crisis

Posted at 5:25 PM, Oct 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-24 19:13:02-04

Nearly 80 percent of Puerto Rico is still without power more than a month after Hurricane Maria, in a sense, leveled the island.

There are reports that many people, especially those who live in the smaller rural cities and towns, are suffering.

Back stateside, Scott Lewis with Eagles Wings Foundation looks at a picture of his journey in Puerto Rico.

"Brings up some memories that are probably not real good," said Lewis.

Scott and his volunteers traveled to the island to rescue more than a hundred people, particularly in nursing homes.

He later learned it was the smaller communities outside San Juan that suffer the most. Among them, a nursing home in Santa Isabel.

"All they were getting was two bottles of water," said Lewis.

Matt Campbell with Eagles Wings says the generator at the home would only be on two hours a day.

"There were needs that were popping up that we were relaying to local governments that just weren't being addressed," said Campbell.

Even a month later, Lewis continues to think about what more he can do to help.

"Really surprising and it really hurts because I feel the pain of the folks that are living this there and I think our team was really impacted by this as well," said Lewis.

Scott and his team hope to fly back as soon as possible.