NewsPalm Beach CountyRegion C Palm Beach CountyWest Palm Beach

Actions

Volunteers helping in Puerto Rico react to death toll study

Posted at 6:43 PM, May 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-29 18:44:47-04

Victor Hernandez can't forget the devastation he saw in Puerto Rico.

"Based on the lack of medical response that did occur. Lack of power in the hospitals, lack of water, lack of the roads being open for people to be rescued."

Victor's family lives in Puerto Rico. He took these pictures went he went there to help in the days after Hurricane Maria. "In a situation like this, it was chaos management for them."

While the federal government says the death toll is 64 -- a new Harvard report claims more than 45-hundred died.

Victor fears that number be high. "Absolutely, and the government does agree on that."

Scott Lewis also saw the devastation first hand -- organizing relief flights to Puerto Rico.

"Very bad, there was no power, no internet, no cell for weeks, for months," said Lewis.

Lewis fears the island would not survive another hurricane this season.

"I would say that they say some prayers that they get blessed with nothing this season, because I don't think they are ready. They haven't recovered and it's going to take a lot of years for that to really happen."