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Puerto Ricans in South Florida Desperate to Reach Family Affected by Hurricane Maria

Images/caption: Hal Pierce, SSAI/NASA/GSFC
Hurricane Maria's torrential rainfall tracked by NASA.

Already battered by Hurricane Irma earlier in September, Hurricane Maria made landfall Sept. 20 in southeast Puerto Rico. Storm trackers with NASA's Earth Observatory say the storm’s track "was a near worst-case scenario," making it the fifth strongest hurricane to ever hit the U.S. With electricity and communications wiped out, those in Florida's Puerto Rican community is desperate to reach their loved ones.

WGCU reporter Quincy Walters joins Gulf Coast Live to share voices he's interviewed from the Puerto Rican community in Southwest Florida, updates on devastation on the island, and how people unable to contact their family can get in touch.

The administrative zones and contact phone numbers for Puerto Rico.

Matthew Smith is a reporter and producer of WGCU’s Gulf Coast Live.
Quincy Walters is a reporter and backup host for WGCU.