© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

In Hartford, A Rally To Rebuild And Relieve A Devastated Puerto Rico

Patrick Skahill
/
WNPR
Labor organizations, impacted family members, and others gathered Wednesday on Asylum Street in Hartford to call attention to the need for more aid in Puerto Rico following the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

Residents gathered at a rally in downtown Hartford Wednesday to call attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. 

Lea esta historia en español. / Read this story in Spanish.

Angel Candelario was at the rally. He said he has family in more remote parts of the island.

Despite calls, texts, and social media messages -- he’s yet to hear anything from them.

"I’m just imagining that people are floating in their houses," Candelario said. "They’re pretty to look at, but when you go inside, they’re like shacks."

Candelario said his 64-year-old mother, who is battling breast cancer, is trying to get to the island to check on their relatives.

"Are we even able to get down there? And if we get down there, what the heck are we going to expect? You might see clear roads, but around the next corner you’ll see a whole flood," Candelario said.

Candelario said he’s been arguing with his mom to not go, but if she does get a ticket and head down, he’ll be there alongside her even if it means losing his job.

This story is part of “The Island Next Door,” WNPR’s reporting project about Puerto Rico and Connecticut after Hurricane Maria.

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content