x
Breaking News
More () »

Hurricane Fiona resurfacing painful memories of 2017's Hurricane Maria

"People were still rebuilding from Hurricane Maria, and now they've lost what they rebuilt. I'm sure many of the same people lost their homes again."

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As Hurricane Fiona slams Puerto Rico, the new images of heavy damages and gushing rivers bring a rush of painful memories of 2017's deadly and destructive Hurricane Maria.

Puerto Rico is yet to recover from the category 5 storm, which killed nearly 3,000 people and took out the island's power grid. 

"I honestly feel like I have PTSD for Maria," said Carmen Garcia-Gomez, who moved from Puerto Rico to California as a child, leaving behind her large extended family. She now lives in Sacramento.

Garcia-Gomez said most of her family members are doing well as the storm continues to dump torrential rains, but her grandmother lost her home in Hurricane Maria.

"It was really a scary time, people were desperate," Garcia-Gomez said. 

She felt the urge to help and raised nearly $20,000 to buy supplies for Hurricane Maria.

"I was there for about three and a half days with my sister working with the mayor, and with other community members and distributing everything that was purchased with that money," Garcia-Gomez said. 

As officials continue their work today to asses the damages from Fiona, Garcia-Gomez says many in Puerto Rico are still reckoning with impacts from Maria. 

"People were still rebuilding from Hurricane Maria, and now they've lost what they rebuilt," she said. "I'm sure many of the same people lost their homes again."

WATCH ALSO:

Does California have a hurricane season? | Weather explained

 

Before You Leave, Check This Out