Levittown-Area Residents With Ties To Puerto Rico Worry After Hurricanes

After Hurricane Maria tore through the United States territory of Puerto Rico last week, many Levittown-area residents with ties to the island have only been able to wait with bated breath until news came through of the fate of the island of more than 3 million residents.

Cell phone towers fell and most of the electricity on the island was knocked out as the hurricane tore a path through the territory. For up to five days, and even longer for some, news of loved ones and home was slow coming. In William Levitt’s sister development of Levittown, Puerto Rico, many who were usually safe from hurricanes and flooding had to scramble as water rose in their homes. Many were trapped until the water pulled away, leaving damaged items, property and lives in its wake. 

The island was also hit by Hurricane Irma before Hurricane Maria slammed it shores.

While those in Levittown, Puerto Rico, dealt with dire destruction, many in Levittown, Pennsylvania and its surrounding municipalities wait in stunned silence for word about their loved ones.

“It means a lot to me because a lot of my family is there,” explained Maria Berrocal, the president of the Puerto Rican Cultural Association of Bucks County.

As of Monday afternoon, Berrocal had only heard from one of her sisters. Her other sisters live in a part of the island which is still without power or internet.

Ismael Hermie Rivera is another local fixture with family in Puerto Rico. A member of the Bristol Elks Lodge, Rivera is a chef who has done good for local families in the past. He is worried after still not hearing from much of his family on the island.

“You lose sleep when you don’t hear from them for days,” Rivera said.

Furiously worried about his family, Rivera spent much of the weekend perusing Puerto Rican news pages on Facebook. On one local page from his brother’s town, he found his brother in the background of the video.

“It was great news to see him and learn that he is still with us,” Rivera said. In addition to his brother, Rivera has aunts, uncles, cousins and more relatives on the island. They live a distance from major cities, making communiction even more dificult, Rivera explained.

“That’s my biggest thing,” Rivera started. “How are they going to survive.”

Amber Longhitano, a former Bristol Township Council member, has family in Manati, Puerto Rico. They have been through many hurricanes, but none like Hurricane Maria, Longhitano said.  The realtor and her stateside family lost contact with her cousin Nancy and other family members in Puerto Rico.

“Everything is a big question mark,” Longhitano said. “There are no answers and no ways to contact your loved ones when the island has been cut off.”

Born in Puerto Rico, Rivera moved to the United States at  six months of age. He has frequently returned to visit family, with the last visit being about five years ago for his niece’s wedding.

“Being born there, I take pride in where I come from,” he said.

In recent days working down in Philadelphia, Rivera has seen lots of Puerto Rican flags flying and lots of people looking to support the cause.

In the days waiting for word on her family, Longhitano and her cousin Elba worried and brainstormed ways to help those without food, water and other necessities in Puerto Rico. Coming up with the idea – “Packages for Puerto Rico” – Longhitano wants to send packages directly to people in need once the shipping routes to the island open back up.

“In the face of tragedy, people with nothing are the first to come forward to give,” Longhitano said, explaining how her Facebook post detailing her plan has gained traction.

“It’s sad, but at the same time, I see the people who want to help, and it makes me hopeful and grateful,” Berrocal said.

Lots of members of the Puerto Rican Cultural Association of Bucks County have family members on the island and many of them have lost everything, Berrocal explained.

Lots of people in the area are filled with the helping spirit. St. Mark’s church has been collecting food for those in Puerto Rico. Rivera, who has been organizing an ethnic food festival since April, has since decided to make the event a fundraiser for Puerto Rico relief.

Levittown Church of God at 571 Levittown Parkway will be a drop off point from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. this Sunday for bottled water, nonperishable foods, baby formula and foods, clothes, underwear, socks, bedding, towels, baby wipes and hygiene items. The collected goods will be shipped to the territory through Higher Places Missions.

Those looking to donate funds to help Puerto Rico hurricane recovery efforts are able to contribute to the Hispanic Federation’s “Unidos” drive.

“We are praying and keeping our faith strong,” Berrocal said. He also thanked the volunteers for their work and cooperation, Berrocal knows that rebuilding Puerto Rico will be a massive undertaking.

“They will overcome and they will rebuild, and Puerto Rico will be the shining star it always has been,” Longhitano said.