Hondurans face a nightmare after the passage of Hurricane Ida

SANT PERE SULA

“It was like living one nightmare, We don’t think Hurricane Ida was that aggressive. We managed to evacuate on time, but it was all chaos on the roads and we didn’t take anything out of our homes in New Orleans; we have only what we wear. Because there is no energy we do not know what happened in our homes because all the neighbors evacuated, “Honduran Karla Reis told THE PRESS.

The catracha is more than 25 years old living in the United States and claims that Ida was more destructive than Hurricane Katrina, which occurred exactly 16 years earlier.

“As always, everyone’s priority was to preserve life, but the emergency has not happened because there is no fuel at gas stations, thousands of Hondurans took refuge in churches or friends’ homes in other cities and we still can’t return because disasters occurred, “added Reis, originally from San Pedro Sula.

the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that the eye of Hurricane Ida made landfall last Sunday in Louisiana, with sustained maximum winds of about 150 miles per hour (240 km / h) and even more intense gusts, so they are reported various damages, and all emergency corps work in the most affected areas.

It is estimated that at least 85,000 Hondurans live in the state of Louisiana, of whom more than 50,000 live in New Orleans.

Another Honduran affected is Rocío Valladares, who together with her husband and son managed to leave in time.

“We had to find a place to stay because my whole family lives in the town of Kenner, in New Orleans, And it was our turn to go out on Saturday because the hurricane was already very close. There was no accommodation in other safe areas, the traffic was impressive, the petrol is gone. “

Valladares said that the Hurricane Ida it was just like that Katrina, Since 16 years ago they also evacuated and it was mandatory by the government authorities, but they did not imagine to live something like this again, since after Katrina if they passed storms or hurricanes but of smaller categories.

“My mother did not want to leave and the roof fell at home, but fortunately it is fine, but still many people did not want to evict from their homes, always waiting for the new forecasts. We are many Hondurans who live in the areas affected, some did not leave in time because the roads were closed and they were without water, without food, without electricity. They bring them help, but it ends quickly because there are thousands affected. “

THE PRESS communicated with Gloria Alvarado, consul of Honduras in New Orleans, And via message he replied that due to lack of energy he did not have a good telephone signal.

affected businesses

Honduran Habib Julio Gabrie also lives in New Orleans, Owns the business of ice cream Pilones of the Grandmother, who stated that due to the lack of energy they have had losses in their products, however, as employers they have taken out trucks to help compatriots and carry out loads of rubbish.

“There is no energy, fuel, water and there is congestion of vehicles mainly in service centers, as food is scarce. There are few supermarkets and Latin shops open.”

He added that there are many catrachos with damage to their homes, as strong winds raised roofs, fallen trees and signs on the infrastructure and have nowhere to return and are damaged.

“If fuel shortages are a big problem because a lot of people don’t have the means to mobilize, the same goes for businesses because there is no energy; for example, our business is on hold, in the 80 distributors we have in Louisiana there is no light and the whole product was lost. “

Honduran residents a New York and other nearby states were also affected when record rains Wednesday night through Thursday turned New York City streets into rivers and killed nearly a dozen people living in underground apartments.