- Re: Visiting

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Visiting

Author: Brandon Storer (4.71.250.---)
Date: 09-27-17 08:57

Hello,

I hope everyone on Culebra and Vieques are doing as well as they can be. We have friends that live in Vieques, but we are not able to get a hold of them yet. My family (wife and 3 kids) are supposed to visit them November 20th and stay about 8 days. The media is saying how bad it is in PR mainland and that it is only getting worse because they are not able to get food and water in and the decay of dead animals.

Should we cancel or trip? Do you think by November things will start to get back to normal, (food, water, shelters, electric, and gas)? I just don't want to take the kids somewhere that my not be safe for them and we want the island to be a great experience for them as it has been for my wife and I.

Any information, opinions, or concerns would be much appreciated! I know this is the Culebra forum, but I have no one else to reach out to. Just hoping someone from one of the islands will be able to give some insight into how things are going.

Thank you,
Brandon

Brandon S

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Re: Visiting

Author: Chris C. (---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date: 09-29-17 02:37

That is 2 months away. You can't get a hold of your friends -- do you even know if they are alive? I'd recommend letting the dust settle and exercising a bit of common sense instead of worrying if your vacation is going to be okay.

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Re: Visiting

Author: Michael (---.netvisao.pt)
Date: 09-29-17 05:27

There are no casualties in Vieques - afaik. 'Visting' will be possible. Make sure you pack work gloves and boots! Depends on your idea of vacation! There are videos shot from supply planes and helicopters on youtube of Vieques (and Culebra).
Normal electricity might be back in 4 to 5 months on Culebra and I assume the same goes for Vieques. Remember though, that Vieques suffered a direct hit, whereas Culebra's infrastructure was mostly spared - just nothing to connect to ..

Facetiousness aside; I would not plan a family vacation to a disaster area - what are you thinking? Did you read my post, that water is rationed?!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Visiting

Author: Brandon Storer (4.71.250.---)
Date: 09-29-17 08:23

Chris -

I am exercising common sense, that is why I am trying to find out what is going on with the islands. The media likes to blow things up sometimes, so I wanted to know from people that are on the island. Obviously, I have no idea if my friends are alive as in my post I said I have not be able to reach them... Instead of reading to respond, try reading to understand. I am very concerned for the people in PR as mentioned in my post.

Michael -

Great news that there are no casualties in Vieques! The "vacation" to visit our friends was planned months ago, so we weren't "planning" a vacation to a disaster area at the time. What was I thinking? I was thinking I was able to post to this forum without being belittled. I am concerned about my friends on the island, the people of PR, and my family that was supposed to be visiting. I just wanted so insider information rather than believing everything the media says.

Thanks,

Brandon S

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Re: Visiting

Author: Geronimo (128.244.11.---)
Date: 09-29-17 09:22

Brandon, it's really bad there. I do not think things will be returned to "normal" for 6 to 12 months. I would not plan on going unless you want to participate in disaster relief. I was there for Irma and there is nothing operational. It is very primitive survival mode right now.

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Re: Visiting

Author: Brandon Storer (4.71.250.---)
Date: 09-29-17 09:38

Thank you Geronimo. I appreciate your imput.

Brandon S

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Re: Visiting

Author: Chris C. (---.lightspeed.sndgca.sbcglobal.net)
Date: 10-02-17 14:17

Brandon - the intent was not to belittle you and I highly doubt Michael was either. You asked for opinions...you got them.

I did "read to understand". If you strip everything away, the main point of your post was "we want the island to be a great experience for [the kids]". Look, I get it -- you planned this a long time ago and it must be very disappointing. Family vacations are a blessing. But like Michael said, unless you're looking to take part in a disaster relief mission....

And yes, the media does blow things out of proportion, but if anything they are under-covering and understating this disaster. (More than half of mainlanders don't know that PR is part of the US, so who cares, right?) Puerto Rico as we know it will never be the same.

I hope your friends are okay and that you and your family are able to find a suitable "Plan B".

P.S. I think David Begnaud of CBS is doing a fantastic job of providing consistent ground level coverage, and he's done a good job of going outside the San Juan "bubble".

https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud

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Re: Visiting

Author: Geronimo (128.244.11.---)
Date: 10-03-17 11:19

I hear no jet fuel at SJU. Planes with supplies fill up in FLoarida and only carry enough fuel to land in SJU and depart back to FL with passengers.

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