Another hurricane hit Puerto Rico, making that the third time the country has been hit in the last few months.

Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm, tore through Puerto Rico on September 24, leaving 95 percent of the island without power. Most people there were just starting to recover from Hurricane Irma, which had caused widespread damage only a few weeks before. Puerto Rico was already in nearly nine billion dollar debt before Maria. However, 2000 people in Puerto Rico took to shelters across the country, 450 of which were opened September 18. 34 people died, and more than 83 are missing, 30 of them from Puerto Rico. The damage in Puerto Rico is now estimated to cost an astonishing 90 billion dollars, all according to CNN.

“I feel so bad for the people of Puerto Rico; their country is devastated,” freshman Hannah Stumpf said.

Some of the country still without power or cell service. Gas shortages around the island closed nearly 500 of the islands approximately 1000 or so gas stations, making it hard to rescue workers to get around the island to help people in needs. The Guajataca Dam also was structurally damaged, causing flash flooding, causing evacuation orders for nearly 10,000 people on the island. Portable, clean water is also very hard to get.

Soon after the hurricane dissipated, the next stage of the hurricane relief efforts arose, help from others. Not much money had been donated, and the United States was no exception. It didn’t waive the Jones Act, which halted Puerto Rico from receiving any non-US Flagged vessels. Donald Trump was accused of disliking the country of Puerto Rico, but the president later denied these accusations, and later he visited Puerto Rico. There, he compared the damage and aftermath to Hurricane Katrina, and said it was a catastrophe. On the other hand, Trump said “I hate to tell you Puerto Rico, but you’ve thrown our budget a little out of whack, because we’ve spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico”.

Though, with no help from our national government, it doesn’t mean people in the US aren’t doing anything. Athletes from the country, like St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, have started GoFundMe’s, and donated their own money to help their home country. Along with that, businesses and churches across the country are donating supplies, and money, to help Puerto Rico in the time of need, when it seems as if no one else will.

It’s really nice to see people coming together with all the things that are tearing them apart nowadays” sophomore Evan Sanker said.

As for now, Puerto Rico seems to be out of the line of any direct hit from hurricanes.