• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
  • News

With little food, water or power, Puerto Rico residents say 'no one has come' to help

3:07
Families in Puerto Rico still left without food, clean water and power 2 weeks later
ABC News
ByENJOLI FRANCIS
October 04, 2017, 2:03 AM

— -- In a 13-story apartment building just 15 minutes from the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lisbeth Vasquez Delgado is caring for her parents and their neighbors the best way she knows how.

After Hurricane Maria came ashore as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane in September, Vasquez, who lives in New York City, is tending to their needs. And nearly two weeks after the hurricane hit, the residents of the building are still without power and running water.

Even though President Donald Trump tweeted days ago that all buildings have been inspected, Vasquez told ABC News' David Muir that she had not yet seen inspectors at her parents' fourth-floor apartment or in the building.

"They have not come to see what's happened to these apartments," she said. "No one has come."

San Juan mayor tells President Trump 'it's not about politics'

Vasquez said no food or water had been brought to the building. Inside the tiny apartment, the windows have been blown out by the hurricane. Down the hall, outside the apartment, the destruction can be seen outside from a window. An entire doorway has been blown over by the strong winds.

And Vasquez's parents, Elmer and Gloria, are in need of medication.

On the same day Muir was there, a doctor visited their apartment. The family said it was the first time since the storm that a doctor had come by. The doctor brought Motrin.

"I had a piece of bread, half of bread, and I shared it with like four apartments. I made sure everybody had a little piece of bread for them to eat," Vasquez said.

Down the hallway from Vasquez's parents lives 70-year-old Maria Diaz, with whom Vasquez shares her bread and water.

Diaz told Muir that she was drinking the tap water even though she knew it was not safe. She said that bottled water cost $6. Through tears, she said she didn't want to die in the apartment with little food and little to drink.

The residents in the building were unaware of the Federal Emergency Management Agency help because they have no power and no access to news. As of today, the island is still grappling with the damage caused by Hurricane Maria and deeply plunged in recovery efforts.

Only 47 percent of the island's water customers have access to potable water, according to the office of Puerto Rico's governor, and just 7 percent of the island has power back.

A generator is turned on a couple of hours per day in Vasquez's apartment building. For now, Vasquez continues to share what little she has.

"It's not just my parents," she said. "I'm sharing it with everyone. ... There's a lot of people here that don't have family, don't have no one to take them a bottle of water, or anything to drink."

Lizbeth Vasquez Delgado, visiting Puerto Rico from New York City to care for her parents, said inspectors had not yet been to her parents' apartment building. She said no water or food had been brought to residents.

ABC News' Christine Romo contributed to this story.

Up Next in News—

This San Francisco shop is run completely by an AI agent

April 23, 2026

Mother charged after teen son allegedly hits and injures 81-year-old veteran while riding e-motorcycle

April 23, 2026

UK bill banning smoking products for those born after 2008 is one step away from becoming law

April 22, 2026

Pilot killed in Florida plane crash hailed as hero

April 21, 2026

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News