Relatives reunited with loved ones returning from Puerto Rico

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Terminal A at Philadelphia International Airport was filled with emotion Wednesday as relatives were reunited with loved ones coming in from Puerto Rico.

They were desperate to get out, and when some finally landed on American Airlines Flight 740 from San Juan, some were understandably too emotional to talk.

"It's very bad right now there, I mean my flight got cancelled like 7 times," said one passenger.

Damaris Rosado of Northeast Philadelphia said her father Emilio had gone to Puerto Rico to help relatives and then lost contact.

"I called every day, but the phone would just go into voicemail, but nothing, nothing, nothing," Damaris said.

But then, they heard Emilio was on the flight. And when they saw each other, it was very emotional.

Ada Garcia of Caguas, Puerto Rico, is a diabetic who was left without electricity, food or water.

When Action News asked her how she survived under the horrible conditions, she said, "Well, through the grace of God, so I'm happy to be here."

Hector Rodriguez of Downingtown, Pa. said, "It's very bad, I mean the whole island is destroyed, there are no services of any kind, and people are having a hard time."

Over and over again, Action News kept hearing about the level of desperation in terms of people's needs for survival - basic things that are taken for granted like water, food, gas and other necessities.

"Water is getting scarce, getting worse by the day," Andy Lawson of Charlotte, North Carolina said.

Garcia added, "I hope that more aid comes and helps us because we need fuel for the machines, for the hospitals. People are dying, and we have to help."

"A lot of people lost everything, but at least we were able to save a lot of lives, so people really respond to the call of the governor to go to a safe place," Rodriguez said.

And that may have been the only saving grace, that more lives were not lost in the utter devastation. People are holding on to hope that more help and a massive relief effort comes fast.

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