Michelle Ramirez said she heard the news from her husband, JD: An earthquake had struck their hometown of Pereira, Colombia.
She instantly called her mom.
Michelle’s mother is disabled and can’t walk properly, and when she finally gets an answer, amid busy phone lines, she said all she heard on the other line was crying.
“I’m screaming back to her, for her to understand me as fast as possible, to get out of the building and she was just trying to gather the most important belongings, whatever they can grab. Thank God my stepdad was able to grab passports and all of the medications that she needs for survival,” Michelle said from her home in Boynton Beach.
Pereira lies in the central mountain range of the county in the Otún and Cauca river valleys. It also sits between three major cities: Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali.
Michelle and JD’s families are both safe, but the reality of their new day-to-day has proven difficult. They’ve been working to raise money for them on the website GoFundMe.
“The connection back home is very, very rough. Number one, you know, there is no power or electricity in majority of the city, so my family did have to evacuate their homes. … They are currently in the outside of the city in a small farm with, you know, several other family members,” JD said.
“There is no power. They’re all relying, 12 people, relying on charging their phones with one vehicle, which is my dad’s car, so they kind of just plug their phones for like 10 to 15 minutes, just to get their phone to maybe five or 10% battery.”
The future for the family remains uncertain but the married couple said they may bring their family to the states while things return to normal back in Colombia.
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest on record in Colombia, has killed more than 250 people, injured more than 3,500, and destroyed more than 45,000 homes, according to the International Rescue Committee.
About 36,000 Colombians call Palm Beach County home, according to the American Community Survey, done annually by the U.S. Census Bureau. They are among about 240,000 living in South Florida.
To donate to help the Ramirez family, go to www.GoFundMe.com and search for “Help Our Families Rebuild After Devastating Earthquake.”
Families across Colombia are needing help as they get back on their feet, here are a list of donation spots. Suggested donation items include nonperishable food, water, hygiene kits, diapers, new blankets, shelter supplies, batteries, first-aid kits, over-the-counter medicines, protective gear, pet supplies and cleanup materials.
Palm Beach County
Broward County
Miami-Dade County
Arianna Otero covers breaking news for the Palm Beach Post. Contact her via email at AOtero@pbpost.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Colombia quake has Boynton couple fearful for family. How to help
Reporting by Arianna Otero, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Arianna Otero, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
