It’s now been one week since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, and still several Lubbock families and friends anxiously wait each day to hear more from loved ones who live there.
Among those is Lubbock Christian University Women’s basketball coach Steve Gomez.
Coach Gomez’s father’s family lives in Puerto Rico, and says they heard from them right before the storm hit. Since then, communication has been spotty as they continue to rebuild, but they did let them know that they survived the storm and everyone was doing okay.
While some of his family members’ properties did suffer some damage, Gomez says he’s grateful that his family members are now safe. Right now he says they just are asking for prayers.
“They’re just tough people and they will make the best of it and overcome. It would be great to see more help though. I guess President Trump is going there Tuesday so that’ll bring more awareness to whats going on,” said Gomez. “Through it all, the community will come together like we’ve seen happen in Houston, in Corpus Christi. When tragedies happen, people pull together.”
Gomez also shared that the storm’s destruction also hit home for his team. It was this time last year when the Lady Chaps basketball team traveled to Puerto Rico for a tournament and played in the Roberto Clemente coliseum, which is now being used as a shelter for families displaced by Hurricane Maria.
“It makes you realize, we played a basketball game in there, and now that’s where a lot of people are living,” said Gomez. “So it made it very real, you know a lot of these tragedies you feel disconnected from, and so it makes you thankful for what you have and also prayerful for those that are going through that so hopefully in the next four to six months they can get everything back together but it’s not going to be quick.”
