Texans helping Colombia after earthquake
TEXAS — A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia Monday morning, affecting several cities. As of Friday, there are at least 250 people dead from the earthquake, with hundreds still missing and thousands injured.
Colombians living in Texas, like Ricardo Alvarado, say it was difficult to wake up to news of the earthquake on Monday morning.
“It was very frustrating, a lot of fear, not knowing what happened to your family,” he said. “Cousins, uncles, a lot of my family that we still have [there] live in the cities that were most impacted by the earthquake, Cali and Pereira.”
Alvarado is originally from Pereira, Colombia. He said he is thankful his family is okay, but he knows others were not as fortunate.
As owner of the Super Latino Market in North Austin, Alvarado set up a donation drive a day after the earthquake struck.
“I like to characterize myself as someone who likes to help. When I was a kid in school and the first earthquake hit Pereira, we went to help by bringing water and clearing out debris,” he said, thinking back to when he was growing up in Colombia.
Having lived in Texas for the last 10 years, his way of helping looks different.
“Since you can’t physically be there, send people the most you can collect here with your compatriots and on your own,” Alvarado said.
The store is collecting items like medicines, batteries, lanterns, clothes and bottled water.
“Lanterns, that’s what they’re requiring most,” Alvarado said.
Alvarado also touched on the need for long-term rebuilding, especially for areas of the country like Chocó, a poor region of Colombia.
“We understand that a lot of people are collaborating, and I hope they know that this zone needs a lot of help,” he said. “Not just now [right after] the disaster, but also afterwards. The first hours are crucial with the rescues, but there’s also the victims, the people with no home that were left with nothing.”
Some organizations in Texas with a presence in Colombia are focusing their efforts on long-term growth. Conviventia, a nonprofit with a presence in Colombia and Houston, says they are focusing on the long-term plan of helping Chocó beyond immediate disaster relief.
Alvarado said his store has already collected 30 boxes of supplies with hopes to send them to Houston for export to Colombia on Thursday, Aug. 20. He said he needs extra hands to help organize the supplies.
As supplies come through the doors, Alvarado keeps a strong face, but he said it’s difficult being so far away from his native country, which is experiencing severe damage and loss.
“But we’re doing what we can, and we can hope that the help we collect can benefit them, those who need it,” said Alvarado.