For Valerie Velazquez and her mom, being at the Disaster Relief Center at the Orlando International Airport is not easy.
- Disaster Relief Center at OIA has helped 4,000 people since Oct. 3
- Hispanic Office of Local Assistance, plus federal, state, local agencies available
"My dad is actually (still) in the National Guard in Puerto Rico," said Velazquez, who evacuated from Puerto Rico to the Orlando area with her mother about a week ago.
For the past two weeks, the Disaster Relief Center at the Orlando International Airport has been a place of refuge for evacuees from Puerto Rico.
The Disaster Relief Center has helped about 4,000 people since Oct. 3.
"Very hard for my mom. It's not easy because obviously part of my heart are in Puerto Rico. My dad, my sister," Velazquez explained.
Velazquez said she is missing precious time studying radiology at the university level in Puerto Rico.
For now, they're depending on family to get by in Central Florida.
"My aunt is very helpful but nothing better than being with my dad in Puerto Rico. I feel so lonely right now," Velazquez continued.
The City of Orlando's Hispanic Office for Local Assistance and other local, state and federal agencies are there to help.
"I will suggest them to come here first (Disaster Relief Center at OIA) and we will guide them as to where to go," shared HOLA Coordinator Ana Cruz.
"We have FEMA here helping people register for benefits," added FEMA Spokesperson Peter Sessum.
In addition to jobs, housing and healthcare concerns, another issue is getting displaced students enrolled as soon as possible in school.
"I'm coming here for the kid because for me it's really important to start everything because she's coming, she don't got nothing right now. She's from Puerto Rico, the school is broken," said Madeline Sanchez, who is helping a family friend who evacuated from Puerto Rico on Friday.
Orange County Public Schools has said they will work with family members to immediately enroll students.
"We definitely, already started receiving the students from Puerto Rico. We are definitely ready for them... bring whatever you have and we'll help you out," explained Alex Reyes, who is the principal of Engelwood Elementary School in east Orlando.
Family members will have a 30-day grace period to submit additional paperwork needed for enrollment.
The School District of Osceola County has made similar exceptions.
The HOLA Office at Disaster Relief Center at OIA will remain open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., seven days a week until Monday, Nov. 6.