Volunteers from Remote Area Medical are in Puerto Rico helping hurricane victims, and laying the groundwork for a much bigger relief mission.
Eighty percent of the homes on the U. S. territory in the Caribbean are still without power after Hurricane Maria devastated the island last month. Many homes still don't have clean drinking water.
The RAM group left from McGhee Tyson Airport Monday morning, carrying relief supplies. While there, they will also establish a plans for a future three-week mission to the island. They are planning a smaller version of the medical and dental clinics they host in East Tennessee and other parts of the country.
One of RAM's leaders on the trip is from the island.
"Don't know if you can tell but I'm actually nervous. It's going to be very emotional for me. I just want to do the best that I can so I can help my people," Anabel Evora told us.
RAM has already sent 60-thousand pounds of relief supplies to Puerto Rico and dropped off water-filtration systems on a previous trip.