CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - Weeks after two hurricanes hit the U.S. Virgin Islands, a Chula Vista family is still desperate to contact and help their loved ones.
Cristine Gamboa says her older sister, Janelle, lives on St. Thomas island and that her apartment was destroyed by Hurricane Irma. The mother of three young boys decided to take the family to St. Croix for safety, only to be hit again by Maria.
"My heart is just broken, my hands are tied, we can't do anything," said Cristine. "She was running out of formula, is breastfeeding, eating what, peanut butter? Maybe cereal, for the last two weeks."
The family says they've asked authorities to check on Janelle and her boys but it hasn't happened yet.
Out of options, the family reached out to the public on social media. They connected with a woman from Michigan who used to live on the islands. The woman pulled all her resources and found someone to check on the family.
On Monday the family received a call from her with an update that Janelle was doing ok but still in need of assistance.
The family is grateful for the kindness of strangers online and is counting down the minutes until their loved ones can come home.
