Photos: Puerto Rico youth remain stranded with school still out from storm
Young people in Puerto Rico have been left stranded by Hurricane Maria, unable to return to school and increasingly desperate for life to get back to normal.
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, 15-year-old Andy Gualdado cycles with friends in Plaza Barcelo on what would normally be a school day, after Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Gualdado says the novelty of being out of school has worn off and he misses friends he used to talk to every day. "Now, I'd like to go to school," Gualdado said. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, youths chat at the Ramon Marin Sola Elementary School, which opened its doors as a daytime community center after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Children have been living in campus-turned-shelters in western Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria flooded their homes, trying to pass the time while their families wait for help to replace the homes they lost in the storm. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, a student sits alone in a classroom at Ramon Marin Sola Elementary School, which opened its doors as a daytime community center after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Because Hurricane Maria followed closely after Hurricane Irma, students have had only about six weeks of class since the academic year started Aug. 14. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, a school cafeteria staff member prepares lunch at Ramon Marin Sola Elementary School, which opened its doors as a daytime community center after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. While public schools are closed, some are serving as community centers for kids and elderly people to spend part of each day and get breakfast and lunch. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 photo, Pedro Marrero gives his son Yeniel a bucket bath as his wife sits by, right, at a school-turned-shelter where they are living after Hurricane Maria left them homeless in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Some public schools are being used as shelters for about 5,000 people who lost their homes and are sleeping in classrooms. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, girls play a board game at the Ramon Marin Sola Elementary School, which opened its doors as a daytime community center after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Many kids seem to be making the most of what feels like an extended vacation, but for some the novelty has worn off and want classes to start up again. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, a girl waits for her mother in the hallway of Ramon Marin Sola Elementary School, which opened its doors as a daytime community center after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. "We're trying teach them how to be happy again," said the school's Director Zoraya Cruz. "We're not worried about the curriculum right now. We want them to feel comfortable and safe." (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, Education Secretary Julia Keleher gets a hug from a student at Ramon Marin Sola Elementary School, which opened its doors as a daytime community center after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Teachers were supposed to report back to their assigned schools on Oct. 16 to prepare for a resumption of classes next week, but the start date has been pushed to no sooner than Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, children learn to box at a school-turned-shelter for residents left homeless by Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. When schools reopen for the academic year, many kids will be dealing with the stress of having lost their homes and all their belongings in the floods. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 photo, a woman rings out clothing in a plastic waste basket, as she washes clothes with the help of her daughters as a boy visits with them at a school-turned-shelter where their families are living after Hurricane Maria left them homeless in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Education Secretary Julia Keleher said she would like to get people back to class as soon as possible, but it's a matter of competing needs. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, a youth sits in the courtyard of Ramon Marin Sola Elementary School, which opened its doors as a daytime community center after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Most schools remain closed, leaving kids to pass the time playing on downed trees or using precious phone battery on video games, waiting for life to return to normal as the adults around them struggle to put their own lives back together. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, children journal about Hurricane Maria at Ramon Marin Sola Elementary School which opened its doors as a daytime community center after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Some children are writing about what they bought before the storm and what they lost, and what they hope for their home. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 photo, boys carry an inflatable mattresses at a school-turned-shelter after they were left homeless by Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. In addition to elementary and secondary schools, universities and trade schools are also closed or on limited schedules, forcing young people to put their lives on hold or move to the U.S. mainland to pursue their dreams. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, Luis Sierra sleeps in a classroom at a school-turned-shelter after Hurricane Maria left him and other families homeless in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Young people in Puerto Rico have been left stranded by Hurricane Maria, unable to return to school and increasingly desperate for life to get back to normal. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Schools
In this Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 photo, a girl watches a dog eats leftovers at a school-turned-shelter where residents left homeless by Hurricane Maria are living in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. The storm swept across the island Sept. 20, causing at least 48 deaths according to the official tally, widespread flooding and knocking out the island's entire power grid. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
The mayor has supplies of water and food. Now he just has to get it to the residents of his hilltop community.