Profiles of some who waited in line to apply for disaster food assistance,
Many of the people in line at John Prince Park were mothers with families. Here are their stories: Maria Brito, 56, Lantana Arrived: 7 a.m.
Wait time: Two hours In line: Brito said the line moved swiftly.
Her story: A single grandmother, Brito went six days without power. Her food was spoiled, but her house suffered no major damage. She said she spent too much money on food and gas before the storm, borrowing money for the extra expenses.
“I went crazy shopping for food and gas. I borrowed money because I thought this was going to be terrible. It seemed like what was coming was big.” Serena Dawes, 41, Lake Worth Arrived: 2 a.m. Wait time: About eight hours
In line: Dawes complained about the heat, people cutting the line and not being able to use the bathroom since 2 a.m. She said the experience was “not good.”
Her story: A mother of three, Dawes said she lost power for five to seven days, had roof and patio damage from a tree along with a leak inside the house. She is still waiting for insurance money.
“At 6-something we were there in line and they told us to go back outside and that it would take us five to 10 minutes for us to get through inside, which wasn’t true. It was hot and sticky and people were just skipping lines as usual. I’m tired.” Rosa Alvarado, 40, Lake Worth
Her story: A mother of three, Alvarado had no power for a week and no water for three days. She had to throw away meat, fish and most of her food. She had to buy plywood, nails and screws for the windows.
“Thank God, they gave me what I wanted. It was good. Very good. They didn’t ask for anything, just my ID. You fill out what you consider to be right, but it is your conscience that speaks. If you lie, that’s up to you. They don’t question anything.” Zully Ruiz, 40, Greenacres Arrived: Midnight
Wait time: 11 hours
In line: Ruiz said she was turned back three times — for being in the wrong line, for not having the right documents and for walking in as a pedestrian when they were letting in only cars.
Her story: A single mother of three, Ruiz said her experience was incredibly frustrating.
“I was on the wrong line on Lake Worth Avenue and they told me I was in the wrong line. So, I came to the right line at 2 a.m. in Lantana, past the airport to Congress. They needed all the papers. They couldn’t do it.” Evelyn Mercado, 45, Greenacres Arrived: 2 a.m.
Wait time: About eight hours
In line: She said she inexplicably was sent to the back of the line along with many others.
Her story: Without power for a week, she said her patio is leaking and is about ready to collapse. Her family in Puerto Rico is also dealing with a hurricane crisis.
“They could have done it a little bit better. We were the first ones in line at 2 o’clock in the morning and they sent us out of the park and told us ‘OK, you’re going to be the first ones in, it’ll take you five minutes.’ It didn’t take five minutes. On the contrary we were in the back of the line. They lied to us.” Agnes Kipilla, 45, Greenacres Arrived: 2 a.m. Wait time: About eight hours
In line: Kipilla said she arrived with her friend, Evelyn Mercado, and went from the front of a line to the back of another.
Her story: “Out there, those thousands of people were standing, they were suffering and ready to pass out. It was awful. You couldn’t use the restroom. We were stuck out there with no food, water or restrooms.”