For the first time in almost a month, Cody-Anna Orlando is back in Montreal.
She and her boyfriend Philippe Croteau-Gariepy were only supposed to be gone a bit more than a week when they took a vacation in Rincon, Puerto Rico. That trip ended up lasting 25 days.
“They need their food. They need their water. And we people from the outside? While we’re there, we’re taking these resources from them,” he said.
READ MORE: Puerto Rico investigating possible post-hurricane disease outbreak after 4 deaths
According to Global Affairs Canada, the agency was in touch with Canadians to advise them on how to leave the island after the storm.
But the couple feels the government didn’t do enough.
“The government wasn’t helpful in any way,” Orlando said. “It was basically up to us.”
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The couple got out on a commercial flight on Tuesday, Oct. 10 after the airport began running regular flights again.
The couple has started a website to raise funds from Canadians for Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico. “The Puerto Ricans were awesome people with us,” Gariepy said.