Día 1: Jueves 28 de septiembre (ocho días después de María)
LA BÚSQUEDA DE GASOLINA
En el artículo introductorio de ayer les conté que apenas días después del azote del huracán María trabajé con un grupo de videógrafos estadounidenses que vino a la Isla a documentar la gran tragedia de nuestro país. El jueves 28 de septiembre fui a recogerlos al aeropuerto Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU)… y llegué tarde. Su vuelo había arribado casi una hora antes. Mi retraso se debió a la búsqueda de gasolina. A una semana del paso del ciclón, las filas en las gasolineras todavía eran de ocho y hasta 10 horas.
Mi amigo desde la escuela intermedia, David Ramírez, me había escrito dos días antes para avisarme que vendría a Puerto Rico con el equipo de vidéografos para documentar la destrucción y el flujo de ayuda. Necesitaban a alguien que los recibiera en el SJU, los trasladara al hotel y los llevara por distintos puntos de la Isla. Me ofrecí, pero le advertí sobre la grave situación de las estaciones de gasolina en las que la líneas de espera eran literalmente kilométricas. De hecho, medí una que se extendía por una milla y media (poco menos de tres kilómetros). También era muy frecuente que la gente pasara largas horas en filas solo para que la gasolina se acabara antes de que les llegara el turno.
Horas después, David me envió por mensaje texto la información sobre un puesto en Carolina en el que me atenderían y me incluyó los nombres y números de teléfono de dos contactos. El mensaje ni siquiera incluía la ubicación exacta. Solo decía la marca, que estaba en Carolina y que allí podrían suplirme con la gasolina que necesitara. Era casi como una operación espía.
Para esos días las señales telefónicas estaban prácticamente inexistentes, por lo que el encontrar señal no garantizaba que la persona a la que uno quería llamar también la tuviera. Bueno, todavía hoy, 7 de noviembre continúa sucediendo, pero en aquellos primeros días la comunicación por teléfono dentro de la Isla era casi nula. Irónicamente era mucho más fácil entablar comunicación con alguien de fuera de Puerto Rico. Eso me dificultó muchísimo lograr contacto con la gente del puesto de gasolina.
Como a las siete de la mañana del día de la llegada del grupo fue que logré comunicación con uno de ellos; una chica muy amable que me indicó la ubicación exacta de la estación. Quedamos en encontrarnos a las 9:00, y fue enfática en que procurara por ella.
Sabiendo que habría mucho tráfico, salí de inmediato hacia Carolina. Siguiendo las instrucciones que me había dado la joven encontré la estación. Había una fila descomunal. Para escapar del calor mañanero, manejé hasta el estacionamiento bajo techo de un centro comercial cercano y aproveché el tiempo escribiendo unos artículos dentro del carro.
Casi dos horas después, justo antes de las nueve, regresé al puesto y estacioné a una distancia prudente al otro lado de calle. Crucé a pie y procuré por la contacto. No estaba. Esperé media hora e intenté llamarla pero la señal tan débil que había impedía que el intento saliera más allá de mi teléfono. Traté con un mensaje de texto y funcionó. Contestó y estaba atrapada en el mismo tapón que yo esquivé.
Cerca de una hora después y habiendo ya recibido aviso de David de que había aterrizado, tomé otra acción. Desobedecí las instrucciones de la joven de procurar solo por ella y fui donde uno de los empleados que dirigía los turnos dentro del puesto y le pregunté por el otro contacto. “Él es el dueño”, me dijo. “¿Para qué lo quieres?”. Le expliqué lo de los videógrafos y asumiendo que ya se le habrían presentado personas haciendo historietas con tal de que los colaran en la fila, le mostré el mensaje de texto en inglés que me había enviado David. Cuando lo leyó y vio los nombres y números de su jefe y la contacto (que resultó ser hermana del dueño), de inmediato me dio acceso a una fila secundaria muy corta que había dentro de la estación.
Mientras pagaba por la gasolina llegó la contacto, se excusó por su gran tardanza y se alegró mucho por que ya hubiera resuelto. Le expliqué que por los próximos días estaría transportando a los videógrafos por toda la Isla y que la posibilidad era grande de que tendría que regresar por más gasolina. Muy amablemente me dijo que regresara las veces que necesitara y que procurara por ella, su hermano o por el joven que ya me había ayudado.
Con todas las rayitas del marcador del nivel del tanque encendidas, salí directo hacia el aeropuerto. Poco después vería una de las escenas que más me han impresionado en toda esta crisis.
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