National

Ways to try to contact loved ones in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is virtually without power or cell service after Hurricane Maria barreled through the island, leaving those searching for loved ones in a shroud of uncertainty.

In addition to generators being the island's only source of power after its power grid was wiped out by the storm, cellphone signal is almost nonexistent, according to ABC News correspondents on the ground.

While pockets of cell service are sprinkled throughout San Juan, the ability to make and receive calls dissipates altogether outside the capital.

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Cars in Puerto Rico were seen lining up in search for the elusive cell signal in video filmed Friday afternoon.

People in the United States have been struggling to reach family and friends in Puerto Rico since the deadly storm made landfall on the island early Wednesday as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, killing at least seven so far.

Even celebrities -- including Jennifer Lopez and Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea -- had yet to hear from their families more than a day after the hurricane hit.

How to try to reach loved ones in Puerto Rico:

  • Email Puerto Rico's disaster relief team at maria1@prfaa.pr.gov. Because of high volume, officials are asking that people only send one email and no follow-ups. Include as much information about the people you are concerned about and your contact information.
  • Call the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration's Washington, D.C., office at at 202-800-3133 or 202-800-3134. Staffers are taking names and numbers to develop plans on conducting welfare checks.
  • Call local Puerto Rico radio station WIPR at 787-777-0940.
  • Use the Red Cross' Safe and Well database, where survivors can mark themselves as safe and family members can search through the list of registrants.