Westporter Paul Weismann brought supplies and took people back to Florida. Photo: Facebook/Paul Weismann
Westport pilot Paul Weismann flew to Puerto Rico last week on his personal plane, with food, water, and power generators as his passengers.
He capped off this risky volunteer rescue effort by filling the plane with young children, mothers and senior citizens, and taking them to safety in Florida.
“You fly over Puerto Rico on the way to the airport, and you see the place is wrecked,” Weismann told The Daily Beast, describing the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria. At night, “a few streets and highways are lit up, because of people and businesses with generators. But the rest of the island was just pitch black.”
Unloading supplies in Carolina, P.R. Photo: Facebook/Paul Weismann
By trade, Weismann is an investor, but he also works with Patient Airlift Services (PALS), a network of volunteer pilots. PALS mobilized pilots from across the U.S. to help Texas, Florida, and now Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands this hurricane season.
Pilots flew at their own risk because the storm disabled several traffic-control radars in San Juan.
From a hotel in Florida on Sept. 28, Weismann wrote on Facebook that he had just dropped off 1,500 pounds of generators, medical supplies, food and water down to San Juan.
Weismann, on right, also took provisions to Dominica. Photo: Facebook/Paul Weissman
On his small plane, he squeezed in more than a dozen women, children and seniors.
"Yes, all those people fit! They were so happy to get out and they had to leave their loved ones behind. A lot of tears were shed as the mamas and babies left their air traffic controller husbands behind," he wrote on Facebook.
"One guy told me, 'Now we can focus on the traffic 24/7 and get the airspace open without worrying all the time about safety security food and health of my family.' These guys are heroes," he continued. "FAA doesn't seem to be doing much for them right now, but hopefully something soon."
He also posted an ominous message.
Don't forget about Puerto Rico! Govt has taken over control of fuel supplies due to looting and gangs. Night is ruled by gangs. Puerto Rico needs more help!
This story was written with reporting from the Daily Beast
