Anguished Cubans in South Florida turned to telephones and radios Friday as they sought the latest details on how relatives in Cuba were faring as Hurricane Lili plowed through the island.
Some, who had already made arrangements to travel to Cuba, arrived at Miami International Airport early in the day, eager to learn if they'd be able to fly to the island and help their relatives.
``This is going to be the finishing blow for a Cuba that's already devastated,'' said Rosa Morales, hours before boarding a Havana-bound jet. ``I spoke with my relatives and everyone is fine. It's raining a lot, but nothing grave has happened.''
All through the night and into the dawn, Miamians tried to phone their relatives to find out how they were and how they had been treated by Lili.
Some turned to Spanish-language radio stations. WAQI-Radio Mambi (710 AM) patched incoming phone lines to their broadcast microphones, so South Florida callers could direct their messages to relatives in Cuba.
Rodobaldo Rodriguez sent greetings ``to my entire family'' in Sagua la Grande, a town in Villaclara province, with whom he had talked that morning on the phone.
Rodriguez described the situation in his hometown as ``the pits.'' His mother told him that looters were ransacking the homes of people who had been taken to shelters.
A woman told her relatives in Havana, Isabela de Sagua and Quemado de Güines -- two towns in Villaclara province -- that ``we're praying a lot, asking God to help and protect you.''
Despite concern over the fate of relatives and friends in Cuba, passengers who boarded the ABC Charters plane to Havana appeared calm.
Several carried kerosene lamps, in case their relatives' homes were without electricity.
After listening to news reports, Lucia Morales bought a couple of lamps, medicine, ``and a few other things,'' just in case. She toted two duffel bags, one handbag and a bag with the lamps.
At the airport, she learned that her hometown of Sagua la Grande might be hit by Lili.
``Don't tell me that,'' said Morales, who traveled with husband Aldo and two small children. ``My whole family is there. I thought [Sagua] would not be in danger.''
She said she was grateful that her trip, planned weeks earlier, coincided with the arrival of the storm, she said, because she can now help her relatives at a time when they need it most.
``Even if everything is smashed into kindling, it's still our hometown,'' Morales said. ``We must help.''
Copyright © 1996 The Miami Herald