Hurricane Maria: Orlando doctor delivers supplies to Puerto Rico

ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando doctor and a team of medical personnel boarded a Cessna plane Tuesday morning at Orlando Executive Airport to deliver supplies to the hurricane-ravaged island of Puerto Rico.

Dr. Arcilio Alvarado said aiding the island's recovery in the wake of Hurricane Maria would the biggest challenge of his career. His mission: to reopen a primary care facility.

"That way we can ... continue the care .. for patients (who) are diabetics (or who have) hypertension," he said. "We can provide that care as soon as possible."

Alvarado transformed his Orlando and Kissimmee clinics into drop-off sites for items, such as canned food and bottled water.

"There is no power, no food, no water," he said. "It's my island, my people."

Some of the supplies Alvarado collected have been shipped to the island already, and others will be shipped after his arrival.

Alvarado said other staff members will fly to the island on commercial flights.

Cox Media Group