The cellphone call lasted less than one minute.

It was Nydia Stuart’s sister, Miriam, on the line, calling from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.

"We are OK," Miriam Stuart said. "But there is no water. No electricity. We just want to get out of here."

Then the line went dead. That was Friday. Nydia Stuart, a 58-year-old native of Puerto Rico who lives in Glendale, hasn't heard from her sister since. When she tries to call Puerto Rico, there is no signal or the call goes straight to voice mail.

Stuart's experience is common among many of the Puerto Ricans living in Arizona. A week after Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico, knocking out power, cellphone service and causing catastrophic devastation on the island, Puerto Ricans living on the mainland are still desperately trying to make contact with loved ones back home.

At least 16 people in Puerto Rico have died due to the hurricane, according to news reports.

Many including Stuart have turned their frustration toward President Donald Trump, who they believe has been slow to respond to the developing crisis gripping Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory home to 3.4 million Americans.

"We are USA citizens and we need his help," Stuart said. "I think he has been neglecting Puerto Rico for whatever reason, but we need his support now."

Amid mounting criticism, Trump announced Tuesday that he will travel to Puerto Rico next Tuesday, saying he did not want to interfere with the work of first-responders.

"I feel he should have been there yesterday because the Puerto Rican people really need your help. We need food. We need water. There are people who are dying and I feel like everybody is turning their back on us, especially the president."

Sending help from Arizona

Stuart is founder of the Puerto Rican Center of Arizona, a non-profit organization that promotes Puerto Rican culture.

The group is organizing a drive to collect bottled water, canned food, clothing, batteries, diapers, first-aid kits and other necessities to ship to Puerto Rico.

TO DONATE: See the list of drop-off locations at the end of this article

On Tuesday, a steady stream of people arrived at the Puerto Rican Latin Bar and Grill to drop off supplies. The restaurant near 27th Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix is one of several locations around the Valley collecting supplies to be shipped to Puerto Rico.

Sitting at a table waiting for his lunch, Daniel Ortiz, a 64-year-old Surprise resident, said he has been worried sick about his 84-year-old mother, Andrea Robles, who lives in Fajardo, on the eastern end of Puerto Rico about 40 miles from San Juan, the capital. He has been unable to make contact with her since Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm, packing 155 mph winds.

"It's almost like losing a child," Ortiz said, holding back tears. "It's just (a feeling of) desperation, raw emotion. I try to think positive, not negative, but it's still tough."

Ortiz said his mother lives with his sister. He's been calling and texting them three or four times a day.

"It just goes to voice mail," he said.

Sitting at another table, 88-year-old Carmen Waetje, took out her cellphone and dialed her cousin in Puerto Rico. All she heard on the other end was a busy signal.

"I am stewing like crazy," Waetje said, not knowing, "Are they getting food? Are they getting water? Are they getting flooded? Are they dry?"

FEMA is sending 10 satellite phones to help with communications and is encouraging people to use social media to help find people and let others know how relatives are doing.

Ortiz said some of his relatives have been trying to reach relatives using Facebook but have had no luck.

Elizabeth Reyes, 33, who works at the Puerto Rican Latin Bar and Grill, moved to Phoenix two years ago from Toa Alta, a town in the mountains west of San Juan. She also has been unable to reach her family back home, including her 63-year-old mother, her 93-year-old grandmother, her 36-year-old sister and 4-year-old nephew.

The few text messages she has received from friends on the island have painted a grim picture.

"The whole island suffered greatly," one friend texted. "No electricity. No communication. And many of the radio towers have collapsed. We are alive, and living."

Many Puerto Ricans living on the mainland are desperately trying to get relatives on flights out of Puerto Rico to the U.S.

DIAZ: We're failing Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, but why?

Stuart said she has a brother in Florida who already bought plane tickets for her mother and stepfather, who is also in his 80s, and her sister and a brother, who is in his 50s and has a disability.

But the earliest her brother could book flights was Oct. 9, because the main airport in San Juan was badly damaged by the storm and flights to the mainland are severely limited.

"The airline told him there is no guarantee they will even be able to get on those flights," Stuart said.

'It's been simply overwhelming'

About 11,000 people born in Puerto Rico live in Arizona, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Stuart said as many as 60,000 people of Puerto Rican descent live here.

Stuart's Puerto Rican relatives live in Maunabo, on the southeastern end of the island, which took the brunt of the storm. Her sister had to drive to Humacoa to get cellphone reception. The drive usually takes 20 minutes. But because there was so much debris and so many downed power lines, it took her two hours. On top of that, the authorities have enacted a curfew, limiting the hours people can leave their homes, Stuart said.

Wesley Andujar, the owner of Puerto Rico Latin Bar and Grill, said donations have been pouring in since the restaurant began receiving supplies on Friday.

On Tuesday, stacks of bottled water and other supplies filled the rear of the restaurants, the restaurant's office and a hallway leading to the restrooms.

"At least 10 pickup loads of stuff have already gone out of here," he said. "It's been simply overwhelming."

The supplies are being loaded into a semitruck parked at Sweet Land Cakes, a Puerto Rican bakery near 47th Street and Thomas Road.

From there, the supplies will be trucked to Miami, and then either flown or shipped to Puerto Rico, Stuart said.

Donation drop-off locations

— Sweet Land Cakes, 4747 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix.

— Puerto Rico Latin Bar and Grill, 2714 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix.

— Azukar Coffee, 7246 S. Central Ave., Phoenix.

— Fair Trade Cafe, 1020 First Ave., Phoenix.

— NYC Beauty Salon, 1616 W. Main St., Mesa.

— Millie's Cafe, 1916 W. Baseline Road, #10, Mesa.

Requested items

— D batteries.

— Flashlights.

— AA batteries.

— Baby formula.

— Diapers.

— Women's hygiene products.

— Canned food.

— Clothing, including underwear and socks.

— Toiletries.

— Bottled water.

— Electric generators.

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