MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Over the last two weeks, Hurricane Isaias has affected portions of the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, along with the east coast of the United States. Labeled as a Category 1 hurricane, Isaias has caused catastrophic damage to may in these areas.
 
Unfortunately, West Virginia University women's basketball sophomore forward Esmery Martinez and the people in her native Dominican Republic have also felt the wrath of Hurricane Isaias. Martinez's hometown of Hato Mayor del Ray suffered catastrophic damage due to the storm, with more than 335,000 people without water service and more than 72,000 experiencing power outages.
 
Martinez's family also suffered great loss due to Hurricane Isaias, including ruinous damages to her childhood home. During the storm, Martinez's grandmother, Atlagracia, had the roof of her home collapse due to high-speed, in addition to the home sustaining flood damage.
 
Martinez's family was able to evacuate the area before Hurricane Isaias struck their hometown. However, she was not able to contact her family for a few days due to widespread power outages in the eastern portion of the Dominican Republic.
 
Martinez lived with her grandmother in Hato Mayor del Ray until her sophomore year of high school, before she came to the United States to play basketball at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for her junior and senior seasons.
 
In order to provide additional relief and aid, a GoFundMe account has been established to raise funds that will benefit Martinez's family. Any and all donations will go towards purchasing furniture, cleaning supplies, electronics, appliances, kitchen supplies, clothing, shoes, bedding, towels, pillows and food.
 
To support Martinez and WVU's Hurricane Isaias relief efforts, please donate at GoFundMe.com or by visiting the link at the top of this story.