"We boarded up windows and we just remained inside. We are now just coming outside and there are a lot of down trees. Some rivers are overflowing," she said.
Ortiz said they lost power Sunday afternoon.
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center Executive Director Omar Torres-Kortright said his wife is in Puerto Rico to help care for her ill father.
WATCH: Former Chicagoan in Puerto Rico speaks about devastating storm
Former Chicagoan in Puerto Rico speaks about devastating storm
He said he's worried not for his family, but also for people on the island.
"I am in this moment where there's just so many emotions and so many things that are going through my mind," Torres-Kortright said.
Just before Hurricane Fiona struck over the weekend, former Illinois congressman Luis Guiterrez boarded a previously planned flight to Chicago.
"I was on one of the last flights off of the island on Saturday morning," he said. "This is a very devastating storm in Puerto Rico."
Fiona struck almost five years to the day that Hurricane Maria hit the island. The Category 4 storm destroyed Puerto Rico's power grid and caused nearly 3,000 deaths.
On Sunday afternoon, Fiona, a Category 1 storm, took out the entire electric system.
"We have to have real conversations about building an infrastructure that can sustain itself," said Jessie Fuentes with The Puerto Rican Agenda.
Sachayra Cintron, a Humboldt Park pastry shop owner, moved her family back to Chicago right before Maria hit due to the fragile power grid.
She's been trying to reach family and friends in Puerto Rico.
"I have received one or two text messages just stating that they're OK," Cintron said.
Puerto Rican organizations in Chicago are working on a plan of action to help the people who are suffering.
"After Hurricane Maria we put together a campaign called three R's for Puerto Rico: rescue, relief and rebuild. We are ready to activate any component of that campaign," Fuentes said.