Cabrera, who himself is Salvadoran, has been keeping in touch with his loved ones via instant messaging. I e-mailed them the day of the earthquake asking if they were OK and to contact me. A day or so later, I was surfing the Web when they instant-messaged me. But not everyone has been so fortunate. Only a fraction of the population has phone or Internet access.
Most people are lucky if they have electricity in their homes.
Sutter's aunts in San Salvador called her family immediately after the quake to say they were unharmed. Doris Figueroa wasn't so lucky. The motel maid was still waiting to hear from her parents and four brothers, who live on the outskirts of the capital. Maybe I'll try sending a letter. Elisa Batista contributed to this report.