Sun Herald, Biloxi
Coast couple returns to U.S. after being stranded by Peru’s coronavirus lockdown
By Alyssa Newton
Fifteen days after a Gulfport couple was stranded in Peru after the country closed its borders, the two are back home and on American soil.
JP and Samantha Stimpson arrived back in Mississippi on Sunday night. The Coast natives said they are happy that after “many days of confusion and chaos,” the U.S. Embassy brought in a senior official, Julie Chung, to help organize repatriation flights.
“Once she was brought on board to help the situation, things began running smoothly and quickly.” Samantha said. The couple had before struggled with communication with the U.S. Embassy.
“While there are still several Americans stuck in Peru, it seems that there is a plan to get them all out within the next few days. We are so glad to be back.”
The Gulfport couple return to their home and small business, Himalayan Exchange on Pass Road. Many businesses have been impacted from the coronavirus nationwide and on the Mississippi Coast as locals are told to practice social distancing and stay home.
JP and Samantha wished to thanks all “friends and strangers alike” for helping them through a “tough time.” The couple said they received support from multiple local politicians, including U.S. Sen. Hyde-Smith and Rep. Steven Palazzo, to help them get back home.
Facebook:
Jp Simpson is with Samantha Simpson in Cusco, Peru.
March 28 at 9:53 PM
We have finally gotten our flight out! ? Extreme love and gratitude to all our family friends that helped us, and a big thank you to those who helped us financially. It undid all my tags for some reason but I hope you see this post and know our gratitude! ❤️ we appreciate the support of multiple government offices. Mrs Myrtis Franke And Umesh Sanjanwala w/ Senator Hyde-Smith, Kathy Thomas with Steven Palazzo, James Edward Bates for his connections with many government friends, Kim from Wicker’s office, Shawn w/ Senator Cassidy, Sunshine Ison w/ the Embassy, and many many more. (If I forgot to list you, that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate you it just means I’m having trouble locating everyone ?)
Thank you: my parents, Sam’s parents, Mike Gentry Marcel A. Kinnard Christa Jones Sha Stanton Jones Crystal Coleman Alicia Hobbs Amber Ellis Gena Nicholes Olivia Appel John Taylor Wesley Zacharia Harris Raina Parker Aubrey Kartz Drake Ferrer Charles Braziel Ashley Danielle Garcia Keandra Jasmonai' Poole Jada Oliver Gabrealle Elaine Shawn Chambers Jason Barnett Joel Powell Jennifer Carson Timidaiski Micah Alexander Longmire Kaylee Ellerbe Joseph Stanelun Tamara Fretwell-McNelis Ashlyn Shanaya Scott Larochelle Chelsea Rene Kasey McInis Powell Hands to Heart Reiki Healing by Tiffany Jc Pinedo Schalita Kiyota Catalina Guillory Cortlan Guillory Taylor Grace Reeves “cone of negative energy” “art and design” Mickey Smelser Lmt Nicole Johns Jessica Patten Ashley Howe Kevin Walker Amy Martin Charles Simpson Marilyn Georgeann Kariean Chris Crow Kathy Simmons Cobb Richard Haskell Ben Campbell Linda Wilson Colton Powell Addis Villarreal Milly Moulin Rouge-Grimlyn Melissa Shepard Jimmy Tran Christine Basilin Smart Aaron Shuff Damion Polk “bring it on” Brianna Mortimer Alliyauh Walker
Without all of you helping us through this time of need I don’t know where we would be. We fly out tomorrow, and will be home Monday afternoon!
Original story:
March 17, 2020
What was supposed to be a birthday getaway for a Gulfport couple quickly turned into a nightmare when the president of the country announced a lockdown.
Gulfport natives JP and Samantha Simpson left for Lima, Peru, on March 12 and then three days later came to Cusco, a small mountain town that’s the launching point for 15th-century Incan citadel Machu Picchu.
“We thought when we got here it wasn’t bad at all. No one was really worried about it,” Samantha said. “We thought if we were going to get stuck we’d have at least 48 hours notice.”
She said that their situation quickly changed after arriving in Cusco on Saturday.
Peru’s president Martin Vizcarra announced on Sunday that Peru would close its borders to curb the spread of the disease. Vizcarra also called on citizens to self-quarantine for 15 days after 71 cases of coronavirus were confirmed In the country.
“It happened so fast. It went from a few people wearing masks and tourists everywhere, to lockdown in 24 hours. Instantly. The president was trying to stay ahead, and that’s great. We just had no time to get out.”
The couple was in bed when JP looked at his phone in the middle of the night and saw the announcement. They then stayed up all night trying to book flights home before the 24-hour deadline was up.
“There was nothing,” Samantha said. “All the lines were busy. We couldn’t go to the airport because It was just a madhouse. It was impossible to book tickets.”
They were able to finally book a flight for Tuesday and pay, but it was then canceled as the borders closed, leaving them in a small 15-room hotel in the mountain town.
The couple said they’re lucky to have found an affordable place to stay that gave them a discount due to their circumstances. But until the lockdown Is lifted, they will be stuck.
“They cook us breakfast and only charge us $5, $6 for lunch and dinner. They gave us our room for $30 a night,” Samantha said. “But for 15 days that’s going to add up.”
The streets of Cusco are closed, no one is allowed to walk outside. The only stores open are pharmacies and small markets. All of the supermarkets and other larger businesses are closed as well.
“We’re trying to stay positive,” JP said. “We’ve only been In the country a few days and it feels like a year. The lockdown only happened yesterday and it’s felt like days the time passes really slowly.”
Samantha and JP also own a small business in Gulfport, Himalayan Exchange on Pass Road. While they’re worried about what they’re going through thousands of miles away, they have seen the escalation back home in the United States.
Mississippi has confirmed 21 cases in the state. Schools have closed for at least another week, and Coast casinos closed at midnight Monday.
“We have rent due on the first,” JP said. “I haven’t been able to talk to my landlord, and my high school little brother is taking care of the store. We’ve seen what’s happened with the casinos closing, and it’s hard to run a business when you’re out of the country.”
They are only two of hundreds of Americans trapped in Peru after the boarders were closed. Through the experience, they’ve bonded with others In their small hotel, creating a WhatsApp group chat to keep in contact.
Another stranded American family created a spreadsheet of all those who where stuck In the country to send to the American Embassy.
The Simpsons said they haven’t had any luck trying to get in contact with officials to help them get out. They said they’ve talk to some who have reached the embassy but were told there was nothing they could do, to find accommodations, and keep up with the embassy’s website.
JP said that he’s seen communications from the British Embassy telling their citizens that they are working on a solution and is frustrated that they have heard nothing from the United States.
“The U.S. has done nothing,” JP said. He’s seen the aid announcements and proposals to help the stock market and those affected by the coronavirus in the states. He hopes that the U.S. would help the citizens who are trapped in other countries.
“I’m all about the aid to keep the stock market from crashing, but you have American citizens stuck in other countries that need help. I think that’s important, too.”
The Simpsons said that they’re some of the lucky ones, that there are others who need to return to the states and are in need more than they are. A medical student group from South Alabama, a pregnant mother, doctors and older people are a few of the 200-plus Americans in the small mountain town.
“We wouldn’t have come if we knew this was going to be the case,” Samantha said. “We were watching the news closely and there was nothing about Peru. We made sure to try and keep up with what was happening here.”
The couple shortened their trip in caution before the announcement, but there wasn’t enough time for them to leave before the country closed its borders.
They’re now hoping that their friends and community could lend a helping hand by making a phone call to their local government officials.
They hope that the messages of those in the states to local government will help the more than 200 Americans stuck thousands of miles away.
“They need help. Some of them can’t afford to stay In hotels this long.” Samantha said.
For now, the couple is scheduled to fly back home at midnight April 2.
“It could be worse, but we wouldn’t have come If we would have known this would be the case.” Samantha said.