Puerto Rico struggles to rebuild after Hurricane Maria seven years later

Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, with winds reaching 155 mph, leading to widespread devastation across the island. The storm caused extensive damage to infrastructure, leaving the entire island without power and resulting in record flooding in 13 locations. The aftermath saw a significant loss of life due to the lack of access to clean water, food, and power. Recovery efforts have been ongoing, with 86% of FEMA's projects completed as of September 2023, although challenges remain. In addition to Maria, Puerto Rico faced further crises, including back-to-back earthquakes in 2020 and multiple power outages due to explosions and fires at substations and power plants. Hurricane Fiona in September 2022 tested the improvements made to the island's infrastructure since Maria, while Hurricane Ernesto recently caused significant flooding and power outages for about half the island's population. Experts like Jorge Gonzalez-Cruz emphasize the importance of storm preparedness as a matter of justice and fairness, highlighting the unique cultural heritage of Puerto Rico. Despite the progress made, recovery efforts are described as being at a "good pace" but still require substantial work. FEMA continues to collaborate with federal partners and the Government of Puerto Rico to address the ongoing recovery mission. As National Hispanic Heritage Month begins, FEMA acknowledges the contributions of its Hispanic and Latino Employee Resource Group, which plays a crucial role in leading recovery efforts on the island.