Running on Fumes: Preventable Public Health Failures and Mishaps Post-Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico

Abstract

Emergency preparedness programs that were in place for Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria struck were disconcerting on a local and national level. After highlighting some of the hurricane’s physical and financial effects on Puerto Rico, I describe the emergency response survivors received in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, or lack thereof. Lack of foresight as well as lack of support from government entities created preventable issues that affected hurricane survivors for months after the storm. I provide recommendations for how some of the pitfalls of emergency relief efforts post Hurricane María could be prevented, including verifying the legitimacy of FEMA contractors, replenishing FEMA warehouses speedily, establishing specific local procedures for disaster relief, and treating hurricane survivors across the nation equally, regardless of their ethnicity or socio-economic status. I also highlight the importance of providing fuel, electric generators, and personnel to restore electricity as soon as possible after a hurricane, given that electricity has become an essential aspect of modern life and an integral component of public health infrastructure, especially in communities with limited resources.