Part 2
(Section 7B)
The Aftermath
Government Failure: The Long Wait
Patricia Mazzei and Omaya Sosa Pascual, “‘Days were lost’: Why Puerto Rico is still suffering a month after Hurricane Maria“, Miami Herald, October 19, 2017.
Summary
Written a month after Hurricane María hit the Island, but while it is still experiencing dire conditions, this article discusses the federal, state, and local bureaucracies that were unprepared to provide aid for an entire island. Among many details, the article goes through the lack of preparation before María hit, the faulty decisions made by PREPA (the bankrupt power utility) and how the flooding of key sites and the lack of communication further delayed the arrival of aid. Moreover, the article expands on President Trump’s slow response and how the steps eventually taken by the federal government proved inefficient.
Ed Morales, “Puerto Rico Needs Massive Emergency Aid Now—and an End to Austerity,” The Nation, September 27, 2017.
This article condemns the Trump administration’s laconic response as well a the tweet where President Trump addresses both Hurricane María’s effects as well as the Island’s debt. Instead, the federal government must abandon the austerity approach it has been implementing on the Island. The Hurricane’s destruction has only made more evident the fact that the Financial Oversight and Management Board’s austere approach hurts the economy instead of catalyzing economic growth.Marisol LeBrón, “Congress could help Puerto Rico recover. What’s stopping it?,” The Guardian, September 27, 2017.
Summary
Because the Fiscal Control Board oversees Puerto Rico’s finances and decides how to allocate funds, there is fear that funds will only go towards recovery efforts that allow bondholders to be paid back. This article problematizes other approaches of La Junta towards Hurricane María’s destruction, such as desires for privatization and emphasis on restoring economic growth quickly that will only intensify an uneven distribution of funds, leaving the most vulnerable populations to suffer. The author suggests effective actions that Congress should take.
“Juan González: Puerto Rico’s Financial Control Board Worsened Crisis After Hurricane Maria,” Democracy Now, October 2, 2017.
Summary
In this brief interview, Juan González discusses the multiple ways in which the federal and local government did not prepare for Hurricane María and how they are failing the citizens that depend on them for assistance. As he explains, Puerto Ricans’ possibilities are extremely limited, considering that the government is bankrupt and that the Island is under complete control of the Financial Control Board.
Nelson Denis, “The Jones Act: The Law Strangling Puerto Rico,” The New York Times, September 25, 2017.
Summary
This article focuses on the Jones Act, or the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, explaining its origins and how it has outlived its original intent and now negatively affects Puerto Rico’s economy. Studies show that the Jones Act costs Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska around 2.8 billion to 9.8 billion dollars a year, which needs to be taken into consideration when considering solutions to the Island’s debt. The author explains the current attempts to repeal or suspend the law and how this would contribute to the Island’s recovery efforts.
En español: En medio de una “devastación inimaginable el gobierno de Estados Unidos está ignorando a Puerto Rico” Democracy Now, September 26, 2017.
Summary
In this interview, Amy Goodman asks Yarimar Bonilla about the devastation provoked by Hurricane María and about the federal government’s responses. Bonilla expounds on the Island-wide suffering and the federal government’s lacking response. The Island’s political status, as well as its colonial laws, like the Jones Act, prevent citizens from receiving the help they need, which includes managing the health crises due to factors such as contaminated water.
Rafael Bernabe, “Algunas lecciones del huracán,” 80grados, October 6, 2017.
Summary
The author of this article reflects on how the Island must reconstruct itself after Hurricane María. As he explains, the inadequate response reveals many problems that must be fixed during reconstruction, such as an efficient system of public transportation, better health programs, etc. Furthermore, the author challenges PROMESA’s attempt to charge citizens for the debt following this disaster and the impending need for mobilization to demand an appropriate economic reconstruction.
John D. Sutter “La Ruta de Maria: A Journey along the path of the hurricane” CNN.com January 12, 2018.
Summary
The Army Corps was responsible for the Blue Roof program in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María. Because so many households became exposed to the elements, this program consists of installing tarps, or temporary roofs. While these were widely solicited, many did not qualify, and tens of thousands of applicants waited for help to arrive. Besides discussing the Blue Roof Program and its limitations, the author of the article describes his travels around the Island and the necessity that he encountered.
Oliver Laughland, “Ten Months without Power: The Puerto Ricans Still Without Electricity,” The Guardian, August 8, 2018.
Summary
This article looks at the population of Puerto Rico that is still without power. This population consists of poorer remote communities who are not a priority for PREPA, and have to adapt to having limited access to power. These communities are at the mercy of the corrupt bureaucracy that is PREPA. While the linesmen have been overworked getting the power restored under dangerous conditions, PREPA has undergone several scandals and five different CEOs in under a year. The government has also transferred part of the restoration work to private companies who were paid higher wages than PREPA linesmen.
Omaya Sosa Pascual and John D. Sutter, “Investigación CPI+CNN: Puerto Rico tuvo un brote de leptospirosis tras el huracán María, pero el gobierno no lo dice,” Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, July 3, 2018.
Summary
This article discusses the leptospirosis epidemic that hit Puerto Rico and the blatant denial by the government. The database of causes of death in Puerto Rico attributes 26 deaths to leptospirosis – a disease that is transmitted through soil and water. Focusing on two specific deaths, which were not included in the original death count of 64, the article claims that these men were ill-equipped emergency response workers who spent time in contaminated flood waters. Unfortunately, leptospirosis is rarely fatal and easily cured with antibiotics. This epidemic just reflects the gross negligence of the government.
Imperial Disdain
Caitlin Dewey, “Seven weeks after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans still can’t access programs that fed millions in Texas and Florida” Washington Post November 7, 2017.
Summary
This article shows the discrepancy regarding the resources received by Puerto Ricans in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria compared to Texas and Florida after hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Aside from not receiving the same type of supplies – Puerto Ricans received junk food in many instances – they also did not receive emergency food stamps. This is because, unlike states, the island has a capped annual budget allocated for emergencies.
Jenna Johnson, “Many Trump voters who got hurricane relief in Texas aren’t sure Puerto Ricans should,” Washington Post, October 20, 2017.
Summary
This article lays out the divided sentiment between Trump followers regarding Puerto Rico getting enough aid post Maria. Three-fourths of Democrats feel that the federal government isn’t’ doing enough, while three-fourths of Republicans feel that it is.
Jamelle Bouie, “Trump’s poor response to Puerto Rico is no surprise,” Slate, October 4, 2017.
Summary
In a direct challenge to Trump’s placement of blame on Puerto Rico’s local government and its debt, this article holds the White House accountable for Puerto Rico’s dire conditions after Hurricane María. Trump’s responses to the disaster were consistently lacking. This article cites many of Trump’s statements and tweets where the U.S. president reveals his “racial demagoguery.”
Alan Aja and Reynaldo Ortiz-Minaya, “Jim Crow FEMA: How Trump’s Disastrous Hurricane María Response Highlights U.S. Debt Owed to Puerto Rico,” Latino Rebels, September 29, 2017.
Summary
Puerto Rico’s unequal treatment becomes evident when one compares the federal government disaster spending on the Island and on the Mainland. Thus, the author of this article uses the term “Jim Crow FEMA” to refer to this phenomenon, in which some people deserve aid more than others. The article widely condemns the US’ imperialist and neoliberal practices, by which relegating Puerto Ricans as second-class citizens comprise only one feature.
Aaron Blake, “Trump’s half-baked Puerto Rico photo op, annotated,” The Washington Post, October 3, 2017.
Summary
This Washington Post article analyses and annotates President Trump’s performance in Puerto Rico days after hurricane Maria hit. Blake looks at key comments made by Trump and either expanded on his thoughts using previous Trump speeches or negated his words with facts.
Jessica Mulligan and Adriana Garriga-López, “Bringing Paper Towels to a Flood,” Huffington Post, October 12, 2017.
Summary
This article describes Trump’s visit to the Island two weeks after Hurricane María hit and how he “spun the story” by minimizing the scale of the disaster. His claims that recovery has been successful do not correlate with reality: recovery is not directed by locals nor responsive to them; help comes with strings attached, such as having to pay for FEMA; and there is no reinvestment in public infrastructure. Trump’s failing emergency response is combined with the serious risk of disaster capitalists.
Maritza Stanchich, “In aftermath of María: Trump vs. Puerto Rico,” The Huffington Post, October 5, 2017.
Summary
The author of this article describes Trump’s visit to Puerto Rico as “downright insulting.” While many struggle to receive medical needs, some areas are completely isolated, and others make a great effort to receive food, the President spun the news by stating, for instance, that only 16 people had died. The author calls for an elimination of the Jones Act and of the Fiscal Control Board, even as she describes the fears of accelerated privatization.
Jacob Pramuk. “Trump signs $19 billion disaster relief bill and says Puerto Rico ‘should love’ him,” CNBC, June 6, 2019.
Summary
Donald Trump has been against sending additional relief funding to Puerto Rico. This article describes Trump’s responses to Democrats attempts to add Puerto Rico to the bill which was helping some US states affected by natural disasters. For instance, Trump incorrectly stated that Puerto Rico had already received more money by Congress for hurricane disaster relief than any state. However, House Republicans joined the Democrats and managed to pass an emergency relief bill from which Puerto Rico will benefit.
Sebastian Murdock, “Flint Mayor Sends Letter To San Juan Mayor Sharing Outrage Over Trump,” The Huffington Post, October 5, 2017.
Summary
Karen Weaver, the mayor of Flint, Michigan, sent a supportive letter to Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan. The article includes the full letter, but also describes its key points, in which Weaver critiques President Trump’s responses to the Island’s crisis. She praises Yulín Cruz for her incessant efforts for her community.
Carla Minet, “El escupitajo de Trump a Puerto Rico,” Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, October 5, 2017.
Summary
During President Trump’s visit he avoided the poorest areas, visiting instead Guaynabo, one of the most privileged towns. Describing the visit as a “circus,” the article expresses anger towards his unhelpful aid and his untruthful claim of 16 deaths, despite many articles that discuss the problematic politics of counting the dead. Furthermore, the author critiques Governor Rosselló for not being vocal and firm about the federal government’s lacking aid and the Island’s needs.
Sandra Rodriguez Cotto “Jorobao Park” Noticel November 02, 2017.
Summary
This article compares Puerto Rico’s post-María reality to a park in Disneyland, where recuperation is kept at a slow speed to allow visitors to continue coming to gawk at the Island’s destruction. However, the inhabitants of “Jorobao’ Park” are reaching their limit and many are leaving, searching for the real Magic Kingdom in the US.
Amelia Strauss, “Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Plan Shrouded in Secrecy,” Project on Government Oversight, December 18, 2017.
Summary
This article criticizes the fact that FEMA declined to make the disaster preparedness plan for Puerto Rico public. These plans are not required to be private and is intended for everyone from federal officials to volunteer organizations and the public. Not knowing the plan essentially kept the public in the dark and locals did not know when necessary services would be restored.
Sara Kiley Watson, “Food Aid to Puerto Rico is Salty, Sugary, and Unbalanced, Researcher Says,” NPR, June 22, 2018.
Summary
This article criticizes the food aid provided to Puerto Ricans who were left without a reliable food source after Maria. The food that many were given lacked nutritional value and was made up mostly of junk food or processed foods with added sugars. Many of the canned vegetables exceeded the recommended content of sodium. A meal plan with these foods would exceed the daily recommendations for sodium, added sugar, and saturated fats. This is especially concerning when 30 to 35% of Puerto Rican adults are obese. Many criticized FEMA’s lax guidelines for accepting food and call for more monitoring of food aid and the nutritional value these displaced people are receiving.
Frances Negrón-Muntaner, “Our Fellow Americans: Why calling Puerto Ricans ‘Americans’ Will not save them,” Dissent, January 10, 2018.
Summary
This article criticizes how instead of providing Puerto Ricans the help they deserve, many other Americans, including the federal government, have called them “My fellow Americans”. Many U.S journalists used this tactic to garner sympathy and support while maintaining pressure on the federal government to provide more help. While this distinction is new and was done with the intention to unite the country behind Puerto Rico, it is still problematic in that many may not have helped out had it not been made clear that these are American citizens.
Disaster Capitalism
Yarimar Bonilla, “Why would anyone in Puerto Rico want a hurricane? Because someone will get rich.,” The Washington Post, September 22, 2017.
Summary
While many see Puerto Rico’s calls for aid after Hurricane María as an economic burden, various businesses and wealthy people benefit economically from disasters. This article provides the context of these practices: for instance, Puerto Rico’s colonial relationship to the US gives way to a high rate of income inequality, inflated prices, and provides the conditions for national corporations to proliferate. Thus, the article highlights the ways in which the Island’s vulnerability is created by colonial conditions and not merely by exposure to natural disasters.
“’Disaster Capitalism’ and the Attempts to Privatize Puerto Rico,” The Takeaway (WNYC), October 4, 2017.
Summary
There are free market policies in place for companies to exploit populations after disasters. In this interview, Naomi Klein discusses the threats of privatization after Hurricane María and how they constitute a form of disaster capitalism—that is, this agenda of privatization is being strategically pushed in times of disasters.
Kate Aronoff, Angel Manuel Soto, and Averie Timm, “Hurricane Irma Unleashes the Forces of Privatization in Puerto Rico,” The Intercept, September 12, 2017.
Summary
This article comprises an in-depth discussion of the history and context of the threats to privatize Puerto Rico’s electricity provider, PREPA, or the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. Even before the hurricane, PREPA’s privatization was on the table, given that privatization is a typical method for bankrupt governments to make money quickly. Furthermore, this article explores some of the reasons that PREPA has been falling behind and discusses the real need for an updated energy system. Attempts at restructuring that did not include privatization were put forth, but were rejected by the Fiscal Oversight Board.
Derek Royden, “Perfect storms? From Katrina to Maria, some would profit from catastrophe,” Nation of Change, October 7, 2017.
Summary
The changes that New Orleans underwent after Hurricane Katrina can help elucidate the threats that Puerto Rico faces after Hurricane María. This article discusses factors, such as New Orleans’ demographic change and pervasive privatization. Puerto Rico is even more at risk than New Orleans, considering that it does not have all the legal protections that New Orleans has, as a city within an American state.
Joanisabel González and Gloria Ruiz Kulian, “Power recovery: Contracts ten times more expensive,” El Nuevo Día, October 25, 2017.
Summary
PREPA hired two private companies, Whitefish Energy Holdings and Cobra Acquisitions LLC to aid in the repairing of the electrical system after Hurricane María. This article explains various reasons why these contracts became very controversial. For instance, there was not a proper bidding process to choose them and their services cost customers at least 10 times more than they would pay if the public corporation had the necessary personnel. The article also elucidates how the cost structures of each company vary.
Frances Robles, “The Lineman Got $63 an hour. The Utility was Billed $319 an hour,” New York Times, November 12, 2017.
Summary
This article provides details regarding the salaries of the Whitefish employees hired from Florida by the small energy outfit from Montana that did not have enough employees of its own. PREPA withdrew its contract with Whitefish after receiving criticism from federal and congressional officials, but the Whitefish contract is still being investigated by congressional committees, the FBI, and the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security. Based on multiple interviews, the article demonstrates that even when taking into consideration many factors, the labor cost figures are exorbitant.
Kate Aronoff, “There’s a Shady Puerto Rico Contract You Didn’t Hear About,” The Intercept, November 4, 2017.
Summary
This article seeks to demonstrate that the deal established between Cobra Acquisitions LLC and the Puerto Rican Electric Power Authority may be even more scandalous than the contract with Whitefish, which had previously garnered national attention. The author uncovers Cobra’s ties to the fossil fuel industry and the reasons behind the hiring of this company for Puerto Rico’s crisis, which was an even younger firm than Whitefish. Both contracts reveal PREPA’s underlying problems: lack of transparency, costly mismanagement, and repeated alliance to the fossil fuel industry.
Martín Guzmán and Joseph E. Stiglitz. “Disaster Capitalism Comes to Puerto Rico,” Project Syndicate, November 15, 2018.
Summary
After Hurricane María, Puerto Rico’s economic situation became even more dire. In this article, the authors explain that fiscal reforms and debt restructuring are necessary to improve the archipelago’s economy. However, the Fiscal Oversight Board certified a new fiscal plan and deal with bondholders which will depress the economy even further.
Benjamín Torres Gotay, “El huracán tras el huracán,” El Nuevo Día, October 29, 2017.
Summary
This article briefly goes through the multiple questionable aspects of PREPA’s contract with Whitefish and the various investigations that it provoked. The author focuses on how this reflects the Puerto Rican government’s lack of credibility and how this may affect the federal government’s attitude towards providing aid to the Island. These scandals and lies represent a second hurricane of incompetence where citizens are, again, left in the dark.
Naomi Klein, The Battle for Paradise: Puerto Rico Takes On the Disaster Capitalists. Haymarket Books, 2018.
Summary
This book looks at the disaster capitalist who had much to gain from Hurricane Maria and Irma’s impact on the US territory. Like Hurricane Katrina, many homes were left abandoned, as they were no longer livable. This leads to a race between Puerto Ricans and rich Americans who are seeking to take advantage of the island in order to remake it to their liking.
Yarimar Bonilla, “For Investors, Puerto Rico is a Fantasy Blank Slate,” The Nation, February 28, 2018.
Summary
This article looks at the proposed “restart” given to the island by Hurricane Maria according to the Puerto Rican government. The island opens its door to many corporate investors who, according to the government, will help accelerate the economy and improve the current financial crisis. These new investors, along with the proposed budget cuts by la Junta, will help rebuild the near-empty island, resulting in a demographic shift that will leave very little of the local population and have more room for investors and stakeholders. This is strengthened by the new Act 20/22, which gives a massive tax break to the wealthy, regardless if they generate employment or invest in the local economy. While the results of these new policies is uncertain, it is worth observing any potential effects they may have on the economy.
Rima Brusi, Críptidos, 80 grados, February 23, 2018.
Summary
This article discusses the emergence of cryptocurrencies in Puerto Rico. Not only is this a new type of economy, but a whole culture of people who rely on speculating on a market as volatile as the crypto market for a living. The emergence of this community can be attributed to the lax taxation laws in Puerto Rico.
Politics of Counting the Dead
Kaitlan Collins, “Trump contrasts Puerto Rico death toll to ‘a real catastrophe like Katrina,’” CNN, October 3, 2017.
Summary
This brief article describes President Trump’s comments concerning the aftermath of Hurricane María. When he visited the Island, Trump’s remarks focused on praising his administration’s response to the hurricane and on the small number of certified deaths. He contrasted Puerto Rico to Hurricane Katrina’s “real catastrophe.”
David Abel, “One man’s tale shows how casualties of Maria go beyond official death toll,” The Boston Globe, October 09, 2017.
Summary
Based on Victor Hugo Ruiz’s avoidable death, this article explains the many hazards to which citizens were exposed daily after Hurricane María. For instance, while waiting in a 30-hour line for gas, a worker at a nearby gas plant opened a valve that had been damaged and started a fire, forcing those in line to evacuate the area. Ruiz was not able to access the gas that would run his car’s battery, which was how he powered the machine that helped him treat his emphysema. His death is not included in the official death toll.
Omaya Sosa Pascual y Jeniffer Wiscovitch, “Aparecen decenas de muertos no contados por el huracán María,” Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, October 16, 2017.
Summary
The Center of Investigative Journalism had been conducting its own study of death cases not accounted for by the Puerto Rican government. This in-depth article explains the various reasons and protocols that have prevented an efficient calculation. Furthermore, it explains how many of these suffering families have been revictimized by forcing them to fulfill bureaucratic obligations at times when the government itself was not fulfilling its obligations or not operating. This forced families to stay with their loved one’s decomposing body in their house, while legal processes were continually delayed.
Omaya Sosa Pascual, “Son muchos más los muertos de María,” Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, September 28, 2017. (In English: María’s Death Toll in Puerto Rico Is Being Underreported)
Summary
This article reveals the stories behind various deaths that haven’t been recognized by the government, which firmly maintains the death toll at 16. One critical challenge has been the accumulation of cadavers at hospital morgues. Many are full and are attached to hospitals which are only partially operational. Some hospitals have even been forced to close while still containing bodies, whose status and whereabout are unknown.
“Report from Puerto Rico: Death Toll Higher Than Reported Amid Water Shortage & Health Crisis,” Democracy Now, September 29, 2017.
Summary
In this interview, Laura Moscoso, a data journalist at the Puerto Rico-based Center for Investigative Journalism, explains that the official number of deaths only takes into consideration those whose deaths were caused directly by María. As she states, many people are still living in dire conditions and aid is not being distributed fairly. Consequently, many are still dying. She also discusses President Trump’s decisions, such as his executive order that includes a curfew, his placement of peace officers, and his appointment of a three-star general to coordinate efforts.
INTERACTIVE ARTICLE: Mattathias Schwartz, “Maria’s Bodies,” New York Magazine, November 27, 2017.
Summary
Interspersed with photographs and videos that evince the destruction of the Island and hardship of the citizens, this in-depth article starts off by detailing the hurricane itself, the flooding it provoked, and the lives it took with it. Although more people drowned during Katrina due to failing levees and flood walls, in Puerto Rico infrastructure is weaker and the population is more vulnerable (the Island’s per capita income is half as much as the poorest of the 50 states). Thus, many deaths were results of these two factors—they were victims of a man-made disaster. This article provides detailed accounts of the hardships people faced after the Hurricane.
INTERACTIVE ARTICLE: Frances Robles, Kenan Davis, Sheri Fink, and Sarah Almuktar, “Official Toll in Puerto Rico: 64. Actual Deaths May be 1,052.,” The New York Times, December 9, 2017.
Summary
A review by The New York Times of daily mortality data from Puerto Rico’s vital statistics bureau found that in the 42 days after Hurricane María made landfall, 1,052 more people than usual died across the Island. The analysis compared the average number of deaths from the same days in 2015 and 2016. At the time that this article was published, the official number of deaths was at 64. The disfunction of the Island’s power grid had made record-keeping extremely challenging. Providing multiple charts and photographs, this article analyzes the reported causes of death and how the Puerto Rican government disregarded them as coincidental.
Rima Brusi, “Lo que no contamos,” 80 Grados, December 15, 2017.
Summary
Exploring the harmful incognizance related to the deaths provoked by María, this column contemplates what/who gets and does not get counted, as well as the meaning of counting and recounting. By not counting the dead, we are invisibilizing everyone’s stories and memories. If the government does not count the dead, as it should, it forces citizens to take charge of exposing the truth and, therefore, creating a path for Puerto Rico to heal and “rise up.”
Richard Harris, “Study put Puerto Rico Death Toll from Hurricane Maria Near 5,000,” NPR, May 29, 2018.
Summary
This article looks at the study put forth by the scientist at Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health that put the death toll for Hurricane Maria at 4,645 excessive deaths. By excessive deaths, the scientist determines these to be deaths that would not have occurred if the island had not gone through the storm. The process requires researchers to select 3,299 households and survey the number of deaths between them – a total of 38 – and then extrapolated it for the island’s total population of 3.4 million.
El Nuevo Día, “Harvard coloca en 4,645 la cifra de muertes relacionadas a María,” El Nuevo Día, May 29, 2018.
Summary
This article looks at the study carried out by Harvard University that places the death toll related to Hurricane Maria at 4,645. The study suggests that there was an increase in mortality rates in all age groups and that ⅓ of post-hurricane deaths were caused by a lack of medical care. These deaths only highlight the neglect by the federal government in providing support to the island.
INTERACTIVE WEBSITE: Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, Quartz, The Associated Press. “Los Muertos de María.”
Summary
This website contains an interactive database that documents the victims of Hurricane María and, primarily, victims of the local and federal government’s mismanagement and inaction. There is both a database that contains the name, age, date and place of death of the victims, as well as a timeline that includes stories told by the family members of the dead.
Arelis R. Hernández and Laurie McGinley, “Harvard study estimates thousands died in Puerto Rico because of Hurricane Maria,” The Washington Post, May 29, 2018.
Summary
This article discusses the thousands of deaths and points to health-care disruption for the elderly and a lack of basic services for the chronically ill. The statistical analysis found that deaths attributed to the hurricane fell between 800 to 8,000, so the study settled on a midpoint estimate of 4,645. With this study, Puerto Rico will be able to better prepare for future disasters.
Ana Teresa Toro, “Un luto colectivo,” El Nuevo Día, May 29, 2018.
Summary
This article explores the collective mourning process associated with the death toll of 4,645 Puerto Ricans. Unfortunately, many islanders experienced an undignified death at the hands of the neglectful document, and the lasting trauma will be difficult to overcome. It is still difficult for many people to come to terms with the high death count.
“‘Hasta Harvard se queda corto,’ asegura alcalde de Utuado.” Metro Puerto Rico, May 31 2018.
Summary
The mayor of Utado, Ernesto Irizarry Salva claims that the Harvard study falls short, and that the actual figure goes beyond 4,645. This claim comes from multiple studies and the reporting from multiple sources including funeral homes. The mayor also points at the lack of reliable energy as being a key factor in the high number of deaths.
Femmy Irizarry Álvarez, “Colocan zapatos en el Capitolio en memoria de las víctimas de María,” Primera Hora, June 1, 2018.
Summary
This article records the impromptu remembrance ceremony that included placing shoes of deceased relatives at the steps of the capital. The goal was to reach 4,645 shoes for every life lost. The organizers of this event were a group of citizens who encouraged people to leave shoes and participate with the goal to raise more awareness that 4,645 is just an estimate and the fact that many people are still in the dark about what exactly happened.
Leysa Caro González, “Se quedan sin espacio los cementerios municipales,” El Nuevo Día, April 16, 2019.
Summary
This article explains how, due to the thousands of dead after Hurricane María, the cemeteries are running out of space. In many cemeteries, the only space available is in the mausoleum, due to exhumations that allow for the newly dead to be accommodated.
Frances Robles, “Puerto Rican Government Acknowledged Death Toll of 1,427,” The New York Times, August 9, 2018.
Summary
This article discusses the fact that the Puerto Rican government acknowledged the new death toll of 1,427, a number that is 20 times more than the official death toll of 64. This acknowledgment came with a request of $139 billion for recovery relief.
Autogestión and Mutual Support
VIDEO: “‘We Cannot Wait’: Puerto Rico’s Residents Organize to Provide Food & Water After Hurricane Maria,” Democracy Now, October 2, 2017.
Summary
In this in interview, multiple people from Río Piedras speak about the self-organized relief efforts. The interviewed include a striking student from the University of Puerto Rico, an artist, and representatives from churches. These citizens have organized and lead efforts to offer services, such as cooking food, providing security, and cleaning.
Deidra O’Regan and Melissa Macaya, “All we have is us’: Ordinary people become everyday heroes in struggling Puerto Rico,” Washington Post, October 27, 2017.
Summary
This article looks at the group efforts of the many Puerto Ricans in Pirate Surf Club Hurricane Relief to help their most vulnerable population, like the elderly. This group have collected food and medical supplies and have distributed it throughout local clinics, homes, and schools.
Raquel Reichard, “How These Everyday Women Are Helping Their Communities In Puerto Rico,” Fierce Mitú, October 24, 2017.
Summary
Challenging President Trump’s accusation that the people of Puerto Rico “want everything to be done for them,” this article shows how Puerto Rican women have had to make up for the insufficient recovery aid. This article profiles several women who are sustaining their communities with their efforts. They are, for instance, connecting their generators to others with thousands of feet of cables, making lines for hours to acquire food for their neighbors, clearing debris from streets, etc.
Gerardo E. Alvarado León. “Casa Pueblo continúa haciéndole frente a la dependencia energética,” El Nuevo Día, July 8, 2018.
Summary
Since 1999, Casa Pueblo, based in Adjuntas, has established community projects that focus on the use of natural resources. After Hurricane María, they boosted their work on solar energy and its relationship to economic stimulation, food sovereignty, education, entertainment, health, and innovation. They believe that Hurricane María proved that they cannot depend on the Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica and, instead, we must invest in renewable energy. This article describes their different efforts, such as solar-powered fridges and a solar-powered movie theatre, as well as their plans for the future.
Juan Carlos Dávila, “A People’s Recovery: Radical Organizing in Post-Maria Puerto Rico,” The Independent, October 18, 2017.
Summary
El Llamado (The Call) led by a group of organizers from different sectors and backgrounds, is an organization that provides support and unifies social movements in Puerto Rico. This article describes some of the different grassroot initiatives organized by El Llamado. El Llamado is related to Centers of Mutual Support (CAM in Spanish) throughout the Island and not only provide services, but also have a long-term objective of empowering communities and moving Puerto Rico away from its colonial dependency to the US.
Caitlin Dickerson, “Stranded by Maria, Puerto Ricans Get Creative to Survive,” The New York Times, October 16, 2017.
Summary
The persistent struggle faced by Puerto Ricans after Hurricane María has led people to improvise without power and running water. As this article illustrates, this was particularly the case for those living in remote areas where aid did not readily arrive. For instance, they have made pulleys, redirected water, and led it to lower-ground PVC pipes. However, there are many who are in even more fragile situations, struggling with health problems and suffering from continued isolation, due to fallen bridges.
Molly Crabapple, “Puerto Rico’s DIY disaster relief” The New York Review of Books, November 17, 2017.
Summary
This article contemplates the relationship between Puerto Ricans’ grassroots initiatives and Luisa Capetillo, an anarchist and feminist, who was shaken by the Island’s poverty and poor working conditions. Not only is Puerto Rico still victim to the U.S. market, but, in the spirit of Luisa Capetillo, it has leftist, nationalists, and socialists who are helping to rebuild their communities. This article describes the Centros de Apoyo Mutuo (CAMs), the services they provide, and their ties to Puerto Rican nationalism. It also mentions a few other initiatives, such as those led by Taller Salud, El Local, and El Maestro.
Lewis Wallace, “‘The idea that we are an inferior race allows the U.S. government to do whatever they want’: Jorge Diaz organizes for a decolonized Puerto Rico,” Scalawag Magazine, November 28, 2017.
Summary
AgitArte, an arts and cultural organization in Puerto Rico, is one of the many grassroots struggles striving to make sure resources reach far and wide. This article provides an interview in which Jorge Diaz, the artistic director for AgitArte, discusses the role of art and culture in decolonizing Puerto Rico and fighting white supremacy and neoliberalism. As he explains, the political and economic work that will transform Puerto Rican society needs to be accompanied by cultural work.
Héctor Huyke Villeneuve, “Es el pueblo quien va salvar el pueblo, nadie más,” Diálogo, October 13, 2017.
Summary
Olla Común, an initiative that feeds around 170 people in Río Piedras every morning, is a space that provides not only sustenance, but also emotional support to the varied people that attend: homeless people, students, professors, families, etc. The space where Olla Común functions is also used by Brigada del Mellao, a group that helps in the kitchen, but also rehabilitates the surrounding public spaces. This article describes the efforts and relationships between grassroots initiatives in Río Piedras as well as their connections with groups abroad.
José Encarnación, “Loíza, entre la solidaridad y la autogestión ciudadana luego de Irma,” Diálogo, October 13, 2017.
Summary
Focusing on Loíza, a center for Afro Puerto Rican culture, this article describes two organizations that help the region’s citizens by providing sustenance and resources: Boys&Girls Club and Miñi Miñi. As one organizer explains, they are still in dire need of construction materials—many construction efforts are being undergone by the citizens.
Génesis Ibarra, “Forman centros de acopio en Puerto Rico para apoyar a afectados por Irma,” CB en Español, September 12, 2017.
Summary
This article describes a variety of centers that receive donated basic necessities. One of these is Iniciativa Comunitaria, which helps more than 80 families in Loíza. Another center provides support to Loíza, Vieques, Culebra and other affected islands in the Caribbean. This article lists the various centers and their information, as well as the types of articles the centers provide.
VIDEO: “Voluntarios caminan horas para llegar a comunidades lejanas,” Noticero, October 5, 2017.
Summary
This video details the work done by the young volunteers of Puerto Rico Cambia to connect the island and help families who were left stranded after hurricane Maria. Many of these communities, who are located on the mountains and farm hands, were not a priority for first responders, and this group of volunteers were the first form of help to arrive in several towns. They provided groceries and emotional support for many of these communities. The video also served as a call to action and encouraged Puerto Ricans to help one another work through the devastation left behind by hurricane Maria.
Rígel Lugo, “Desde la cocina, se urde una solidaridad distinta,” 80grados, November 3, 2017.
Summary
Cucina 135 provides an industrial kitchen to small businesses that need it for catering or mass production that cannot be fulfilled in a small space. However, after Hurricane María, it has become a cultural and political space for culinary focused solidarity and grassroots initiatives. This article provides an interview where Xiomara Caro Díaz, an organizer and director for the Center for Popular Democracy, describes El Llamado and Boricuá (two other grassroots initiatives), and their affiliation with Cucina 135, which provided a space for organization.
Jose Ayala Gordián “Pepino Power Authority es una iniciativa de pueblo” El Nuevo Día 29 de Diciembre 2017.
Summary
Because the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority did not respond quickly after Hurricane María, Pepino Power Authority was created by electricians, retired employees, personnel from the public security sector, and other volunteers. This grassroots organization provided services in San Sebastián, where, at the time that the article was published, it had restored electricity for more than 2,000 homes. The article also describes its confrontations with the government-owned Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.
The Diaspora Mobilizes
Andrew Boryga, “The Agonizing, Undaunted Efforts to Bring Supplies to Loved Ones in Puerto Rico,” The New Yorker, October 8, 2017.
Summary
This article describes the experience of a Puerto Rican family in Miami who decided to create a generosity fundraising page, buy supplies, and get on a flight to Puerto Rico to help the community of Loíza. Providing a detailed account, the author goes through the shock of arriving to a destroyed island and struggling community. During their visit, they heard accounts from citizens as well as from the mayor of Loíza, who all explain the lack of aid that they are receiving. Furthermore, the family’s own attempts to provide aid faced difficulties: many of their packages and generators never arrived.
Cassandra López Fradera, “The Puerto Rican Diaspora Is Emotionally Flooded,” Latino USA, October 3, 2017.
Summary
This article is a personal account about how Hurricane María has affected the daily routine of Puerto Ricans in the diaspora. Not only must they check the news constantly and worry about loved ones, many of whom they have not yet heard from, but also struggle to prioritize self-care when it is impossible to suppress the heartache and sorrow. The author explains the helplessness and emotional breakdowns felt by those in the diaspora. However, she has also developed coping mechanisms, one of which involves bearing witness and speaking out against the colonial violence that María’s effects evince.
Vann R. Newkirk, “How Puerto Ricans on the Mainland Are Getting News From Relatives,” The Atlantic, September 26, 2017.
Summary
While Puerto Ricans that are near the capital can seek out working cellphone towers to send brief updates to family on the Mainland, this is not a possibility for many who are in remote areas. This article focuses on Vieques’ particular case of disconnection. Here, where aid from FEMA and the Red Cross has been slow, social media has played a large role in keeping families abroad informed. This article discusses the role of projects like ViequesLove, which maintains a list of people verified as safe, and the Puerto Rico María Updates page, which provides real-time updates. These have even become sources for local news channels.
David Gonzalez, “On the Mainland, a Duty to Help Puerto Rico,” The New York Times, October 29, 2017.
Summary
Centering on the experience of one Puerto Rican living in the diaspora, this article expresses the continuing need for Puerto Ricans abroad to mobilize. Due to the delayed response on behalf of the federal government and the faulty hiring of the company Whitefish Energy, it is evident that the diaspora must push their Congressional representatives to support bills that provide aid to Puerto Ricans. Unlike those on the Island, Puerto Ricans on the Mainland have voting representatives who can advocate for their concerns. The article also discusses the relationship between those on the Island and those that are stateside.
Rick Rojas, “New York’s Response to Puerto Rico Devastation: ‘It’s Personal for Us,’” The New York Times, September 29, 2017.
Summary
New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have a Puerto Rican population of about half the size one of that on the Island. This article focuses on New York and how its connections with the Island can make a significant impact when it comes to aid. Not only are many “Nuyoricans” sending resources, but they are also receiving many relatives and friends in their cramped apartments. However, many are also struggling when they cannot reach their family members, when they cannot house people because of lack of space, or when they cannot send things due to the failing mail service.
Liz Robbins, “After Disasters, New York Goes Into Overdrive in Gathering Aid,” The New York Times, September 27, 2017.
Summary
Amid the Trump administration’s slow response, Puerto Ricans in New York have stepped up and organized multiple fund-raisers. This article describes various aid efforts, led by organizations such as the Sunset Park Disaster Relief Collection Center, groups such as Barrio Poetix, and also by individuals such as Deputy Inspector Emmanuel González Jr., who called a dozen of his officers to help. Furthermore, many efforts have worked on helping both Puerto Rico and Mexico, which had recently endured earthquakes.
Mimi Kirk, “When Cartography Meets Disaster Relief,” CityLab, October 11, 2017.
Summary
Because map providers, like Google Maps, often invest in areas with more economic activity, Puerto Rico’s maps did not have the degree of detail found on the Mainland. This aspect influences the Island’s slow recovery. This article discusses crowdsourced mapping—how it works and how it can help. This method has contributed in other disasters, such as in Haiti after the earthquake.