Hurricane Maria

Type of Disaster: Hurricane
Dates: September 16th-30th, 2017 (NOAA)
Locations of Landfall: Guadeloupe, Dominica; St. Croix (Islands located in the Caribbean Sea); near Yabucoa, Puerto Rico; Grand Turk Island (an island located inside of the Turks & Caicos Islands); near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

"A man rides his bicycle through a damaged road in Toa Alta, west of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 24." by Ricardo Arduengo (Segarra & Bubello)

This image portrays some of the damage caused when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017. We can see extensive damages to the road and some residual flooding.

Summary

  Hurricane Maria began as a tropical wave that left the African west coast in September of 2017. As the system moved through the Atlantic, it produced deep convection beneath the ocean’s surface. This convection quickly became less scattered and more organized. Upon moving into an area of mid-level pressure, this system grew to be a tropical storm. With the introduction of warm water to the system, it very rapidly morphed into a hurricane that also strengthened swiftly (Pasch, et al., 2017). This hurricane would wreak havoc throughout its path. One of the most significantly affected areas is Puerto Rico, where Hurricane Maria is known as “the worst storm to hit the island in nearly a century” (Rivera & Rolke, 2018). When Maria made contact with Puerto Rico windspeeds were approximately 155 miles per hour, and brought in over a foot of rainfall, resulting in massive flooding. Many residents were without power, fresh water, or means of communication. Rivera and Rolke (2018), identified the elderly as a population with increased vulnerability, in regards to Hurricane Maria. This is because many of them were effectively disconnected from lifesaving aid. Three months post-hurricane, Puerto Rico had only been able to restore approximately 68% of the power grid that had been available before the storm (Rivera & Rolke, 2018).  The exact death toll remains a topic of controversy. However, a published study from Harvard estimated that 4,645 deaths can be attributed to Hurricane Maria and the “immediate aftermath” it presented (Hernandez & McGinley, 2018).

"Trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20." by Hector Retamal (Segarra & Bubello)

This image provides insight as to what the actual conditions during the hurricane were like in Puerto Rico. We can see evidence of tremendous wind speeds and large amounts of rainfall.

Discussion

The hazards of the hurricane are flooding and dangerous wind speeds. Hurricanes are not completely preventable. They will happen when the necessary conditions are met. However, the effects that these storms have on the physical and human environment can be mitigated to reduce damages and loss of life. It is important to protect the structural integrity of the city, so that building damage is reduced. This can be done by implementing building codes on things such as roofing and window protections that can help. Making sure that buildings are elevated can protect them from flooding as the hurricane dumps massive amounts of rain on the area and storm surges, wind-driven ocean waves that pile water on a coastline. Restoring coastal marshes, maintaining a considerable distance from the beach, and maintaining dune height can also serve to protect the physical environment of the area. Constructing floodwalls and gates will also help weaken the effect of storm surges. When hurricanes are imminent, it is absolutely essential to have warning systems in place. This can give residents the best chance of being as prepared as possible when the storm makes landfall. It is also important to broadcast predicted conditions and the estimated time of landfall when available so that communities can make the decision to evacuate or not. Warning systems and preparedness of the community are some of the ways to prevent loss of life in hurricanes.

"Flooded streets are seen in San Juan, Puerto Rico after the passage of Hurricane Maria, on Sept. 21." by Hector Retamal (Segarra & Bubello)

In this image we can see a major effect of Hurricane Maria, flooding.

For more information, check out this video!

“Hurricane Maria slams Puerto Rico.” YouTube, uploaded by CBS This Morning, 20 Sept 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPueER8cKDE.

This video contains news coverage of Hurricane Maria making landfall in Puerto Rico. It discusses some of the hazards associated with hurricanes, such as power outages and massive flooding. This video also contains interviews with some of the people that are affected by this natural disaster.

Sources

Hernandez, Arelis R., and Laurie McGinley. “Harvard Study Estimates Thousands Died in Puerto Rico Because of Hurricane Maria.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 May 2018, 3:15 p.m., www.washingtonpost.com/national/harvard-study-estimates-thousands-died-in-puerto-rico-due-to-hurricane-maria/2018/05/29/1a82503a-6070-11e8-a4a4-c070ef53f315_story.html.

“Hurricane Maria.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/event/Hurricane-Maria.

Pasch, Richard J., et al. “Hurricane Maria.” National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report, Sept. 2017, www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL152017_Maria.pdf.

Rivera, Roberto, and Wolfgang Rolke. “Estimating the Death Toll of Hurricane Maria.” Royal Statistical Society, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 6 Feb. 2018, rss.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1740-9713.2018.01102.x.

Rodríguez-Díaz, Carlos E. "Maria in Puerto Rico: natural disaster in a colonial archipelago." (2018): 30-32.

Segarra, Lisa Marie, and Kim Bubello. “Scenes of the Destruction From Hurricane Maria.” Time, Time Magazine, time.com/hurricane-maria-destruction-photos/.