Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria: lingering household impacts, vulnerabilities, and resilience

The year 2017 marked one of the most catastrophic U.S. hurricane seasons, encompassing three devastating hurricanes—Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Even three years after Hurricane Maria, 40% of Puerto Rican households still reported high or extreme impacts, reflecting a significant reduction in household well-being. This study evaluated the prolonged impacts of the hurricane by analyzing survey data from 502 Puerto Rican households, combined with GIS-based spatial factors. Findings reveal that extended utility disruptions, severe property damage, prolonged displacement, and income loss increased household impacts, while insufficient disaster aid further exacerbated them. However, proactive preparedness measures, e.g., alternative electricity sources to counter service interruptions, structural modifications to prevent damage, and insurance to mitigate financial burdens, significantly reduced the likelihood of severe impacts and promoted household resilience. While larger households displayed greater resilience, those with elderly members endured more adverse effects. These critical insights highlight the need for stronger and collaborative disaster management strategies and resilient infrastructure development to protect vulnerable regions against household impacts in future disasters.