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Hurricane Fiona caused flooding and property damage across Puerto Rico on Sunday, Sept. 18.
By Shira Sadeh ’25
Science & Environment Editor
Content warning: This article mentions mass death.
On Sunday, Sept. 18, Hurricane Fiona reached Puerto Rico from the southwest, causing environmental and infrastructure disasters, an Associated Press article reported. The island scrambled to evacuate and secure shelter for residents as high-speed winds ripped out the power grid, tore up roads and caused widespread flooding. According to AP News, forecasters are predicting record levels of rainfall up to 30 inches this Sunday and Monday, Sept. 25 and 26.
Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Pierluisi has called the effects of Hurricane Fiona “catastrophic,” according to an NPR article. “In many areas, flooding is worse than what we saw during Hurricane Maria,” Pierluisi said. Health Secretary Carlos Mellado explained to AP News that health centers are currently relying on generators, which have already failed at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, where many patients had to be evacuated.
According to a Washington Post article, Fiona comes just two days before the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Maria. Maria left Puerto Rico powerless and mourning the deaths of over three thousand people, The Washington Post reported. Although the federal government had set aside billions for recovery after Hurricane Maria, The Washington Post explained that much of that money has yet to reach Puerto Rico.
According to NPR, President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration on Sunday and authorized the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist in the disaster relief efforts. The Washington Post also stated that Pierliusi is coordinating recovery efforts with leaders in New York, New Jersey and California. Additionally, the National Guard has activated 600 soldiers throughout the island and has rescued approximately 1,000 people.