Essay On Hurricane Maria

Hurricane Maria was destructive and caused a large amount of damage to the entire island of Puerto Rico. Maria hit on September 20 and was a category four hurricane, nearly a category five. Hurricane Maria has had a tremendous impact on the lives of Puerto Ricans and even the world.
Maria hit many islands in the Caribbean. Consequently, there was terrible flooding and winds reached a maximum speed of 155 mph. The rain and wind continued for thirty hours. Some parts of Puerto Rico received thirty inches of rain and the winds extended nearly seventy miles from the center of the hurricane. People who decided to stay before the hurricane hit were told to write their social security numbers on their body in case something were to happen and they

With Puerto Rico’s economy already not doing so well, this hurricane only made matters worse. The estimated damage done to the island is about $30 billion. Many businesses are already putting together plans and figuring out all the damage. Manufacturing makes up about 49% of the island’s Gross Domestic Product. Many businesses may not be able to start up again because they don’t have the money for it. Tourism in Puerto Rico is going to be majorly affected. Just recently, the tourism in Puerto Rico had gone up from 7.3% of GDP to 8.4% and was expected to rise to 10.7% in 2027. Many hotels, as well as resorts, contemplated whether or not to shut down because the generators were only going to last a few days.
Even with all the damage that has been done, there are relief efforts for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico’s government made a presentation of all the supplies they are going to need to help. The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities are all accepting donations for places that have been affected by the recent hurricanes. There are several more organizations working to help with relief in Puerto Rico: The Hurricane Maria Community Recovery Fund, UNICEF, One America Appeal, Habitat for Humanity, and Caritas de Puerto