Suchergebnisse

This article examines graphic narratives of Hurricane María in independent comics published both in Puerto Rico and its US diaspora. Focusing on María (Rosa Colón and Carla Rodríguez 2018), Temporada (Rosaura Rodríguez 2019), and La Borinqueña (Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez 2016, 2018), it analyzes the ways these works bear witness to the 'foreshocks and aftershocks' of the hurricane while delineating a decolonial future for Puerto Rico (Bonilla and LeBrón). The analysis begins by reflecting on the comics' form, such as frames, text, and the space of the gutter, to explore the interactions between their structure and content and the ways in which they situate the reader in a generative process of memorializing. It then turns to questions of sustainability, particularly Rosaura Rodríguez's use of watercolors, and how these titles seek to overcome the current environmental and political crises the archipelago is facing by foregrounding a close, community-oriented relationship with the natural environment. In Miranda-Rodriguez's comics, this is framed within Indigenous and Afrodiasporic spiritualities and the need to reexamine Puerto Rican history in order to interrogate its experience of coloniality. Though distinct in their form and genre, these comics–alongside complementary short comics from Puerto Rico and the diaspora–critique the extractivist, colonial relationship with the US and invite readers to imagine sustainable futures drawn through a Boricua-centered, decolonial lens.

In September 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island territory of the United States, making a significant and lasting impact on the island. The hurricane severely affected the well-being, livelihoods and self-sufficiency of the people with its impact on the agriculture sector. Because of its unique location, Puerto Rico is prone to hurricanes and has a rich history of experiences with these storms, yet the devastation Maria ensued was of a different proportion. Vulnerabilities on the island including financial struggles and weak infrastructure had been present in Puerto Rico leading up to Hurricane Maria. Recovering from the week prior Hurricane Irma, preparation time and resources were limited for Hurricane Maria. The existing risk factors meeting an immensely powerful category 4 hurricane created long-term losses and extended recovery for the agriculture sector of Puerto Rico. This goal of this study to explore perspectives on the impact and subsequent disaster management of Hurricane Maria on the agriculture sector in Puerto Rico as executed by various key actors involved, from local efforts and NGOs, to government interventions. It is by deconstructing perceptions on disaster relief efforts, particularly from the point of view of local farmers in Puerto Rico, that disaster management efforts during Hurricane Maria are understood. Attitudes about future climate events are another key element of this study along with new movements in agriculture in Puerto Rico. Perspectives on preparatory measures, loss, recovery efforts, climate change and the future of agriculture in Puerto Rico are highlights in this study. ; submittedVersion ; M-DS

Hurricane Maria had a devastating impact on Puerto Rico. The federal response to Maria was slow, leaving much of the population without basic necessities for extended periods. Lives were lost as a result. The federal government failed to rise to the challenges posed by logistic difficulties and strained agency resources due to preceding disasters. The response was hindered by unrealistic planning, by Puerto Rico's lack of political power in Washington, and by presidential indifference. In the end, despite its much greater needs, Puerto Rico received assistance much more slowly than Houston. This article analyzes the reasons for the flawed response and proposes improvements in future disaster policy. Like Katrina, Maria is a story of how systems failed just when they were most needed by our most vulnerable citizens.

AIMS: This study explores the sentiment expressed by Twitter users after the Harvard University report was released, reporting a death estimate of 4,645 Puerto Ricans following Hurricane María. METHOD: Researchers utilized the NVivo addition NCapture to collect Twitter data including the hashtag #4645Boricuas. Thematic content analyses explored emergent themes within the hashtag. Geographic information systems (GIS) documented the location of Tweets and differences across geographical locations among Twitter users. RESULTS: The themes that emerged in #4645Boricuas included: disaster phases, media, psychological processes, and politics. GIS documented that Tweets from Puerto Rico were more likely to discuss themes of psychological processes, politics, and resilience compared with disaster phases or media. CONCLUSION: The present data highlights how individuals engage with Twitter to cope following the trauma of natural disasters. In the aftermath of Hurricane María, individuals utilized Twitter to express their disillusionment with the government response to the disaster.

Objectives. To determine the number and causes of excess deaths in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20, 2017. Methods. We obtained monthly vital statistics data on all deaths from January 2008 through October 2017. We conducted a time-series analysis to estimate excess mortality in September and October 2017 overall and by age, sex, and cause of death. Results. We estimated a total of 1205 excess deaths (95% confidence interval [CI] = 707, 1702). Excess deaths were slightly higher among men than women (632 and 579 deaths, respectively) and found only among people aged 60 years or older (1038 deaths). Most excess deaths occurred from heart disease (253 deaths), "other" causes (204 deaths), diabetes (195 deaths), Alzheimer's disease (122 deaths), and septicemia (81 deaths). Conclusions. The number of excess deaths was similar to recent government estimates. However, this study is the first to identify the causes of death that were exacerbated by the disaster. Public Health Implications. An accurate estimation of the top causes of excess mortality can help authorities plan resource allocation for the island's recovery and for the prevention of deaths in future disasters.

Although not always recognized as such, catastrophes are complicated systems that are built on the social production of vulnerability. This thesis considers how responses to catastrophes are usually built on an oversimplified understanding of what they are, and argues that more nuanced, multi-faceted understandings of catastrophes can guide us to more effective solutions. I situate my research in Mariana, a rural neighborhood located on the coastal mountains of south-eastern Puerto Rico, where, in response to the lack of aid received from the federal government following Hurricane María, leaders of the community developed the Proyecto de Apoyo Mutuo (the Mutual Support Project – PAM). I explore how PAM articulates and confronts the systems of oppression and marginalization that have produced vulnerabilities in Puerto Rico over decades. Then, using the conceptual framework that I'm calling 'dismantling vulnerability', I analyze the organization's response to catastrophe and the ways in which it has developed actions to address the root sources of vulnerability in efforts to move their community forward from catastrophe.

This thesis seeks to illuminate the economic, cultural and social subjugation of Puerto Rico, and its people, through the stripping of personal and political self-determination imposed by U.S. colonization. This research explores historic examples of Puerto Rican perseverance and analyzes psychologically protective factors supporting survivorship and resilience, such as familism and ontological security. The effects of Hurricane Maria on mental health are highlighted in the research, as is the correlation between a lack of electrical power and adverse health/wellness outcomes. Models for collective liberation and social justice are discussed and exemplified through the case study of a march that took place in Boston, MA on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria. The concepts of the shock doctrine and disaster capitalism are explained and connected to various historic moments in Puerto Rico, including after Hurricane Maria. Bomba and Afro-Caribbean dance/rituals are explained and connected to practices in liberation. The current absence of Bomba and Afro-Caribbean dance in the dance therapy field are used to exemplify areas of growth necessary for making dance therapy more inclusive and increase the field's growth in cultural humility. This thesis also incorporates analysis of cultural competence and systemic oppression throughout and concludes with a call for dance therapists to be more active in advocating for social justice through their individual and clinical practice.

Background: Every year, Puerto Rico faces a hurricane season fraught with potentially catastrophic structural, emotional and health consequences. In 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria, the largest natural disaster to ever affect the island. Several studies have estimated the excess morbidity and mortality following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, yet no study has comprehensively examined the underlying health system weaknesses contributing to the deleterious health outcomes. Methods: A qualitative case study was conducted to assess the ability of the UPR health system to provide patient care in response to Hurricane Maria. An established five key resilience framework and inductive analysis was used to identify factors that affected health system resilience. Thirteen Emergency Medicine Physicians, Family Medicine Physicians, and Hospital Administrators in a University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Community Hospital were interviewed as part of our study. Results: Of the five key resiliency components, three domains were notably weak with respect to UPR resiliency. Prior to the Hurricane, key personnel at the UPR hospital were unaware of the limited capacity of back-up generators at hospitals and were ill-prepared to transfer ICU patients to appropriate hospitals. Post Hurricane, the hospital faced self-regulation challenges when triaging the provision of Hurricane-related emergency services with delivering core health services, in particular for patients with chronic conditions. Finally, during and after the Hurricane, integration of patient care coordination between the UPR hospital ambulances, neighboring hospitals, and national and state government was suboptimal. The two remaining resiliency factors, addressing diverse needs and system adaptiveness in a time of crisis, were seen as strengths. Conclusions: Hurricane Maria exposed weaknesses in the Puerto Rican health system, notably the lack of awareness about the limited capacity of backup generators, poor patient care coordination, and interruption of ...

"In September 2017, Puerto Rico was struck by two major hurricanes—Irma and Maria—that intensified existing challenges in Puerto Rico's health and social services infrastructure. In the aftermath, the government of Puerto Rico created a long-term recovery plan built on an evidence-based assessment of the damage from the hurricanes and the ongoing needs across Puerto Rico. Development of the recovery plan was supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, other federal agencies, local stakeholders, and analysis from the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), operated by RAND Corporation under contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. HSOAC research provided the foundation for the 31 courses of action in the recovery plan addressing the health and social services sector. These actions are a mix of social, governmental, fiscal, and economic policies and reforms. This collection of actions presents an opportunity to build a more resilient health and social services infrastructure and regional health care networks to ensure reliable access to services, promote health and well-being, and more efficiently and effectively respond to public health crises and future disasters. The actions span the areas of health care, public health and emergency preparedness, environmental health, mental and behavioral health, and social services. The damage and needs assessment and courses of actions cover four major themes: building system capacity to respond both during disasters and routine times; strengthening the health and social services workforce; strengthening support services for at-need populations; and creating health-promoting communities.

A municipality's level of public engagement and especially community involvement is associated with a greater rate of recovery in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017. This finding is based on an analysis of the relationship between the capacity of Puerto Rico's 78 municipal governments and their rates of post disaster-recovery, controlling for both exposure to Maria and pre-storm trends. Municipal capacity for community involvement may help activate social capital and the co-production of disaster recovery. Community involvement may increase trust among local officials and residents, increase government's knowledge of community priorities, and help residents access federal and state aid. Other measures of management capacity are not consistently associated with a faster rate of post-disaster recovery. The findings suggest that investing in municipal capacity for public engagement as part of disaster preparedness may provide benefits for disaster recovery. For researchers, the combination of original survey data and readily available post-disaster indicators provides a model for assessing recovery after disaster in the short term. ; Accepted version ; Yes, abstract only (Peer reviewed?)

Background. The practice of accounting for deaths from disasters due to natural hazards was critically challenged after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico when societal-observed mortality rates were higher than official estimates. To confront the controversy, the Governor commissioned George Washington University to conduct an independent estimate of excess mortality, evaluate the death registration practice and assess the communication process. Methods/Approach. We present the difficulties in carrying out multiple empirical analyses in the face of the complex social and political realities in a USA territory. In any setting, the precise assessment of mortality is a methodologic challenge, complicated by limited official guidelines for certifying deaths and uneven application, and the worldwide lack of standardized methods to document deaths that are indirectly caused by natural disasters. Results. We discuss our six-month findings, the excess mortality and age and socioeconomic inequities. We identified the lack of a culture of preparedness, and issues with communication and coordination across the local, Puerto Rico and federal governments. We discuss the actions that Puerto Rico is undertaking to prepare for future storms. We address the experience of releasing the report and the responses from the local government and civil society, as well as the amplified reaction by the federal authorities. We provide an update of current initiatives in the US to establish a standardized procedure for accounting the mortality impacts from natural disasters. We discuss its policy, epidemiologic and capacity-building implications. Conclusions. There is need for agreed-upon principles and adherence to rigorous methodologic standards in order to produce credible impact assessments. Only by understanding the full magnitude of such impacts will we be able to demonstrate the importance of intervening in a proactive and protective manner; this requires capacity-building for monitoring and analysis of deaths after disasters.

The transportation infrastructure of the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico with a surface area of 9104 km², is responsible for the mobility and accessibility of people and goods with over 28,000 kilometers of paved roadways, were more than 93% of all trips are generated by private vehicles. On September 20, 2017, Puerto Rico was impacted by Hurricane Maria of Category 5, causing an unprecedented damage to the country's transportation infrastructure recorded in its history. The entire Island was without electric power and communication, and over 50,000 landslides and mudslides occurred, over 20 major bridges in the strategic highway network have structural failure or collapse due to flooding, scouring and other drainage related problems. Most of the guide and directional overhead signs in mayor freeways and urban areas collapsed, including break-away devices, creating hazardous condition to our motorists. The logistics associated with the transportation infrastructure that includes roads, bridges, ports, airports, suffered significant damage that affected the quality of life of all residents on the island with a major impact to the economic development of the country. The $94.3 US billion dollars budget has been estimated to restore the infrastructure to its original condition prior to the hurricane. This presentation will document the process in which the Government of Puerto Rico, its Department of Transportation and Public Works and related agencies addressed the road safety and transportation logistic during this extreme natural disaster, the resiliency/recovery process and lessons learned as a result of the passage of Category 5 Hurricane Maria by Puerto Rico. The road safety infrastructure perspective will be emphasized with recommendations to Islands with similar geographical characteristics such as Jeju Island.

A municipalitys level of public engagement and especially community involvement is associated with a greater rate of recovery in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017. This finding is based on an analysis of the relationship between the capacity of Puerto Ricos 78 municipal governments and their rates of post disaster-recovery, controlling for both exposure to Maria and pre-storm trends. Municipal capacity for community involvement may help activate social capital and the co-production of disaster recovery. Community involvement may increase trust among local officials and residents, increase governments knowledge of community priorities, and help residents access federal and state aid. Other measures of management capacity are not consistently associated with a faster rate of post-disaster recovery. The findings suggest that investing in municipal capacity for public engagement as part of disaster preparedness may provide benefits for disaster recovery. For researchers, the combination of original survey data and readily available post-disaster indicators provides a model for assessing recovery after disaster in the short term. ; Submitted version

BACKGROUND: After its landfall in Puerto Rico in 2017, Hurricane Maria caused the longest blackout in United States history, producing cascading effects on a health care system that had already been weakened by decades of public sector austerity and neoliberal health reforms. This article addresses how health care professionals and administrators experienced the health care system's collapse and the strategies used by them to meet their communities' health needs. METHODS: Data were collected between September 2018 and February 2020. Ethnographic observations in health care facilities and semi-structured qualitative interviews with representatives of the health care system were conducted. This paper focuses on data from interviews with health care providers (n = 10) and administrators (n = 10), and an ethnographic visit to a pop-up community clinic. The analysis consisted of systematic thematic coding of the interview transcripts and ethnographic field notes. RESULTS: Results provide insight on how participants, who witnessed first-hand the collapse of Puerto Rico's health care system, responded to the crisis after Maria. The prolonged power outage and lack of a disaster management plan were partly responsible for the death of 3,052 individuals who experienced extended interruptions in access to medical care. Participants reported a sense of abandonment by the government and feelings of mistrust. They also described the health sector as chaotic and lacking clear guidelines on how to provide services or cope with personal crises while working under extreme conditions. In such circumstances, they developed resilient responses to meet communities' health needs (e.g., itinerant acupuncture services, re-locating physicians to local pharmacies). CONCLUSIONS: Participants' narratives emphasize that the management of Hurricane Maria was fraught with political and economic constraints affecting Puerto Rico. Ineffective planning and post-Maria responses of the local and federal governments were determinants of the ...

Hurricane Maria had a devastating impact on Puerto Rico. The federal response to Maria was slow, leaving much of the population without basic necessities for extended periods. Lives were lost as a result. The federal government failed to rise to the challenges posed by logistic difficulties and strained agency resources due to preceding disasters. The response was hindered by unrealistic planning, by Puerto Rico's lack of political power in Washington, and by presidential indifference. In the end, despite its much greater needs, Puerto Rico received assistance much more slowly than Houston. This article analyzes the reasons for the flawed response and proposes improvements in future disaster policy. Like Katrina, Maria is a story of how systems failed just when they were most needed by our most vulnerable citizens.