Almost five years to the day after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm—killing nearly 3,000 people and causing an estimated $90 billion in damage—Hurricane Fiona made landfall on the island, showering it with destruction that is far known to people. more than 3 million US citizens call Puerto Rico home. Reconstruction efforts since Hurricane Maria have been slow, inadequate and incomplete, leaving the island ill-equipped to deal with another major disaster. However, the crisis is more acute, as Puerto Rico has long struggled with economic challenges: After years of recession, the island is in a debt crisis and has filed for bankruptcy relief. Indeed, more than 40 percent of the territory’s total population lives in poverty, unemployment stands at 5.8 percent, and the median household income was $21,058 from 2016 to 2020.
Now, on the heels of Fiona, Hurricane Ian is ravaging much of the Southern United States. Given past experience, Puerto Ricans are rightfully nervous that this will slow the flow of federal aid, diverting resources away from Puerto Rico when it remains vulnerable.
The Biden administration has taken swift action by issuing a disaster declaration for Puerto Rico to ensure that federal disaster assistance is available for recovery and reconstruction; announcing $60 billion in additional rebuilding aid through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and waiving the Jones Act to ensure that a shipment of diesel fuel is allowed on the island for power generators and critical facilities. Such support is critical to helping Puerto Rico address its most immediate needs, but it will take some time before residents and experts fully understand the extent of Fiona’s damage.
Hurricane Maria provided important lessons in disaster recovery and reconstruction. If we don’t heed those lessons, recovery will only put a bandage over the underlying challenges. The federal government must take the following steps to seize this moment and lay the groundwork for a long-term and equitable recovery that prioritizes stronger and better rebuilding.
1. Meet basic needs for all Puerto Ricans
Ensuring that all Puerto Ricans have access to basic necessities such as food, water and safe shelter is an immediate concern. Strong and responsive safety net programs can help achieve this goal as Puerto Ricans rebuild their lives, putting them in a position to have more resources to weather the next disaster. Notably, Puerto Rico lacks the safety net programs that the US mainland relies on. Block food aid in Puerto Rico: The island receives a fixed amount of funding to provide limited aid. However, this funding does not automatically increase during times of emergency, unlike food aid on the continent.
Congress must pass a bill for additional emergency appropriations, including at least $1 billion in food aid, to support Puerto Rico’s response to Hurricane Fiona. Additionally, Congress should immediately increase access to federal aid by permanently expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to Puerto Rico and other territories, ensuring equity and access to an accountable safety net.
As the 2022 hurricane season continues, and as the extreme devastation caused by Hurricane Ian shows, more and more affected people will need to rely on emergency assistance. Ensuring that Puerto Ricans have access to a strong and resilient food security network will help them recover from Hurricane Fiona and put systems in place to better meet the need if another disaster strikes.
2. Extend the Jones Act waiver
The Biden administration’s temporary waiver of the Jones Act — which requires all goods transported between U.S. ports to be carried on American-built, owned, and operated vessels — will bring relief to Puerto Rico, allowing shipments of diesel fuel that are critical to operating generators. while the power grid is being repaired. However, given the challenges posed by the Jones Act, there is a broader question of whether it should continue to apply in Puerto Rico. One option would be executive action to authorize an automatic suspension of the Jones Act for the duration of an emergency declaration in Puerto Rico.
3. Priority for infrastructure revitalization
Hurricane Maria resulted in widespread destruction of key elements of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, including parts of the island’s electrical grid, highways, water and telecom systems. Unfortunately, bureaucratic hurdles put in place by President Donald Trump, coupled with a lack of technical expertise after Hurricane Maria, have slowed rebuilding efforts. As a result, heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Fiona washed away many roads and bridges, plunging the island back into darkness and destroying some buildings that had recently been rebuilt.
Puerto Rican climate scientists, renewable energy experts, legal scholars and community advocates are recommending that the $9.4 billion given to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to rebuild the power grid after Maria be used to rebuild a grid of reliably built on renewable energy; ensure that construction projects comply with environmental protection and climate-informed flood standards; and protect coastal and inland lands from profit-seeking investors and developers. Congress can take this a step further by appropriating federal funds to conduct an island-wide infrastructure and climate risk assessment to prioritize resilient rebuilding that mitigates future climate risks.
However, only a small portion of the federal funds allocated for rebuilding from Maria have been spent so far. Puerto Rico must rapidly rebuild its power grid to be resilient to future storms, while also ensuring adequate access for all residents. The island’s authorities should also prioritize the reconstruction of roads and bridges that provide essential connections to rural communities. Finally, an investigation must be launched into why so little of Maria’s funds have been allocated when the need is so great and the consequences of the lack of infrastructure so dire. This should happen even when parallel and sufficient support is provided to rebuild from Fiona.
4. Pass additional emergency funding, encouraging a whole-of-government approach to rebuilding
The Biden administration and Congress recognize the urgent need in Puerto Rico, but successful reconstruction will require sustained, long-term investment. President Biden recently announced that the federal government will pay 100 percent of costs for waste removal, energy, water restoration, shelter and food for one month. While this support is necessary, it does not ensure the island’s long-term recovery. Democratic leaders have urged the federal government to go further and cover all recovery costs in Puerto Rico, especially in light of the island’s precarious economic condition and debt burden. Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi echoed the sentiment, asking President Biden to extend the disaster declaration for another 180 days to cover the cost of debris removal and recovery efforts.
The federal government has an important role to play in learning from post-Maria reconstruction. The Biden administration’s whole-of-government approach to environmental justice and racial equity must be strengthened in coordinating resources, expertise, and funding from all relevant agencies, including FEMA and the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Health, and Human Services. . Services and Agriculture. In particular, funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, along with additional appropriations, should be channeled through agencies in a coordinated manner to maximize recovery efforts. Such coordination can better meet community needs across the spectrum of services, including access to food, water, shelter, roads, electricity and communications.
Conclusion
Lessons learned from Hurricane Maria should inform how the federal government addresses and overcomes challenges in recovery and reconstruction from current and future storms. In Puerto Rico, Hurricane Fiona was particularly damaging because of the island’s underlying economic conditions and the United States’ historic approach to disaster relief. The federal government has an important role to play in rapidly deploying resources and expertise, fostering coordination between key agencies, and listening to the advice of local communities and experts on the most urgent needs. By taking the necessary steps, we can ensure that Puerto Rico is better prepared for the next inevitable natural disaster.
The author would like to thank Lily Roberts, Kevin DeGood, Karla Walter, and Kyle Ross for their expertise, input, and guidance, and the CAP editorial team for their support.
