Solid Waste In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Maria

On September 20, Category 4 Hurricane Maria whipped Puerto Rico with winds traveling at 155 miles per hour, just two miles per hour short of a Category 5 storm. Over the next three days, catastrophic flash flooding, storm surges and rainfall – up to 35 inches in some places – inundated the island. According to Puerto Rico’s governor, damage from Hurricane Maria is estimated at $95 billion, or 1.5 times the territory’s annual gross national product. Puerto Rico is home to 3.4 million Americans, who now face water and food shortages, massive clean-up efforts, and the need to rebuild their electrical system.