Thousands of homes, roads and recreational areas have yet to be fixed or rebuilt since Maria struck, and the devastation from Hurricane Fiona will only worsen that effort.
"Five years later, uncertainty still prevails," said the director of a local nonprofit, League of Cities.Tuesday marks five years since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as powerful Category 4 storm. Darla Miles has the story.Tuesday marks five years since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as powerful Category 4 storm, and in a cruel twist, the anniversary comes, thousands of homes, roads and recreational areas have yet to be fixed or rebuilt.
Reconstruction has now started, she noted, but will take time because authorities want to ensure the structures being built are robust enough to withstand stronger hurricanes projected as a result of climate change. Some Puerto Ricans have opted to rebuild themselves instead of waiting for government help they feel will never come.
It is one of five municipalities that has not seen a single post-hurricane project completed, with a pier, medical center, government office and a road still awaiting reconstruction. Gonsález said that few companies make bids because they lack employees, or they quote a price higher than that authorized by federal officials as inflation drives up the cost of materials.
"It's still there, about to fall," said López, who lost her roof to Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and again to Maria. "I'm here trying to survive."
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