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Why Travel to Puerto Rico For More Than Just a Vacation

Updated: Jan 27, 2019



Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria

September 20, 2017, will forever be known as the date that Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and devastated the island, while plunging all of its 3.4 million residents into a desperate humanitarian crisis.


Puerto Rico Before and After hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico before and after Hurricane Maria

Maria hit Puerto Rico as a Category 4 Hurricane with 155-mph winds, making it the third-strongest storm to make landfall in the U.S., and the worst storm to strike the island in over 80 years.


Hurricane Maria devistation in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Devistated after Maria

Flooding in Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria
Maria brought massive flooding.

Maria spent her time on land uprooting trees, downing weather stations, destroying cell towers, and ripping wooden and tin roofs off homes. Electricity was cut off to 100 percent of the island, and access to clean water and food became limited for most. The electricity blackout was the largest blackout in U.S. history. Floodwaters were waist-high, more than 30 inches deep, with no way to prevent sewage from contaminating every inch of it.

Water sources infected by sewage in Puerto Rico
Water sources infected by sewage after Maria

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, households went 84 days without power, 68 days without water, and 41 days without cell service.


With in 24 hours the entire island of Puerto Rico was shook; and less than one percent of homeowners had flood insurance. Maria’s destruction adds up to as much as $94.4 billion USD in damages.


Hurricane Maria’s destruction cost of damages Puerto Rico

While most people have regained access to basic essentials at this point, the road to recovery is long, and many residents still need help. People are committed to building back better than before the storm.

Hurricane Maria Destroys Houses in Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria destroys entire homes in Puerto Rico

Perspective - About one in 13 students have left the island since Maria hit. And the newest fiscal plan includes a measure to permanently close nearly 300 schools — roughly a quarter of all of the island's public schools. Those students who remain will continue dealing with the consequences of a sustained break in their educations, along with the stress of recovering from a natural disaster.


Schools close down in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

The two main elements of Puerto Rico’s economy, agriculture and tourism, both devastated by the storm. Now, over a year later, Puerto Rico is still on the journey of recovery.


flooding in puerto rico after hurricane maria

This is the reason I decided to travel to Puerto Rico on a mission trip and not just on a vacation. Yes, we took time to experience the culture and natural beauty of the Island between volunteering and serving; but this was no vaca!


Amanda Sowards Las Cabezas Puerto Rico
Las Cabezas Puerto Rico

I spent the week with other like minded woman who are passionate about serving with a purpose! We spent time cleaning up the coast, helping those affected by the devastating hurricane, and learn more about how to help the Puerto Rico eco system thrive.


My next series of blog post will be sharing the stories we heard, wisdom we gained, historic and natural beauty we saw, and the fun memories we made!




Amanda Sowards - Ms Eco International in Puerto Rico
Amanda Sowards - Ms Eco International - Puerto Rico



 

Thank you Puerto Rico for your beautiful scenery, warm hospitality, and inviting culture! I will certainly be back! Hasta pronto PR, mi amor!


 










 







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