Hurricane Maria

{{Main|Meteorological history of Hurricane Maria}}

{{Storm path|Maria 2017 path.png|left|300px|colors=new}}

Maria originated from a tropical wave that left the western coast of Africa on September 12.{{cite report |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL152017_Maria.pdf |title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Maria |author=Richard J. Pasch |author2=Andrew B. Penny |author3=Robbie Berg |date=April 5, 2018 |publisher=National Hurricane Center |location=Miami, Florida |access-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420024334/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL152017_Maria.pdf |archive-date=April 20, 2018 |url-status=live }} Gradual organization occurred as it progressed westward across the tropical Atlantic under the influence of a mid-level ridge that was located to the system's north,{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=201709142033&basin=atl&fdays=5|title=Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook|work=National Hurricane Center|first1=Eric|last1=Blake|date=September 14, 2017|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919234124/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=201709142033&basin=atl&fdays=5|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=201709152035&basin=atl&fdays=5|title=Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook|work=National Hurricane Center|first1=Eric|last1=Blake|date=September 15, 2017|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044110/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=201709152035&basin=atl&fdays=5|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}} and by 12:00 UTC on September 16, it had developed into Tropical Depression Fifteen, as deep convection consolidated and developed into curved bands wrapping into an increasingly-defined center of circulation. At that time, it was located about {{convert|665|mi|abbr=on}} east of Barbados. Favorable conditions along the system's path consisting of warm sea surface temperatures of {{convert|29|C|F|abbr=on}}, low wind shear, and abundant moisture aloft allowed the disturbance to consolidate and become Tropical Storm Maria 6 hours later, after satellite images had indicated that the low-level circulation of the wave had become well-defined.{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.002.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Maria Discussion Number 2|first1=John|last1=Cangialosi|work=National Hurricane Center|date=September 16, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921015242/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.002.shtml|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live}}

Maria gradually strengthened, and by late on September 17, although the center had temporarily become exposed, a convective burst over the center enabled it to become a hurricane.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.006.shtml?|title=Hurricane Maria Discussion Number 6|first1=John|last1=Cangialosi|work=National Hurricane Center|date=September 17, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921000655/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.006.shtml|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live}} Shortly afterward, explosive intensification occurred, with Maria nearly doubling its winds from {{convert|85|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=10}}—a Category 1 hurricane, to {{convert|165|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=10}}—a Category 5 hurricane, in just 24 hours, by which time it was located just {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}} east-southeast of Dominica late on September 18;{{cite report|first1=Daniel|last1=Brown|first2=Eric|last2=Blake|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|title=Hurricane Maria Tropical Cyclone Update|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.update.09182345.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920095726/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.update.09182345.shtml|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}} the rate of intensification that occurred has been exceeded only a few times in the Atlantic since records began. Maria made landfall in Dominica at 01:15 UTC on September 19,{{cite report|first1=Daniel|last1=Brown|first2=Eric|last2=Blake|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|title=Hurricane Maria Tropical Cyclone Update|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.update.09190132.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919234736/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.update.09190132.shtml|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} becoming the first Category 5 hurricane on record to strike the island nation.{{cite news|first=Jason|last=Samenow|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|title=As Hurricane Maria slowly pulls away from Puerto Rico, the U.S. East Coast awaits its next move|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/20/as-maria-slowly-pulls-away-from-puerto-rico-the-u-s-east-coast-watches-and-awaits-its-next-move|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920225635/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/20/as-maria-slowly-pulls-away-from-puerto-rico-the-u-s-east-coast-watches-and-awaits-its-next-move/|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}

File:Maria 2017-09-19 0000Z.jpg on September 19]]

Entering the Caribbean Sea, Maria weakened slightly to a Category 4 hurricane due to land interaction with the island of Dominica, however it quickly restrengthened to a Category 5 hurricane and attained its peak intensity with winds of {{convert|175|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} and a pressure of 908 mbar (hPa; 26.81 inHg) at 03:00 UTC on September 20 while southeast of Puerto Rico; this ranks it as the eleventh-most intense Atlantic hurricane since reliable records began. An eyewall replacement cycle caused Maria weaken to Category 4 strength before it made landfall near Yabucoa, Puerto Rico at 10:15 UTC (6:15 am local time) that day with winds of {{convert|155|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}}—the most intense to strike on the island since the 1928 San Felipe Segundo hurricane.{{cite report|first=Robbie|last=Berg|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|title=Hurricane Maria Discussion Number 18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.018.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001351/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.018.shtml|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live}} Maria weakened significantly while traversing Puerto Rico, but was able to restrengthen to a major hurricane once it emerged over the Atlantic later that afternoon, eventually attaining a secondary peak intensity with winds of {{convert|125|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} on September 22, while north of Hispaniola.{{cite report|first=Lixion|last=Avila|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 25, 2017|title=Hurricane Maria Discussion Number 24|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.024.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926041126/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.024.shtml|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}}

Maria then began fluctuating in intensity for the next few days as the eye periodically appeared and disappeared, while slowly nearing the East Coast of the United States, although southwesterly wind shear gradually weakened the hurricane. By September 25, it passed over cooler sea surface temperatures that had been left behind by Hurricane Jose a week prior, causing its inner core to collapse and the structure of the storm to change significantly.{{cite report |first=John |last=Beven |publisher=National Hurricane Center |date=September 25, 2017 |access-date=September 25, 2017 |title=Hurricane Maria Discussion Number 37 |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.037.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926041230/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.037.shtml |archive-date=September 26, 2017 |url-status=live }} On September 28, a trough that was beginning to emerge off the Northeastern United States swung Maria eastward out to sea, while also weakening to a tropical storm. Periodic bursts of convection near the center managed to maintain Maria's intensity as it accelerated east-northeast across the northern Atlantic Ocean, but interaction with an encroaching frontal zone ultimately resulted in the storm becoming an extratropical cyclone on September 30,{{cite report |first=David |last=Zelinsky |publisher=NHC |date=September 30, 2017 |access-date=October 1, 2017 |title=Post-Tropical Cyclone Maria Discussion Number 59 |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.059.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001212948/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.discus.059.shtml |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |url-status=live }} which continued east-northeastward, before dissipating on October 2.

File:Navy Helps Evacuate Military From U.S. Virgin Islands Ahead of Hurricane Maria.webm

Upon the initiation of the National Hurricane Center (NHC)'s first advisories for the system that would become Tropical Storm Maria on the morning of September 16, the government of France issued tropical storm watches for the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, while St. Lucia issued a tropical storm watch for its citizens, and the government of Barbados issued a similar watch for Dominica.{{cite web|last1=Cangialosi|first1=John|title=Potential Tropical Cyclone Fifteen Advisory Number 1|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.001.shtml?|website=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916215721/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.001.shtml|archive-date=September 16, 2017|date=September 16, 2017}} Barbados would later that day declare a tropical storm watch for its citizens and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.{{cite web|last1=Cangialosi|first1=John|title=Tropical Depression Fifteen Intermediate Advisory Number 1A|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public_a.001.shtml|website=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916220110/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public_a.001.shtml|archive-date=September 16, 2017|date=September 16, 2017}} The government of Antigua and Barbuda issued Hurricane watches for the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat by the time of the NHC's second advisory which declared Maria a tropical storm.{{cite web|last1=Cangialosi|first1=John|title=Tropical Storm Maria Advisory Number 2|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.002.shtml|website=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916220327/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.002.shtml|archive-date=September 16, 2017|date=September 16, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Porter|first1=Greg|title=Hurricane Jose lurks off the East Coast, Tropical Storm Maria threatens the Caribbean|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/16/hurricane-jose-lurks-off-the-east-coast-and-the-caribbean-faces-a-new-threat-as-tropics-remain-active/|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=WP Company LLC|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917000012/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/16/hurricane-jose-lurks-off-the-east-coast-and-the-caribbean-faces-a-new-threat-as-tropics-remain-active/|archive-date=September 17, 2017|date=September 16, 2017}} The Dominican Republic activated the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters for humanitarian satellite coverage on the 20th.{{Cite web |url=https://disasterscharter.org/web/guest/-/flood-in-dominican-republic-activation-556- |title=Hurricane Maria in the Dominican Republic |website=International Charter on Space and Major Disasters |access-date=September 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925103454/https://disasterscharter.org/web/guest/-/flood-in-dominican-republic-activation-556- |archive-date=September 25, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Prior to both Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), already struggling with increasing debt, had seen budget cuts imposed by PROMESA as well as the loss of 30 percent of its work force since 2012. With the median age of PREPA power plants at 44 years, an aging infrastructure across the island made the electric grid more susceptible to damage from storms. Inadequate safety mechanisms also plagued Puerto Rico's electric company, and local newspapers frequently reported on its poor maintenance and outdated control systems.{{cite news|first=Steven|last=Mufson|agency=The Washington Post|newspaper=The Star|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2017|title=Puerto Rico's electric company was already $9 billion in debt before hurricanes hit|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/09/21/puerto-ricos-electric-company-was-already-9-billion-in-debt-before-hurricanes-hit.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921225317/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/09/21/puerto-ricos-electric-company-was-already-9-billion-in-debt-before-hurricanes-hit.html|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live}}

According to the non-profit environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council, the island's water system was already in substandard conditions prior to hurricanes Irma and Maria. The NRDC reported that seventy percent of the island had water that did not meet the standards of the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/11/02/puerto-rico-water-woes-raise-fears-health-crisis-six-weeks-after-hurricane-maria/808672001/|title=Puerto Rico's water woes raise fears of health crisis six weeks after Hurricane Maria|last1=Dorell|first1=Oren|date=November 2, 2017|work=USA Today|access-date=November 3, 2017|last2=Nuñez|first2=Atabey|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103122621/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/11/02/puerto-rico-water-woes-raise-fears-health-crisis-six-weeks-after-hurricane-maria/808672001/|archive-date=November 3, 2017|url-status=live}}

Still recovering from Hurricane Irma two weeks prior, approximately 80,000 remained without power as Maria approached.{{cite news|first1=Brian|last1=Sullivan|first2=Ezra|last2=Fieser|publisher=Bloomberg|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2017|title=Maria Latest Threat to Puerto Rico After $1 Billion Irma Hit|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-19/hurricane-maria-heads-for-puerto-rico-after-dominica-strike|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920130222/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-19/hurricane-maria-heads-for-puerto-rico-after-dominica-strike|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}} FEMA's Caribbean Distribution Center warehouse, its only emergency stockpile in the islands, is located on Puerto Rico. By September 15, 2017, 83% of the items there, including 90% of the water and all of the tarps and cots, had been deployed for post-Irma relief, mostly to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Maria arrived before supplies were replenished.{{cite web |url=https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1533643262195-6d1398339449ca85942538a1249d2ae9/2017FEMAHurricaneAARv20180730.pdf |title=2017 Hurricane Season FEMA After-Action Report |date=August 8, 2018 |publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency |access-date=September 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914113935/https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1533643262195-6d1398339449ca85942538a1249d2ae9/2017FEMAHurricaneAARv20180730.pdf |archive-date=September 14, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Evacuation orders were issued in Puerto Rico in advance of Maria, and officials announced that 450 shelters would open in the afternoon of September 18.{{Cite news|title=Hurricane Maria upgraded to 'extremely dangerous' Category 4, islands including Puerto Rico brace for impact|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/maria-landfall-dominica-category-5/story?id=49923831|last1=Shapiro|first1=Emily|last2=Hoyos|first2=Joshua|last3=Golembo|first3=Max|last4=Allen|first4=Karma|publisher=ABC News|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919055457/https://abcnews.go.com/US/maria-landfall-dominica-category-5/story?id=49923831|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} By September 19, 2017, at least 2,000 people in Puerto Rico had sought shelter.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria.html|newspaper=The New York Times|title=Puerto Rico Braces for 'Potentially Catastrophic' Hit by Hurricane Maria|author1=Luis Ferré-Sadurní|author2=Frances Robles|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919205019/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria.html|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} Using anonymous aggregate cell phone tracking data provided by Google from users that opted to share location data, researchers reported that travel from Puerto Rico increased 20% the day before the hurricane made landfall. Puerto Rican travelers often chose to go to Orlando, Miami, New York City, and Atlanta. Internally, there was an influx of people into San Juan.{{Cite web|url=https://phys.org/news/2017-11-cellphone-reveals-hurricane-maria-impact.html|title=Cellphone data reveals Hurricane Maria's impact on travel in Puerto Rico|date=November 14, 2017|website=Physics.org|access-date=November 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034958/https://phys.org/news/2017-11-cellphone-reveals-hurricane-maria-impact.html|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}

As Maria approached the coast of North Carolina and threatened to bring tropical storm conditions, a storm surge warning was issued for the coast between Ocracoke Inlet and Cape Hatteras, while a storm surge watch was issued for the Pamlico Sound, the lower Neuse River, and the Alligator River on the morning of September 26. A state of emergency was declared by officials in Dare and Hyde counties, while visitors were ordered to evacuate Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Ferry service between Ocracoke and Cedar Island was suspended the evening of September 25, and remained suspended on September 26 and 27, due to rough seas, while ferry service between Ocracoke and Hatteras Island was suspended on September 26 and 27. The port in Morehead City was closed by the United States Coast Guard on the morning of September 26. Schools in Dare County closed on September 26 and 27, while schools in Carteret and Tyrrell counties, along with Ocracoke Island, dismissed early on September 26, in anticipation of high winds.{{cite news|last1=Bennett|first1=Abbie|last2=Gallagher|first2=Ron|last3=Molina|first3=Camila|title=Downgraded but still dangerous: Maria brings wind, flooding to OBX; hundreds evacuated|work=The News & Observer|location=Raleigh, NC|date=September 26, 2017|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article175392091.html|access-date=September 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926155740/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article175392091.html|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Gallagher|first1=Ron|last2=Molina|first2=Camila|title=Maria climbs back to hurricane status, brings wind, flood threat to OBX|work=The News & Observer|location=Raleigh, NC|date=September 27, 2017|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article175610766.html|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927163906/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article175610766.html|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}} Schools in Currituck County were closed on September 27, due to high winds.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right;clear:right;"

|+ Deaths and damage by territory

! Territory

! Fatalities

! Missing

! Damage
(2017 USD)

! class="unsortable" | Ref

|- style="text-align:right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Dominica

| 65

| 0

| {{ntsp|1370000000||$}}

|{{cite report|title=Post-Disaster Needs Assessment Hurricane Maria September 18, 2017|url=https://resilientcaribbean.caricom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/DOMINICA-EXECUTIVE-SUMMARY.pdf|publisher=Resilient Caribbean Caricom|date=November 15, 2017|access-date=February 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220141239/https://resilientcaribbean.caricom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/DOMINICA-EXECUTIVE-SUMMARY.pdf|archive-date=December 20, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Maria among 2017's retired storm names |date=April 12, 2018 |url=http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/maria-among-2017s-retired-storm-names/ |publisher=Dominica News Online |access-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616053913/http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/maria-among-2017s-retired-storm-names/ |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}

|- style="text-align:right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Dominican Republic

| 5

| 1

| {{ntsp|63000000||$}}

|{{cite news|url=https://acento.com.do/2017/economia/8496098-republica-dominicana-estima-reparar-danos-del-huracan-maria-costara-us63-millones/|title=República Dominicana estima reparar daños del huracán María costará US$63 millones|date=September 28, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|publisher=Acento|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201215008/https://acento.com.do/2017/economia/8496098-republica-dominicana-estima-reparar-danos-del-huracan-maria-costara-us63-millones/|archive-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=live}}

|- style="text-align: right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Guadeloupe (France)

| 4

| 0

| {{ntsp|120000000||$}}

|

|- style="text-align:right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Haiti

| 3

| 0

| {{N/A}}

|

|- style="text-align:right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Martinique (France)

| 0

| 0

| {{ntsp|42000000||$}}

|{{cite news|first=Iris|last=Ouedraogo|title=Ouragan Maria : l'Etat va indemniser les agriculteurs de Guadeloupe et de Martinique|url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Economie/ouragan-maria-letat-va-indemniser-les-agriculteurs-de-guadeloupe-et-de-martinique-3484007|publisher=Le Journal du Dimanche|date=November 5, 2017|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106000658/http://www.lejdd.fr/economie/ouragan-maria-letat-va-indemniser-les-agriculteurs-de-guadeloupe-et-de-martinique-3484007|archive-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live}}

|- style="text-align:right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Saint Kitts and Nevis

| 0

| 0

| {{ntsp|12800000||$}}

|{{cite report|url=http://www.cdema.org/cdema_sitrep_3_hurricane_maria.pdf|title=Hurricane Maria: Situation Report #3|publisher=Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency|date=September 24, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927155729/http://www.cdema.org/cdema_sitrep_3_hurricane_maria.pdf|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}

|- style="text-align:right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Puerto Rico

| 2,975

| 60

|rowspan=2| {{ntsp|90000000000||$}}

|{{cite report|title=Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters: Table of Events|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/events/US/1980-2017|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121181425/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/events/US/1980-2017|archive-date=January 21, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Sánchez Fournier|first1=José A.|title=La cifra de personas desaparecidas tras María baja a 60|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/lacifradepersonasdesaparecidastrasmariabajaa60-2367744/|access-date=October 22, 2017|publisher=El Nuevo Día|date=October 20, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171022040448/https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/lacifradepersonasdesaparecidastrasmariabajaa60-2367744/|archive-date=October 22, 2017|language=es|quote=La Policía anuncia que ya solo quedan sin esclarecer 60 de los 212 casos de personas desaparecidas reportadas en la Isla desde el paso del huracán|url-status=dead}}

|- style="text-align:right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | United States Virgin Islands

| 3

| 4

|{{Cite news | url=http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/five-hurricane-related-deaths-confirmed/article_90b2f60d-7abd-5313-a1da-7c3a4c976fc7.html | title=Five hurricane-related deaths confirmed | last=Carlson | first=Suzanne | date=October 3, 2017 | work=The Virgin Islands Daily News | access-date=November 12, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003120116/http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/five-hurricane-related-deaths-confirmed/article_90b2f60d-7abd-5313-a1da-7c3a4c976fc7.html | archive-date=October 3, 2017 | url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/federal-disaster-relief-begins-on-st-croix/article_96602d56-799e-54ad-864e-ddea06ff9862.html|title=Federal disaster relief begins on St. Croix|last=O'Connor|first=Brian|date=September 22, 2017|newspaper=The Virgin Islands Daily News|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923070302/http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/federal-disaster-relief-begins-on-st-croix/article_96602d56-799e-54ad-864e-ddea06ff9862.html|archive-date=September 23, 2017|url-status=live}}

|- style="text-align:right;"

| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | United States

| 4

| 0

| {{N/A}}

|{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Jersey-Shore-Beach-Swimmer-Rescue-Ban-Ocean--447725023.html|title=3 Drown Off Jersey Shore, Dozens Rescued Despite 'No Swimming' Warning|publisher=NBC New York|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112030/http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Jersey-Shore-Beach-Swimmer-Rescue-Ban-Ocean--447725023.html|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}

|- class="sortbottom"

! scope="row" style="text-align: lefit;" | Totals:

! style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|3,059}}

! style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|65}}

! style="text-align:right;" | {{ntsp|91608000000||$}}

!

|}

The outer rainbands of Maria produced heavy rainfall and strong gusts across the southern Windward Islands.{{cite news|url=https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/19/flooding-still-possible-met-office-warns/|title=Flooding still possible, met office warns|newspaper=Barbados Today|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919210633/https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/19/flooding-still-possible-met-office-warns/|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} The Hewanorra and George F. L. Charles airports of Saint Lucia respectively recorded {{convert|4.33|and|3.1|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain, though even higher quantities fell elsewhere on the island.{{cite news|url=https://stluciatimes.com/2017/09/19/tropical-storm-warning-discontinued-st-lucia-no-clear-given|title=Tropical Storm Warning discontinued for St Lucia; no "All Clear" given|newspaper=St. Lucia Times|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920191232/https://stluciatimes.com/2017/09/19/tropical-storm-warning-discontinued-st-lucia-no-clear-given|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=dead}} Scattered rock slides, landslides and uprooted trees caused minor damage and blocked some roads.{{cite news|url=https://stluciatimes.com/2017/09/19/acting-pm-concerned-hurricane-fake-news|title=Acting PM concerned about hurricane 'fake news'|newspaper=St. Lucia Times|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920050843/https://stluciatimes.com/2017/09/19/acting-pm-concerned-hurricane-fake-news|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=dead}} Several districts experienced localized blackouts due to downed or damaged power lines.{{cite news|url=https://stluciatimes.com/2017/09/19/lucelec-hurricane-maria-electricity-system-update-1|title=LUCELEC: Hurricane Maria electricity system update #1|newspaper=St. Lucia Times|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920050558/https://stluciatimes.com/2017/09/19/lucelec-hurricane-maria-electricity-system-update-1|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=dead}} The agricultural sector, especially the banana industry, suffered losses from the winds.

Heavy rainfall amounting to {{convert|3|–|5|in|mm|abbr=on}}{{cite report|url=https://www.facebook.com/BarbadosMeteorologicalService/posts/2028129424083370|publisher=Barbados Meteorological Services via Facebook|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|title=The flood warning for Barbados has been extended until 6:00 A.M. tomorrow Tuesday 19th September, 2017|type=Bulletin}} caused scattered flooding across Barbados; in Christ Church, the flood waters trapped residents from the neighborhood of Goodland in their homes and inundated the business streets of Saint Lawrence Gap.{{cite news|url=https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/19/nowhere-to-go-3/|title=Nowhere to go|author=Davandra Babb|newspaper=Barbados Today|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920141519/https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/19/nowhere-to-go-3/|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/18/flooding-in-st-lawrence-gap/|title=Flooding in St Lawrence Gap|newspaper=Barbados Today|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044807/https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/18/flooding-in-st-lawrence-gap/|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}} Maria stirred up rough seas that flooded coastal sidewalks in Bridgetown and damaged boats as operators had difficulties securing their vessels.{{cite news|url=https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/18/no-safe-harbour-for-boat-owners/|title=No safe harbour for boat owners|newspaper=Barbados Today|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919050312/https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/18/no-safe-harbour-for-boat-owners/|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} High winds triggered an island-wide power outage and downed a coconut tree onto a residence in Saint Joseph.{{cite news|url=https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/18/coconut-tree-falls-on-st-joseph-home/|title=Coconut tree falls on St Joseph home|newspaper=Barbados Today|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044526/https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/18/coconut-tree-falls-on-st-joseph-home/|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/18/black-out/|title=Black out|newspaper=Barbados Today|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045225/https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/09/18/black-out/|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}

Passing {{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=on}} off the northern shorelines, Maria brought torrential rainfall and strong gusts to Martinique but spared the island of its hurricane-force windfield,{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/live/2017/09/19/en-direct-l-ouragan-maria-ravage-la-dominique-et-se-dirige-vers-la-guadeloupe_5187622_3244.html|title=Ouragan Maria, en direct : Saint-Martin et Saint-Barthélemy en vigilance violette|newspaper=Le Monde|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|language=FR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919111815/http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/live/2017/09/19/en-direct-l-ouragan-maria-ravage-la-dominique-et-se-dirige-vers-la-guadeloupe_5187622_3244.html|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} which at the time extended {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}} around the eye.{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.011.shtml?|title=Hurricane Maria Special Advisory Number 11|type=Bulletin|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922103628/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/al15/al152017.public.011.shtml|archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live}} The commune of Le Marigot recorded {{convert|6.7|in|mm}} of rain over a 24-hour period.{{cite news|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/environnement/nature/interactif-ouragan-maria-a-quoi-correspondent-les-pluies-deja-tombees-19-09-2017-7271835.php|language=FR|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|title=Ouragan Maria : à quoi correspondent les pluies déjà tombées|newspaper=Le Parisien|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919170921/http://www.leparisien.fr/environnement/nature/interactif-ouragan-maria-a-quoi-correspondent-les-pluies-deja-tombees-19-09-2017-7271835.php|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} By September 19, Maria had knocked out power to 70,000 households, about 40% of the population. Water service was cut to 50,000 customers, especially in the communes of Le Morne-Rouge and Gros-Morne. Numerous roads and streets, especially along the northern coast, were impassible due to rock slides, fallen trees and toppled power poles.{{cite press release|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Ouragan-Maria-point-de-situation-20-sept.-7h|title=Ouragan Maria : point de situation – 20 sept. 7h|publisher=Minister of the Interior (France)|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|language=FR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190910/https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Ouragan-Maria-point-de-situation-20-sept.-7h|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.lci.fr/societe/en-direct-ouragan-maria-une-personne-decedee-et-deux-disparues-en-guadeloupe-selon-la-prefecture-2064653.html|title=En direct – Ouragan Maria : un mort et deux disparus en Guadeloupe, un blessé grave en Martinique|publisher=La Chaîne Info|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|language=FR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919214304/http://www.lci.fr/societe/en-direct-ouragan-maria-une-personne-decedee-et-deux-disparues-en-guadeloupe-selon-la-prefecture-2064653.html|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} Streets in Fort-de-France were inundated. In the seaside commune of Le Carbet, rough seas washed ashore large rocks and demolished some coastal structures,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/world/americas/hurricane-maria-caribbean.html|title=Hurricane Maria Does 'Mind Boggling' Damage to Dominica, Leader Says|author1=Kirk Semple|author2=Austin Ramzy|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919112307/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/world/americas/hurricane-maria-caribbean.html|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} while some boats were blown over along the bay of the commune of Schœlcher.{{cite news|url=http://www.martinique.franceantilles.fr/actualite/diaporamas/maria-un-voilier-echoue-a-fond-lahaye-434255.php?pos=17#pubs_top|title=Maria : un voilier échoué à Fond Lahaye|newspaper=France-Antilles Martinique|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|language=FR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924094204/http://www.martinique.franceantilles.fr/actualite/diaporamas/maria-un-voilier-echoue-a-fond-lahaye-434255.php?pos=17#pubs_top|archive-date=September 24, 2017|url-status=live}} Martinique's agricultural sector suffered considerable losses: about 70% of banana crops sustained wind damage, with nearly every tree downed along the northern coast. There were no deaths on the island, although four people were injured in the hurricane—two seriously and two lightly. Agricultural loss were estimated at €35 million (US$42 million).

Rainfall ahead of the hurricane caused several landslides in Dominica, as water levels across the island began to rise by the afternoon of September 18.{{cite news|url=http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/center-of-hurricane-maria-to-move-across-dominica-tonight/|title=Center of Hurricane Maria to move across Dominica tonight|newspaper=Dominica News Online|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922163751/http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/center-of-hurricane-maria-to-move-across-dominica-tonight/|archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live}} Maria made landfall at 21:15 AST that day (1:15 UTC, September 19) as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|165|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. These winds, the most extreme to ever impact the island,{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/merciless-hurricane-maria-pummels-dominica-takes-aim-puerto/story?id=49944250|title=Hurricane Maria Damages Dominica's Main Hospital, Leaves 'War Zone' Conditions|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2017|author=Yuliya Talmazan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927052608/https://abcnews.go.com/International/merciless-hurricane-maria-pummels-dominica-takes-aim-puerto/story?id=49944250|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}} damaged the roof of practically every home—including the official residence of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who required rescue when his home began to flood.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/hurricane-maria-now-category-5-blows-away-roof-dominica-pms-house-2591299 |title=Hurricane Maria, Now Category 5, Blows Away Roof Of Dominica PM's House |last=Paul |first=Pritha |date=September 19, 2017 |work=International Business Times |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919074813/http://www.ibtimes.com/hurricane-maria-now-category-5-blows-away-roof-dominica-pms-house-2591299 |archive-date=September 19, 2017 |url-status=live}} Downing all cellular, radio and internet services, Maria effectively cut Dominica off from the outside world; the situation there remained unclear for a couple of days after the hurricane's passage.{{cite news|url=https://stluciatimes.com/2017/09/19/concerns-dominica-communication-blackout|title=Concerns over Dominica communication blackout|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|newspaper=St. Lucia Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920191948/https://stluciatimes.com/2017/09/19/concerns-dominica-communication-blackout|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=dead}} Skerrit called the devastation "mind boggling" before going offline, and indicated immediate priority was to rescue survivors rather than assess damage.{{cite news|author=Austin Ramzy|newspaper=New York Times|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|title=Hurricane Maria Does 'Mind Boggling' Damage to Dominica, Leader Says|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/world/americas/hurricane-maria-caribbean.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919112307/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/world/americas/hurricane-maria-caribbean.html|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} Initial ham radio reports from the capital of Roseau on September 19 indicated "total devastation," with half the city flooded, cars stranded, and stretches of residential area "flattened".{{cite news|url=https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/radio-amateur-on-st-lucia-relays-reports-of-hurricane-devastation-on-dominica/|title=Radio Amateur on St. Lucia relays reports of hurricane devastation on Dominica|newspaper=St. Lucia News Online|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045621/https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/radio-amateur-on-st-lucia-relays-reports-of-hurricane-devastation-on-dominica/|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}

File:Aerial view of part of Roseau, the capital city of Dominica.jpg

The next morning, the first aerial footage of Dominica elucidated the scope of the destruction. Maria left the mountainous country blanketed in a field of debris: Rows of houses along the entirety of the coastline were rendered uninhabitable, as widespread floods and landslides littered neighborhoods with the structural remnants.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/sep/19/hurricane-maria-category-5-caribbean-live-updates|title=Hurricane Maria makes landfall on Puerto Rico – live updates|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|author1=Matthew Weaver|author2=Claire Phipps|author3=Sam Levin|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923003453/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/sep/19/hurricane-maria-category-5-caribbean-live-updates|archive-date=September 23, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/small-island-dominica-hit-hardest-hurricane-maria-170925174603370.html|title=Hurricane Maria turns Dominica into 'giant debris field'|newspaper=Aljazeera|author=Gabriel Elizondo|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006213320/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/small-island-dominica-hit-hardest-hurricane-maria-170925174603370.html|archive-date=October 6, 2017|url-status=live}} The hurricane also inflicted extensive damage to roads and public buildings, such as schools, stores and churches, and affected all of Dominica's 73,000 residents in some form or way.{{cite report|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IB25092017.pdf|title=Dominica: Hurricane Maria|publisher=International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2017|issue=2|type=Information Bulletin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927111945/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IB25092017.pdf|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}} The air control towers and terminal buildings of the Canefield and Douglas Charles airports were severely damaged, although the runways remained relatively intact and open to emergency landings. The disaster affected all of the island's 53 health facilities, including the badly damaged primary hospital, compromising the safety of many patients.{{cite report|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA-Dominica-Sitrep%201%20-%20Hurricane%20Maria-ENG-20170925.pdf|title=Hurricane Maria: Dominica – Situation Report No. 1|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|publisher=United Nations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927113036/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA-Dominica-Sitrep%201%20-%20Hurricane%20Maria-ENG-20170925.pdf|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}

File:Morning after Hurricane Maria (37372721465).jpg area is littered with structural debris, damaged vegetation and downed power poles and lines.]]

The infrastructure of Roseau was left in ruins; practically every power pole and line was downed, and the main road was reduced to fragments of flooded asphalt. The winds stripped the public library of its roof panels and demolished all but one wall of the Baptist church.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/100000005450694/dominica-hurricane-maria.html|title=A Walk Through Dominica, Hours After Hurricane Maria|author=Barbara Marcolini|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927175205/https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/100000005450694/dominica-hurricane-maria.html|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}} To the south of Roseau, riverside flooding and numerous landslides impacted the town of Pointe Michel, destroying about 80% of its structures and causing most of the deaths in the country.{{cite report|url=https://unitar.org/unosat/node/44/2681|title=Tropical Cyclone Maria: Damage Assessment in Pointe Michel, Saint Luke Parish, Dominica|publisher=United Nations Institute for Teaching and Learning|work=UNITAR's Operational Satellite Applications Programme|type=Map|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928005339/https://unitar.org/unosat/node/44/2681|archive-date=September 28, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://antiguaobserver.com/death-toll-rises-in-dominica/|title=Death toll rises in Dominica|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|newspaper=Antigua Observer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926125711/https://antiguaobserver.com/death-toll-rises-in-dominica/|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}} Outside the capital area, the worst of the destruction was concentrated around the east coast and rural areas, where collapsed roads and bridges isolated many villages. The port and fishing town of Marigot, Saint Andrew Parish, was 80% damaged.{{cite report|url=https://unitar.org/unosat/node/44/2684|title=Tropical Cyclone Maria: Damage Assessment in Marigot, Saint Andrew Parish, Dominica|publisher=United Nations Institute for Teaching and Learning|work=UNITAR's Operational Satellite Applications Programme|type=Map|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927113019/https://unitar.org/unosat/node/44/2684|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}} Settlements in Saint David Parish, such as Castle Bruce, Good Hope and Grand Fond, had been practically eradicated; many homes hung off cliffs or decoupled from their foundations. In Rosalie, rushing waters gushed over the village's bridge and damaged facilities in its bay area. Throughout Saint Patrick Parish, the extreme winds ripped through roofs and scorched the vegetation. Buildings in Grand Bay, the parish's main settlement, experienced total roof failure or were otherwise structurally compromised. Many houses in La Plaine caved in or slid into rivers, and its single bridge was broken.{{cite report|url=https://cdn.prezly.com/3d/dea9209ed311e78b2bef8ae45cc8c5/CDEMA-Situation-Report-_1---Hurricane-Maria-FINAL.pdf|title=Hurricane Maria: Situation Report #1|publisher=Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112941/https://cdn.prezly.com/3d/dea9209ed311e78b2bef8ae45cc8c5/CDEMA-Situation-Report-_1---Hurricane-Maria-FINAL.pdf|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}

Overall, the hurricane damaged the roofs of as much as 98% of the island's buildings, including those serving as shelters; half of the houses had their frames destroyed. Its ferocious winds defoliated nearly all vegetation, splintering or uprooting thousands of trees and decimating the island's lush rainforests.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/21/dominica-daze-hurricane-maria-island-caribbean-rescue|title=Hurricane Maria: Dominica 'in daze' after storm leaves island cut off from world|author=Claire Phipps|newspaper=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press & Reuters|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928005655/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/21/dominica-daze-hurricane-maria-island-caribbean-rescue|archive-date=September 28, 2017|url-status=live}} The agricultural sector, a vital source of income for the country, was completely wiped out: 100% of banana and tuber plantations was lost, as well as vast amounts of livestock and farm equipment. In Maria's wake, Dominica's population suffered from an island-wide water shortage due to uprooted pipes. The Assessment Capacities Project estimates that the hurricane has caused EC$3.69 billion (US$1.37 billion) in losses across the island, which is equal to 226 percent of its 2016 GDP. As of April 12, 2019, a total of 65 fatalities have been confirmed across the island, including 34 who are missing and presumed to be dead.

Post-hurricane relief aid that was brought to Dominica from regional partners and aiding countries additionally brought several non-native species that became established and which local stakeholders are still trying to remove in 2022.{{cite journal | last1 = van den Burg | first1 = Matthijs P. | last2 = Brisbane | first2 = Jeanelle L. K. | last3 = Knapp | first3 = Charles R. | title = Post-hurricane relief facilitates invasion and establishment of two invasive alien vertebrate species in the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies | journal = Biological Invasions | date = October 14, 2019 | volume = 22 | issue = 2 | pages = 195–203 | issn = 1387-3547 | eissn = 1573-1464 | doi = 10.1007/s10530-019-02107-5 | pmid = | s2cid = 204460134 | url = }}

File:Dégats Ouragan Maria (nettoyage des routes).jpg

Blustery conditions spread over Guadeloupe as Maria tracked to the south of the archipelago, which endured hours of unabating hurricane-force winds.{{cite news|url=http://www.rtl.fr/actu/societe-faits-divers/ouragan-maria-une-soufflerie-permanente-selon-un-habitant-de-guadeloupe-7790147968|title=Ouragan Maria : "Une soufflerie permanente", selon un habitant de Guadeloupe|language=FR|publisher=RTL|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|author1=Alice Moreno|author2=Océane Blanchard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919103618/http://www.rtl.fr/actu/societe-faits-divers/ouragan-maria-une-soufflerie-permanente-selon-un-habitant-de-guadeloupe-7790147968|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} The strongest winds blew along the southern coastlines of Basse-Terre Island: Gourbeyre observed a peak wind speed of {{convert|101|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, while winds up north in nearby Baillif reached {{convert|92|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|url=http://actualite.lachainemeteo.com/actualite-meteo/2017-09-20-16h14/ouragan-maria---1-er-bilan-sur-les-antilles-44903.php|title=Ouragan Maria : 1 er bilan sur les Antilles|publisher=La Chaîne Météo|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924045136/http://actualite.lachainemeteo.com/actualite-meteo/2017-09-20-16h14/ouragan-maria---1-er-bilan-sur-les-antilles-44903.php|archive-date=September 24, 2017|url-status=live}} Along those regions, the hurricane kicked up extremely rough seas with {{convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on}} waves.{{Cite web|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/guadeloupe/maria-se-dechaine-archipel-plusieurs-heures-513679.html|title=Maria se déchaîne sur l'archipel depuis plusieurs heures|website=Guadeloupe la 1ère|date=September 19, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227192242/https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/guadeloupe/maria-se-dechaine-archipel-plusieurs-heures-513679.html|archive-date=December 27, 2019|url-status=live}} The combination of rough seas and winds was responsible for widespread structural damage and flooding throughout the archipelago, especially from Pointe-à-Pitre, along Grand-Terre Island's southwestern coast, to Petit-Bourg and the southern coasts on Basse-Terre Island.{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/climat/article/2017/09/19/des-renforts-envoyes-dans-les-antilles-apres-le-passage-de-l-ouragan-maria_5187874_1652612.html|title=Ouragan Maria : deux morts et deux disparus en Guadeloupe|newspaper=Le Monde|agency=Agence France-Presse & Reuters|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|language=FR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919151106/http://www.lemonde.fr/climat/article/2017/09/19/des-renforts-envoyes-dans-les-antilles-apres-le-passage-de-l-ouragan-maria_5187874_1652612.html|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}} Aside from wind-related effects, rainfall from Maria was also significant. In just a day, the hurricane dropped nearly a month's worth of rainfall at some important locations: Pointe-à-Pitre recorded a 24-hour total of {{convert|7.5|in|mm}}, while the capital of Basse-Terre measured {{convert|6.4|in|mm|abbr=on}}. Even greater quantities fell at higher elevations of Basse Terre Island, with a maximum total of {{convert|18.07|in|mm|abbr=on}} measured at the mountainous locality of Matouba, Saint-Claude.

Throughout the archipelago, the hurricane left 40% of the population (80,000 households) without power and 25% of landline users without service. The islands of Marie-Galante, La Désirade and especially Les Saintes bore the brunt of the winds, which caused heavy damage to structures and nature alike and cut the islands off from their surroundings for several days.{{cite news|url=http://www.europe1.fr/societe/maria-un-mort-et-deux-personnes-disparues-en-guadeloupe-3440639|title=Maria : un mort et deux personnes disparues en Guadeloupe|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|language=FR|publisher=Europe1|agency=Agence France-Presse|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922101539/http://www.europe1.fr/societe/maria-un-mort-et-deux-personnes-disparues-en-guadeloupe-3440639|archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live}} Homes on Terre-de-Haut Island of Les Saintes were flooded or lost their roofs.{{cite news|url=http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/maria-iles-saintes-guadeloupe-fortement-touchees-514135.html|title=Maria : les îles des Saintes en Guadeloupe fortement touchées|publisher=Martinique 1|author=Peggy Pinel-Fereol|language=FR|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922051021/http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/maria-iles-saintes-guadeloupe-fortement-touchees-514135.html|archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live}} On the mainland, sections of Pointe-à-Pitre stood under more than {{convert|3.3|ft|m}} of water, and the city's hospital sustained significant damage. The Basse-Terre region suffered severe damage to nearly 100% of its banana crops, comprising a total area of more than {{convert|5,000|acre|ha|abbr=off}}; farmers described the destruction to their plantations as "complete annihilation".{{cite news|url=http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/bananiers-guadeloupe-martinique-mis-terre-ouragan-maria-514979.html|title=Les bananiers de Guadeloupe et de Martinique mis à terre par l'ouragan Maria|language=FR|access-date=September 23, 2017|date=September 23, 2017|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=La1ère|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012015640/http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/bananiers-guadeloupe-martinique-mis-terre-ouragan-maria-514979.html|archive-date=October 12, 2017|url-status=live}} Beyond their impact on farmland, the strong winds ravaged much of the island's vegetation: fallen trees and branches covered practically every major road and were responsible for one death. Another person was killed upon being swept out to sea. Two people disappeared at sea after their vessel capsized offshore La Désirade, east of mainland Grande-Terre, and they are presumed to be dead afterwards.{{cite news|url=https://www.europe1.fr/societe/louragan-maria-a-fait-quatre-morts-en-guadeloupe-selon-un-dernier-bilan-3512297|title=L'ouragan Maria a fait quatre morts en Guadeloupe, selon un dernier bilan|language=FR|access-date=January 4, 2018|date=December 5, 2017|publisher=Europe1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206012444/http://www.europe1.fr/societe/louragan-maria-a-fait-quatre-morts-en-guadeloupe-selon-un-dernier-bilan-3512297|archive-date=December 6, 2017|url-status=live}} Damage from Maria across Guadeloupe amounted to at least €100 million (US$120 million).{{cite news|url=http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/ouragan-maria-moins-100-millions-euros-degats-guadeloupe-bruno-maire-514807.html|title=Ouragan Maria : moins de 100 millions d'euros de dégâts en Guadeloupe selon Bruno Le Maire|language=FR|access-date=September 22, 2017|date=September 22, 2017|publisher=La1ère|agency=Agence France-Presse|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925173252/http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/ouragan-maria-moins-100-millions-euros-degats-guadeloupe-bruno-maire-514807.html|archive-date=September 25, 2017|url-status=live}}

File:Salvaged vessel following Hurricane Maria on St. Thomas.jpg

Two weeks after Hurricane Irma hit St. Thomas and St. John as a Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Maria's weaker outer eyewall was reported by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to have crossed Saint Croix, while the hurricane was at Category 5 intensity. Sustained winds at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix reached {{convert|99|to|104|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and gusted to {{convert|137|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|first=Brian|last=O'Connor|newspaper=The Virgin Islands Daily News|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2017|title=St. Croix barely escapes worst of Maria's wrath|url=http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/st-croix-barely-escapes-worst-of-maria-s-wrath/article_b5c3e754-9ee5-11e7-b04a-d388e27fd2da.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921220902/http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/st-croix-barely-escapes-worst-of-maria-s-wrath/article_b5c3e754-9ee5-11e7-b04a-d388e27fd2da.html|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live}} Damage was most extensive in the town of Frederiksted,{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} on the west end of St. Croix, as well as along the southern shoreline, leaving 3 people dead. Weather stations on St. Croix recorded between {{convert|10|and|20|in|mm}} of rain from the hurricane, and estimates for St. John and St. Thomas were somewhat less.{{Cite web|url=http://www.weather.gov/sju/maria2017|title=Major Hurricane Maria|last=National Weather Service, SFO San Juan|date=November 22, 2017|website=National Weather Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608211142/https://www.weather.gov/sju/maria2017|archive-date=June 8, 2018|url-status=live}}

The hurricane killed two people, both in their homes: one person drowned and another was trapped by a mudslide. A third person had a fatal heart attack during the hurricane. The hurricane caused severe damage to St. Croix. It took almost a year for power to be restored to most residents. U.S. President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in the U.S. Virgin Islands one day after Maria hit. The move freed up federal funding for people on the island of St. Croix. After both hurricanes, the office of V.I. congresswoman Stacey Plaskett stated that 90% of buildings in the Virgin Islands were damaged or destroyed and 13,000 of those buildings had lost their roofs.{{Cite journal|last=J.B. Wogan|date=October 6, 2017|title=After Hurricanes, Public Housing May Never Get Rebuilt|url=http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-virgin-islands-hurricanes-housing.html|journal=Governing|access-date=January 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142237/http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-virgin-islands-hurricanes-housing.html|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}} The Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center on St. Croix suffered roof damage and flooding, but remained operational.{{cite news|first=Brian|last=O'Connor|newspaper=The Virgin Islands Daily News|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2017|title=Maria leaves St. Croix with a working hospital|url=http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/maria-leaves-st-croix-with-a-working-hospital/article_c484b68e-9ee4-11e7-b04a-0f336b3b1721.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921223147/http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/maria-leaves-st-croix-with-a-working-hospital/article_c484b68e-9ee4-11e7-b04a-0f336b3b1721.html|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Effects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico}}

File:Puerto Rico Rainfall Totals from Hurricane Maria Updated 2022.jpg

The storm made landfall on Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 20, near the Yabucoa municipality at 10:15 UTC (6:15 a.m. local time) as a high-end Category 4 hurricane with winds of {{convert|155|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. A sustained wind of {{convert|64|mph|abbr=on}} with a gust to {{convert|113|mph|abbr=on}} was reported in San Juan, immediately prior to the hurricane making landfall on the island. After landfall, wind gusts of {{convert|109|mph|abbr=on}} were reported at Yabucoa Harbor and {{convert|118|mph|abbr=on}} at Camp Santiago.{{cite web|title=Hurricane Maria Public Advisory |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/ |website=National Hurricane Center |publisher=NOAA |access-date=September 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829162637/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/ |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |url-status=live}} A minimum barometric pressure reading of {{convert|926.6|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}} was reported in Yabucoa. In addition, heavy rainfall occurred throughout the territory, peaking at {{convert|37.9|in|mm}} in Caguas.{{cite news|title= Hurricane Maria Live Updates: In Puerto Rico, the Storm 'Destroyed Us' |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico.html |work= The New York Times |date= September 21, 2017 |access-date= September 22, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170921183211/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico.html |archive-date= September 21, 2017 |url-status= live}} The eyewall replacement cycle that caused María to weaken to Category 4 strength also caused the eye to triple in size as the diameter expanded {{cvt|9|-|28|nmi|mi|lk=on}} prior to landfall. This change in size caused the area exposed to high-intensity winds on the island to be far greater. Widespread flooding affected San Juan, waist-deep in some areas, and numerous structures lost their roof.{{cite news |first1=Luis |last1=Ferré-Sadurní |first2=Anemona |last2=Hartocollis |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 20, 2017 |access-date=September 21, 2017 |title=Maria Strikes, and Puerto Rico Goes Dark |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-power.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921030634/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-power.html |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |url-status=live }} The coastal La Perla neighborhood of San Juan was largely destroyed.{{cite news |publisher=WREG |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=September 23, 2017 |title='Despacito' made this neighborhood famous. Hurricane Maria left it in ruins |url=http://wreg.com/2017/09/22/despacito-made-this-neighborhood-famous-hurricane-maria-left-it-in-ruins/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922201201/http://wreg.com/2017/09/22/despacito-made-this-neighborhood-famous-hurricane-maria-left-it-in-ruins/ |archive-date=September 22, 2017 |url-status=live }} Cataño saw extensive damage, with the Juana Matos neighborhood estimated to be 80-percent destroyed.{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 21, 2017 |access-date=September 21, 2017 |title=Hurricane Maria Live Updates: In Puerto Rico, the Storm 'Destroyed Us' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921104532/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico.html |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |url-status=live }} The primary airport in San Juan, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, was slated to reopen on September 22.{{cite news |last1=Yan |first1=Holly |title=Maria kills 15 people in Dominica, leaves Puerto Rico in the dark for months |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/21/americas/hurricane-maria-dominican-republic-puerto-rico/index.html |access-date=September 21, 2017 |publisher=Cable News Network |date=September 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921134656/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/21/americas/hurricane-maria-dominican-republic-puerto-rico/index.html |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Extensive damage occurred to hundreds of thousands of buildings throughout Puerto Rico due to high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, wave action and landslides. Ricardo Rosselló estimated that over 300,000 homes had been destroyed and many more damaged across the commonwealth. Other estimates included 166,000 residential buildings damaged or destroyed and 472,000 housing units having received major damage or having been destroyed.{{cite web|publisher=FEMA|date=October 2018|url=https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/mat-report_hurricane-irma-maria-puerto-rico_2.pdf|title=Mitigation Assessment Team Report -Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico}}

Storm surge and flash flooding—stemming from flood gate releases at La Plata Lake Dam—converged on the town of Toa Baja, trapping thousands of residents. Survivors indicate that flood waters rose at least {{cvt|6|ft|m}} in 30 minutes, with flood waters reaching a depth of {{convert|15|ft|m}} in some areas. More than 2,000 people were rescued once military relief reached the town 24 hours after the storm. At least eight people died from the flooding, while many were unaccounted for.{{cite news|first=Luis |last=Ferré-Sadurní |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=September 23, 2017 |title=In a Puerto Rican Town, 'Water Came Out of Nowhere' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/us/puerto-rico-toa-baja-hurricane-.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923034104/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/us/puerto-rico-toa-baja-hurricane-.html |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |url-status=live}}

File:Hurricane Maria (2017) 170923-H-NI589-0007 (36602415074).jpg

On September 24, Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rosselló estimated that the damage from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was probably over the $8 billion damage figure from Hurricane Georges.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/puerto-rico-tallies-up-devastation-from-hurricane-maria-1506294520 |title=Puerto Rico Tallies up Devastation from Hurricane Maria |author=Jose de Cordoba |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=September 24, 2017 |access-date=September 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925012438/https://www.wsj.com/articles/puerto-rico-tallies-up-devastation-from-hurricane-maria-1506294520 |archive-date=September 25, 2017 |url-status=live }} Approximately 80 percent of the territory's agriculture was lost due to the hurricane, with agricultural losses estimated at $780 million.{{cite news |author= Frances Robles and Luis Ferré-Sadurní |newspaper= The New York Times |date= September 24, 2017 |access-date= September 25, 2017 |title= Puerto Rico's Agriculture and Farmers Decimated by Maria |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-agriculture-.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170925043415/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-agriculture-.html |archive-date= September 25, 2017 |url-status= live }}

The hurricane completely destroyed the island's power grid, leaving all 3.4 million residents without electricity.{{cite news |publisher=BBC |date=September 20, 2017 |access-date=September 20, 2017 |title=Whole of Puerto Rico without power |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41340392 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920173650/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41340392 |archive-date=September 20, 2017 |url-status=live }} Governor Rosselló stated that it could take months to restore power in some locations,{{cite web |publisher=CNN |date=September 21, 2017 |access-date=September 21, 2017 |title=Puerto Rico governor: Power could be out for months |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/20/americas/hurricane-maria-caribbean-islands/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004201829/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/20/americas/hurricane-maria-caribbean-islands/index.html |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |url-status=live }} with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz estimating that some areas would remain without power for four to six months.{{cite news |first1=Gadi |last1=Schwartz |first2=Alex |last2=Johnson |first3=Daniel |last3=Arkin |publisher=NBC |date=September 21, 2017 |access-date=September 21, 2017 |title=All Power Out as Hurricane Maria's Winds, Floods Crush Puerto Rico |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/hurricane-maria-makes-landfall-puerto-rico-category-4-storm-n802911 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921235245/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/hurricane-maria-makes-landfall-puerto-rico-category-4-storm-n802911 |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |url-status=live }} Communication networks were crippled across the island. Ninety-five percent of cell networks were down, with 48 of the island's 78 counties networks being completely inoperable. Eighty-five percent of above-ground phone and internet cables were knocked out.{{cite web |last1= Coghlan |first1= Andy |title= Thousands of Puerto Ricans evacuated as dam threatens to breach |url= https://www.newscientist.com/article/2148561-thousands-of-puerto-ricans-evacuated-as-dam-threatens-to-breach/ |website= newscientist.com |publisher= New Scientist Magazine |access-date= September 29, 2017 |date= September 26, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170929091545/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2148561-thousands-of-puerto-ricans-evacuated-as-dam-threatens-to-breach/ |archive-date= September 29, 2017 |url-status= live }} Only twelve radio stations, namely WAPA 680 AM, WPAB 550 AM & WISO 1260 AM of Ponce, WKJB 710 AM, WPRA 990 AM & WTIL 1300 AM of Mayaguez, WMIA 1070 AM of Arecibo, WVOZ 1580 AM of Morovis, WXRF 1590 AM of Guayama, WALO 1240 AM of Humacao and WOIZ 1130 AM of Guayanilla, remained on the air during the storm.

File:Map of landslides in Puerto Rico - Hurricane Maria 2017.jpg

Hurricane Maria caused landslides across the island and in some municipalities there were more than 25 landslides per square mile.{{cite web |title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico |url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/ |website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program |publisher=USGS |access-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/ |archive-date=March 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico |url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf |website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program |publisher=USGS |access-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}

File:Puerto Rico weather radar after Hurricane Maria (2).png NEXRAD radar in Puerto Rico destroyed by Maria]]

The NEXRAD Doppler weather radar of Puerto Rico was blown away. The radome which covers the radar antenna, and which was designed to withstand winds of more than 130 mph, was destroyed while the antenna of 30 feet in diameter was blown from the pedestal, the latter remaining intact. The radar is {{cvt|2,800|ft}} above sea level, and the anemometer at the site measured winds of about {{cvt|145|mph}} before communications broke, which means winds at that height were likely 20 percent higher than what was seen at sea level. The radar was rebuilt and finally brought back online 9 months later.{{cite web |url= https://weather.com/news/weather/news/puerto-rico-radar-demolished-hurricane-maria |title= Puerto Rico Radar Obliterated After It Takes a Direct Hit from Hurricane Maria |author= Jonathan Belles |date= September 25, 2017 |work= The Weather Channel |access-date= October 4, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171015022232/https://weather.com/news/weather/news/puerto-rico-radar-demolished-hurricane-maria |archive-date= October 15, 2017 |url-status= live }}{{cite web |url=https://weather.com/news/weather/news/2018-06-18-puerto-rico-radar-restored-hurricane-maria-doppler |title=Puerto Rico's Radar Restored 9 Months after Hurricane Maria's Wrath |date=June 18, 2018 |work=The Weather Channel |access-date=June 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627230634/https://weather.com/news/weather/news/2018-06-18-puerto-rico-radar-restored-hurricane-maria-doppler |archive-date=June 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}

The nearby island of Vieques suffered similarly extensive damage. Communications were largely lost across the island. Widespread property destruction took place with many structures leveled.{{cite news|author=Juliana Rose Pignataro|newspaper=International Business Times|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=September 23, 2017|title=Vieques Devastated By Hurricane Maria, New Pictures And Videos Reveal Wreckage|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/vieques-devastated-hurricane-maria-new-pictures-videos-reveal-wreckage-2592578|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005142150/http://www.ibtimes.com/vieques-devastated-hurricane-maria-new-pictures-videos-reveal-wreckage-2592578|archive-date=October 5, 2017|url-status=live}} The remaining structures on the island of Culebra were extremely vulnerable to Maria's powerful winds after having recently experienced major damage due to Hurricane Irma, causing the complete destruction of many wooden houses, along with blown off roofs and sunken boats.

File:Hurricane Maria at Coast Guard Sector San Juan.webm

The former survey ship Ferrel, carrying a family of four, issued a distress signal while battling {{convert|20|ft|m|adj=mid| seas}} and {{cvt|115|mph|km/h|adj=mid| winds}} on September 20. Communications with the vessel were lost near Vieques on September 20. The United States Coast Guard, United States Navy, and British Royal Navy conducted search-and-rescue operations using an HC-130 aircraft, a fast response cutter, {{USS|Kearsarge|LHD-3|6}}, {{ship|RFA|Mounts Bay}} and Navy helicopters.{{cite news|agency= Associated Press |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=September 21, 2017 |access-date= September 21, 2017 |title=The Latest: Boat missing off Puerto Rico with 4 aboard |url= http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article174535966.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922002153/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article174535966.html |archive-date= September 22, 2017}} On September 21, the mother and her two children were rescued while the father drowned inside the capsized vessel.{{cite news |first=Erin |last=Dooley |publisher=ABC News |date=September 21, 2017 |access-date=September 22, 2017 |title=Woman, children rescued from capsized ship near Puerto Rico |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/vessel-carrying-adults-children-missing-puerto-rico/story?id=50005789 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922021711/https://abcnews.go.com/US/vessel-carrying-adults-children-missing-puerto-rico/story?id=50005789 |archive-date=September 22, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Maria's Category 4 winds broke a {{convert|96|ft|m|adj=on}} line feed antenna of the Arecibo Observatory, causing it to fall {{convert|500|ft|m}} and puncturing the dish below, greatly reducing its ability to function until repairs could be made.{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/09/arecibo-radio-telescope-damaged-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-science |title=Hurricane Damages Giant Radio Telescope—Why It Matters |last=Drake |first=Nadiav |work=National Geographic |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=September 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924010319/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/09/arecibo-radio-telescope-damaged-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-science/ |archive-date=September 24, 2017 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/09/20/arecibo-observatory-puerto-ricos-famous-radio-telescope-is-battered-by-hurricane-maria/ |title=Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico's famous telescope, is battered by Hurricane Maria |last=Kaplan |first=Sarah |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=September 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921090157/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/09/20/arecibo-observatory-puerto-ricos-famous-radio-telescope-is-battered-by-hurricane-maria/ |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Hurricane Maria greatly affected Puerto Rico's agriculture. Coffee was the worst affected crop, with 18 million coffee trees destroyed, which will require about five to ten years to bring back at least 15% of the coffee production of the island.{{cite news |url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/creanelfondodeayudaagricolaparalevantarsectortrasmaria-1261891/ |title=Crean el Fondo de Ayuda Agrícola para levantar sector tras María |work=Primera Hora |language=es |date=January 2, 2018 |access-date=January 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133359/http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/creanelfondodeayudaagricolaparalevantarsectortrasmaria-1261891/ |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |url-status=live }}

The Whitney Museum of American Art documented Hurricane Maria experiences in Puerto Rico and its aftermath in an art exhibition November 23, 2022 – April 23, 2023: "no existe un mundo poshuracán: Puerto Rican Art in the Wake of Hurricane Maria."{{Cite web |title=no existe un mundo poshuracán: Puerto Rican Art in the Wake of Hurricane Maria |url=https://whitney.org/exhibitions/no-existe |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=whitney.org |language=en}}

File:Maria AVN color 20170921 0115 UTC.gif on September 21, after leaving Puerto Rico.]]

Torrential rains and strong winds impacted the Dominican Republic as Maria tracked northeast of the country. Assessments on September 22 indicated that 110 homes were destroyed, 570 were damaged, and 3,723 were affected by flooding. Approximately 60,000 people lost power in northern areas of the country. Flooding and landslides rendered many roads impassable, cutting off 38 communities.{{cite news |language=es |newspaper=El Comercio |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=September 23, 2017 |title=Huracán María: 38 localidades quedan incomunicadas en República Dominicana |url=http://elcomercio.pe/mundo/desastres/republica-dominicana-empieza-sentir-llegada-maria-fotos-noticia-459849 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203223925/https://elcomercio.pe/mundo/desastres/republica-dominicana-empieza-sentir-llegada-maria-fotos-noticia-459849 |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |url-status=live }} Five people, all of them males, were killed in the Dominican Republic: four of them were of Haitian origin, killed when they were swept away by floodwaters; the fifth person was a Dominican man who died in a landslide.{{cite news |language= es |publisher= Listin Diario |date= September 27, 2017 |access-date= September 27, 2017 |last= Luna |first= Katheryn |title= Cinco muertos, el resultado del huracán María en RD |url= https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2017/09/27/484182/cinco-muertos-el-resultado-del-huracan-maria-en-rd |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180130150314/https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2017/09/27/484182/cinco-muertos-el-resultado-del-huracan-maria-en-rd |archive-date= January 30, 2018 |url-status= live }} Infrastructural damage amounted to RD$3 billion (US$63 million).

Hurricane Maria's center passed {{cvt|250|km}} from Haiti's northern coast, but triggered a large amount of rain and some flooding in Haiti. Three deaths were reported: a 45-year-old man died in the commune of Limbe, in the department of the North, while attempting to cross a flooded river. Two other people, a woman and a man, died in Cornillon, a small town {{cvt|40|km}} east of the capital Port-au-Prince, according to the authorities.{{cite news |language=fr |url=http://www.europe1.fr/international/ouragan-maria-3-morts-en-haiti-selon-un-premier-bilan-3442715 |work=Europe1 |title=Ouragan Maria, provisoirement 3 morts en Haïti |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925033546/http://www.europe1.fr/international/ouragan-maria-3-morts-en-haiti-selon-un-premier-bilan-3442715 |archive-date=September 25, 2017 |url-status=live }}.

Maria brushed the Outer Banks of North Carolina on September 26, as the center of the storm passed by offshore and brought tropical storm conditions to the area, along with a storm surge, large waves, and rip currents to the coast. The storm knocked out power to 800 Duke Energy Progress customers in the Havelock area. Dominion North Carolina Power and Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative experienced scattered power outages. Winds of {{cvt|23|mph|km/h}} and gusts of {{cvt|41|mph|km/h}} were reported at Dare County Regional Airport at Manteo on September 27, while winds of {{cvt|40|mph|km/h}} were reported in Duck, North Carolina. Maria caused beach erosion at the ferry terminal at the north end of Ocracoke Island that washed out a portion of the paved lanes where vehicles wait to board the ferry. By the morning of September 26, the storm flooded North Carolina Highway 12 along the coast. Rip currents from Maria caused three swimmers to drown and several others to be rescued at the Jersey Shore on the weekend of September 23–24.{{cite web |title=3 Drown off Jersey Shore, Dozens Rescued Despite 'No Swimming' Warning |publisher=WNBC-TV |location=New York, NY |date=September 25, 2017 |url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Jersey-Shore-Beach-Swimmer-Rescue-Ban-Ocean--447725023.html |access-date=September 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112030/http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Jersey-Shore-Beach-Swimmer-Rescue-Ban-Ocean--447725023.html |archive-date=September 27, 2017 |url-status=live }} A fourth drowning death occurred in Fernandina Beach, Florida.{{cite news |author= Elizabeth Campbell |publisher= News4Jax |date= September 24, 2017 |access-date= October 2, 2017 |title= Man, 49, drowns in rough surf in Fernandina Beach, police say |url= https://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/nassau-county/fernandina-beach/50-year-old-man-drowns-in-fernandina-beach |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171003025959/https://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/nassau-county/fernandina-beach/50-year-old-man-drowns-in-fernandina-beach |archive-date= October 3, 2017 |url-status= live }}

{{Quote box|width=25% |quote = People are trying to be strong in Dominica, like everything is fine, but it's not. Everywhere needs rebuilding but there is no money to rebuild things with. OK, so we have some food and water—but how long for? Everything else is gone.|source – a Dominican resident describing the state of the country five weeks after the hurricane{{cite news |author= Janise Elie |newspaper= The Guardian |date= November 1, 2017 |access-date= Nov 6, 2017 |title= 'It feels like Dominica is finished': life amid the ruins left by Hurricane Maria |url= https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/nov/01/it-feels-like-dominica-is-finished-life-amid-the-ruins-left-by-hurricane-maria |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171105195753/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/nov/01/it-feels-like-dominica-is-finished-life-amid-the-ruins-left-by-hurricane-maria |archive-date= November 5, 2017 |url-status= live }}|align=right}}

File:An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter performs humanitarian aid operations. (37451428945).jpg flies over Dominica en route to deliver humanitarian aid. The mountainous terrain of the island poses serious challenges to relief operations in more remote areas.]]

In the wake of the hurricane, more than 85% of the island's houses were damaged, of which more than 25% were completely destroyed, leaving more than 50,000 of the island's 73,000 residents to be displaced.{{cite web |author=Ian Pannell |author2=Emily Taguchi |author3=Ashley Louszko |title='It's all gone': Hurricane-ravaged Dominica, on the front line of climate change, fighting to survive |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/hurricane-ravaged-dominica-front-line-climate-change-fighting/story?id=50559156 |publisher=ABC News |date=October 18, 2017 |access-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022154301/https://abcnews.go.com/International/hurricane-ravaged-dominica-front-line-climate-change-fighting/story?id=50559156 |archive-date=October 22, 2017 |url-status=live }} Following the destruction of thousands of homes, most supermarkets and the water supply system, many of Dominica's residents were in dire need of food, water and shelter for days. With no access to electricity or running water, and with sewage systems destroyed, fears of widespread diarrhea and dysentery arose. The island's agriculture, a vital source of income for many, was obliterated as most trees were flattened. Meanwhile, the driving force of the economy—tourism—was expected to be scarce in the months that followed Maria. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit characterized the devastation wrought by Irma and Maria as a sign of climate change and the threat it poses to the survival of his country, stating, "To deny climate change ... is to deny a truth we have just lived." Many islanders suffered respiratory problems as a result of excessive dust borne out of the debris. Light rainfall in the weeks following Maria alleviated this problem, although it also slowed recovery efforts, particularly rebuilding damaged rooftops.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

Through the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, Dominica received approximately US$19.2 million in emergency funds.{{cite web|type=Report|agency=Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility |publisher=ReliefWeb |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=September 23, 2017 |title=CCRIF to Make Payout to Dominica of US$19 million Following the Passage of Hurricane Maria |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominica/ccrif-make-payout-dominica-us19-million-following-passage-hurricane-maria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924001623/https://reliefweb.int/report/dominica/ccrif-make-payout-dominica-us19-million-following-passage-hurricane-maria |archive-date=September 24, 2017 |url-status=live }} {{USS|Wasp|LHD-1|6}}, previously deployed to Saint Martin to assist in relief efforts after Hurricane Irma, arrived in Dominica on September 22. The vessel carried two Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters to assist in distribution of relief supplies in hard-to-reach areas.{{cite web|type=Report|agency=Government of the United States of America |publisher=ReliefWeb |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=September 23, 2017 |title=USS WASP arrives in Dominica to support U.S. disaster assistance mission |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominica/uss-wasp-arrives-dominica-support-us-disaster-assistance-mission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924001535/https://reliefweb.int/report/dominica/uss-wasp-arrives-dominica-support-us-disaster-assistance-mission |archive-date=September 24, 2017 |url-status=live }} At the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit called the situation in Dominica an "international humanitarian emergency".{{cite web|type=Report|agency=UN News Service |publisher=ReliefWeb |date=September 23, 2017 |access-date=September 24, 2017 |title='To deny climate change is to deny a truth we have just lived' says Prime Minister of storm-hit Dominica |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominica/deny-climate-change-deny-truth-we-have-just-lived-says-prime-minister-storm-hit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924224815/https://reliefweb.int/report/dominica/deny-climate-change-deny-truth-we-have-just-lived-says-prime-minister-storm-hit |archive-date=September 24, 2017 |url-status=live }} The Royal Canadian Navy vessel {{HMCS|St. John's}} was dispatched to Dominica"[http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/canadian-sailors-find-near-total-devastation-on-hurricane-ravaged-island-1.3606636 Canadian sailors find 'near total devastation' on hurricane-ravaged island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926175756/http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/canadian-sailors-find-near-total-devastation-on-hurricane-ravaged-island-1.3606636 |date=September 26, 2017 }}". CTV News. September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017. at the request of Dominican Prime Minister Skerrit.{{cite web |url=http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/09/22/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-speaks-prime-minister-roosevelt-skerrit-dominica |title=Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica |publisher=Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada |website=pm.gc.ca |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=September 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926154028/http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/09/22/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-speaks-prime-minister-roosevelt-skerrit-dominica |archive-date=September 26, 2017 |url-status=live }}

The prime minister urged churches to encourage their membership to provide housing for senior citizens and disabled, many of whom remained in damaged structures despite tarpaulin donations from Venezuela, Israel, Cuba, Jamaica, and other countries. As schools began to reopen on October 16, the United Nations Children's Fund reported that the entire child population of Dominica—23,000 children—remained vulnerable due to restricted access to clean drinking water.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Efforts to rebuild homes and buildings across the island were steady, albeit slowed due to lack of funds. Almost two years after Maria, shelters remained operational as many homes still lacked significant roofing.{{cite news|url=https://www.osvnews.com/2019/08/30/rebuilding-dominica-the-forgotten-orphan-of-the-caribbean|title=Rebuilding Dominica, the 'forgotten orphan of the Caribbean'|author=Michelle Martin|date=August 30, 2019|newspaper=Our Sunday Visitor}}

{{Costliest U.S. Atlantic hurricanes|align=right}}

File:US Officials Say Damaged Infrastructure Slows Aid Distribution in Puerto Rico.webmhd.webm ]]

{{quote box |quote = There's a humanitarian emergency here in Puerto Rico. ... This is an event without precedent.|Ricardo Rosselló, Governor of Puerto Rico}}

The power grid was effectively destroyed by the hurricane, leaving millions without electricity.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews/status/912345728365842432 |title=NOAA Satellites |date=September 25, 2017 |website=Twitter |access-date=September 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902222706/https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews/status/912345728365842432 |archive-date=September 2, 2018 |url-status=live }} Governor Ricardo Rosselló estimated that Maria caused at least US$90 billion in damage{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/03/puerto-rico-new-death-toll-hurricane-maria-trump-visit|title=Hurricane death toll in Puerto Rico more than doubles to 34, governor says|website=TheGuardian.com|agency=Associated Press|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004024243/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/03/puerto-rico-new-death-toll-hurricane-maria-trump-visit|archive-date=October 4, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/04/world/puerto-rico-governor-raises-hurricanes-official-death-toll-34-damage-tab-90-billion/#.WdS3lK4pCEc|title=Puerto Rico governor raises hurricane's official death toll to 34, damage tab to $90 billion|publisher=Japan Times|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004065823/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/04/world/puerto-rico-governor-raises-hurricanes-official-death-toll-34-damage-tab-90-billion/#.WdS3lK4pCEc|archive-date=October 4, 2017|url-status=live}} and in 2018 the US National Hurricane Center updated its list of costliest hurricanes to include that figure.{{cite report|archive-date=January 27, 2018|url-status=live |date=January 12, 2018 |title=Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update|access-date=January 12, 2018|publisher=United States National Hurricane Center|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083930/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf}}

On September 26, 2017, 95% of the island was without power, less than half the population had tap water, and 95% of the island had no cell phone service.{{cite news|last1=Bacon|first1=John|title=Why Puerto Rico faces a monumental recovery effort|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/09/26/why-puerto-rico-faces-monumental-recovery-effort/703515001/#|access-date=September 27, 2017|work=USA Today|date=September 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927054220/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/09/26/why-puerto-rico-faces-monumental-recovery-effort/703515001/|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}} On October 6, a little more than two weeks after the hurricane, 89% still had no power, 44% had no water service, and 58% had no cell service.{{cite news|last1=Bump|first1=Philip|title=FEMA buried updates on Puerto Rico. Here they are.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/10/06/fema-buried-updates-on-puerto-rico-here-they-are/|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=October 6, 2017|date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006184238/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/10/06/fema-buried-updates-on-puerto-rico-here-they-are/|archive-date=October 6, 2017|url-status=live}}

Two weeks after the hurricane, international relief organization Oxfam chose to intervene for the first time on American soil since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

One month after the hurricane, 88% of the island was without power (about 3 million people), 29% lacked tap water (about 1 million people), and 40% of the island had no cell service. A month after the hurricane, most hospitals were open,{{Cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/hurricane-maria-recovery-photos-years-later-2019-8|title=20 photos show Puerto Rico's slow recovery 2 years after Hurricane Maria|first=James|last=Pasley|website=Insider}} but most were on backup generators that provide limited power. Angelique Sina's non-profit organization, Friends of Puerto Rico, had supplied generators for hospitals in two cities, by November 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/friendsofpuertoricoenvia300000librasdesuministros-1254127/|title=Friends of Puerto Rico envía 300,000 libras de suministros|date=November 5, 2017|website=Primera Hora|access-date=September 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418214853/https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/friendsofpuertoricoenvia300000librasdesuministros-1254127/|archive-date=April 18, 2019|url-status=live}} About half of sewage treatment plants on the island were still not functioning. FEMA reported 60,000 homes needed roofing help, and had distributed 38,000 roofing tarps.{{Cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/g13052618/puerto-rico-maria-damage/|title=1 Month Later in Puerto Rico, the Situation Is Still Horrifying|last=Holmes|first=Jack|date=October 19, 2017|website=Esquire|access-date=October 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022213630/http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/g13052618/puerto-rico-maria-damage/|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}} (slideshow) The island's highways and bridges remained heavily damaged nearly a month later. Only 392 miles of Puerto Rico's 5,073 miles of road were open. Some towns continued to be isolated and delivery of relief supplies including food and water were hampered—helicopters were the only alternative.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-puerto-ricos-struggle-to-recover-a-month-after-hurricane-1508491811|title=Inside Puerto Rico's Struggle to Recover a Month After Hurricane|last1=Dapena|first1=Kara|date=October 20, 2017|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 23, 2017|last2=Hernandez|first2=Daniela|last3=Campo-Flores|first3=Arian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023092135/https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-puerto-ricos-struggle-to-recover-a-month-after-hurricane-1508491811|archive-date=October 23, 2017|url-status=live}}

By October 1, 2017, there were ongoing fuel shortage and distribution problems, with 720 of 1,100 gas stations open.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/01/us/puerto-rico-ricardo-rossello-storm-recovery.html|title=Puerto Rico Is Getting a Surge of Aid, Governor Says|last1=Fausset|first1=Richard|date=October 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001195451/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/01/us/puerto-rico-ricardo-rossello-storm-recovery.html|archive-date=October 1, 2017|url-status=live}} In November the New York Times reported there had been a spike in suicides in the storm's aftermath as residents struggled with life without electricity. The rate of suicides doubled over the pre-Maria rate.{{cite news |last1=Dickerson |first1=Caitlin |title=After Hurricane, Signs of a Mental Health Crisis Haunt Puerto Rico |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-mental-health.html |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=November 13, 2017}}

The Guajataca Dam was structurally damaged, and on September 22, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for parts of the area in response.{{cite news|title=Hurricane Maria Live Updates: Structural Damage at Dam Prompts Evacuations in Puerto Rico|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico.html|website=The New York Times|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922192418/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/us/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico.html|archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live}} Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate the area, with about 70,000 thought to be at risk.{{cite news|title=Post Nation 70,000 in Puerto Rico urged to evacuate immediately as dam is in 'imminent' danger of failure|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/09/22/at-least-6-dead-in-puerto-rico-due-to-hurricane-maria-officia|newspaper=The Washington Post|last1=Schmidt|first1=Samantha|last2=Somashekhar|first2=Sandhya|last3=Cassady|first3=Daniel|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2017}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

The entirety of Puerto Rico was declared a Federal Disaster Zone shortly after the hurricane. The Federal Emergency Management Agency planned to open an air bridge with three to four aircraft carrying essential supplies to the island daily starting on September 22.{{cite news|first=Estefania|last=Hernandez|publisher=NBC New York|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2017|title='Helpless, Worried and Sick': Puerto Rico's Vast Outages Leave Relatives on Mainland Worried|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/Puerto-Rico-Power-Outage-Worries-Relatives-Mainland-446561383.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922194657/http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/Puerto-Rico-Power-Outage-Worries-Relatives-Mainland-446561383.html|archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live}} Beyond flights involving the relief effort, limited commercial traffic resumed at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport on September 22 under primitive conditions. A dozen commercial flights operated daily, as of September 26, 2017.{{cite news|last1=Jervis|first1=Rick|title='It's like the end of the world' inside San Juan's steaming airport|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/25/thousands-weary-travelers-stuck-steamy-san-juan-airport/699581001/#|access-date=September 27, 2017|work=USA Today|date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927054218/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/25/thousands-weary-travelers-stuck-steamy-san-juan-airport/699581001/|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}} By October 3, there were 39 commercial flights per day from all Puerto Rican airports, about a quarter of the normal number.{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/10/03/news/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-crisis/index.html|title=5 numbers that prove Puerto Rico is still in crisis|last=Horowitz|first=Julia|date=October 3, 2017|work=CNN|access-date=October 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006232054/http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/03/news/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-crisis/index.html|archive-date=October 6, 2017|url-status=live}} The next day, airports were reported to be operating at normal capacity.{{Cite web|url=http://status.pr/|title=status.pr|date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004190628/http://status.pr/|archive-date=October 4, 2017|url-status=dead}} The territory's government contracted 56 small companies to assist in restoring power.{{cite news|first=Danica|last=Coto|agency=Associated Press|publisher=ABC News|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2017|title=Puerto Rico faces weeks without electricity after Maria|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/puerto-rico-faces-weeks-electricity-maria-50020984|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922142512/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/puerto-rico-faces-weeks-electricity-maria-50020984|archive-date=September 22, 2017}} Eight FEMA Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) teams were deployed to assist in rescue efforts.

File:171012-F-FH950-0642 (37634528256).jpg

On September 24, the amphibious assault ship {{USS|Kearsarge|LHD-3|6}} and the dock landing ship {{USS|Oak Hill|LSD-51|6}} under Rear Admiral Jeffrey W. Hughes along with the 2,400 marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived to assist in relief efforts.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/09/24/puerto-rico-governor-we-still-need-some-more-help-from-washington/ Washington Post: "Puerto Rico governor: 'We still need some more help' from Washington" by Ed O'Keefe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925174348/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/09/24/puerto-rico-governor-we-still-need-some-more-help-from-washington/ |date=September 25, 2017 }} September 24, 2017[https://www.stripes.com/news/military-conducting-multiple-operations-to-help-hurricane-maria-struck-puerto-rico-virgin-islands-1.489496#.Wcq-soWcHaI Stars & Stripes: "Military conducting multiple operations to help Hurricane Maria-struck Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands" By Corey Dickstein] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930235754/https://www.stripes.com/news/military-conducting-multiple-operations-to-help-hurricane-maria-struck-puerto-rico-virgin-islands-1.489496#.Wcq-soWcHaI |date=September 30, 2017 }} September 25, 2017[http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2017/09/27/puerto-rico-uss-kearsarge-watson-dnt.cnn CNN: "US Navy ship's response efforts in Puerto Rico"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001070115/http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2017/09/27/puerto-rico-uss-kearsarge-watson-dnt.cnn |date=October 1, 2017 }} retrieved September 28, 2017[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-efforts-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria/ CBS News: "U.S. military beefs up its efforts in Puerto Rico as need for vital supplies grows"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002160353/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-efforts-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria/ |date=October 2, 2017 }} September 28, 2017 By September 24, there were thirteen United States Coast Guard ships deployed around Puerto Rico assisting in the relief and restoration efforts: the National Security Cutter {{USCGC|James|WMSL-754|6}}; the medium endurance cutters {{USCGC|Diligence|WMEC-616|6}}, {{USCGC|Forward|WMEC-911|6}}, {{USCGC|Venturous|WMEC-625|6}}, and {{USCGC|Valiant|WMEC-621|6}}; the fast response cutters {{USCGC|Donald Horsley}}, {{USCGC|Heriberto Hernandez|WPC-1114|6}}, {{USCGC|Joseph Napier|WPC-1115|6}}, {{USCGC|Richard Dixon|WPC-1113|6}}, and {{USCGC|Winslow W. Griesser}}; the coastal patrol boat USCGC Yellowfin; and the seagoing buoy tenders {{USCGC|Cypress|WLB-210|6}} and {{USCGC|Elm|WLB-204|6}}.[http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-continues-hurricane-response-in-puerto-rico-and-the-u-s-virgin-islands/2017/09/25/ Coast Guard News: "Coast Guard continues hurricane response in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005224658/http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-continues-hurricane-response-in-puerto-rico-and-the-u-s-virgin-islands/2017/09/25/ |date=October 5, 2017 }} September 25, 2017 Federal aid arrived on September 25 with the reopening of major ports. Eleven cargo vessels collectively carrying 1.3 million liters of water, 23,000 cots, and dozens of generators arrived.{{cite news|author=Danica Coto|agency=Associated Press|publisher=KXAN|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 25, 2017|title=Official: Hurricane Maria set Puerto Rico back decades|url=http://kxan.com/2017/09/25/official-hurricane-maria-set-puerto-rico-back-decades/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012120548/http://kxan.com/2017/09/25/official-hurricane-maria-set-puerto-rico-back-decades/|archive-date=October 12, 2017|url-status=live}} Full operations at the ports of Guayanilla, Salinas, and Tallaboa resumed on September 25, while the ports of San Juan, Fajardo, Culebra, Guayama, and Vieques had limited operations.[https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/25/federal-agencies-continue-hurricane-maria-response-and-relief-operations FEMA: "Federal Agencies Continue Hurricane Maria Response and Relief Operations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927025008/https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/25/federal-agencies-continue-hurricane-maria-response-and-relief-operations |date=September 27, 2017 }} September 25, 2017 The United States Air Force Air Mobility Command has dedicated eight C-17 Globemaster aircraft to deliver relief supplies. The Air Force assisted the Federal Aviation Administration with air traffic control repairs to increase throughput capacity. The logistics support ship SS Wright (T-AVB-3) was mobilized on September 22 to support relief operations delivering 1.3 million MREs and one million liters of fresh water.{{Cite web |title=FEMA Continues Hurricane Maria Response and Relief Operations |website=Fema |date=September 22, 2017 |url=https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/22/fema-continues-hurricane-maria-response-and-relief-operations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506073154/https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/22/fema-continues-hurricane-maria-response-and-relief-operations |archive-date=May 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://viconsortium.com/featured/second-hurricane-maria-related-death-confirmed-curfew-lifted-from-12-noon-to-4-p-m-monday-police-jail-mother-and-two-children-for-looting-school/ |title=viconsortium.com |access-date=January 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228104150/https://viconsortium.com/featured/second-hurricane-maria-related-death-confirmed-curfew-lifted-from-12-noon-to-4-p-m-monday-police-jail-mother-and-two-children-for-looting-school/ |archive-date=December 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}

The United States Transportation Command moved additional personnel and eight U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Fort Campbell, Kentucky to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to increase distribution capacity. The United States Army Corps of Engineers deployed 670 personnel engaged in assessing and restoring the power grid; by September 25, 83 generators were installed and an additional 186 generators were en route. By September 26, 2017, agencies of the U.S. government had delivered four million meals, six million liters of water, 70,000 tarps and 15,000 rolls of roof sheeting.[http://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2017/09/26/hospital-ship-comfort-heading-to-puerto-rico/ Military Times: "Hospital ship Comfort heading to Puerto Rico" by Tara Copp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002144211/https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2017/09/26/hospital-ship-comfort-heading-to-puerto-rico/ |date=October 2, 2017 }} September 26, 2017 National Guard troops were activated and deployed to Puerto Rico from Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.{{cite news|url=http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/How-the-Connecticut-National-Guard-is-helping-12229855.php|title=How the Connecticut National Guard is helping hurricane victims in Puerto Rico|author=Cedar Attanasio|date=September 26, 2017|newspaper=Connecticut Post|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926234454/http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/How-the-Connecticut-National-Guard-is-helping-12229855.php|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}}

• {{cite news|url=http://wtnh.com/2017/09/26/ct-national-guard-helps-puerto-rico/|title=CT National Guard sends troops to help Puerto Rico|author=Bob Wilson|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|publisher=WTNH|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927064547/http://wtnh.com/2017/09/26/ct-national-guard-helps-puerto-rico/|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2017/09/21/kentucky-national-guard-hurricane-relief/689387001/|title=First Irma, now Maria: Kentucky National Guard on rescue missions in Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico|author=Taylor M. Riley|date=September 21, 2017|newspaper=Kentucky Courier-Journal|access-date=September 27, 2017}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/holloman/2017/09/26/kentucky-air-national-guard-establishes-air-hub-hurricane-maria-relief/705253001/|title=Kentucky Air National Guard establishes air hub for Hurricane Maria relief|author=Lt. Col. Dale Greer|date=September 26, 2017|newspaper=Alamo Grodo Daily News|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227130744/https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/holloman/2017/09/26/kentucky-air-national-guard-establishes-air-hub-hurricane-maria-relief/705253001/|archive-date=December 27, 2019|url-status=live}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2017/09/26/wisconsin-national-guard-communications-specialists-deploy-puerto-rico/706175001/|title=Wisconsin National Guard communications specialists deploy to Puerto Rico|author=Meg Jones|date=September 26, 2017|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|access-date=September 27, 2017}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Iowa-Guard-deploying-to-Puerto-Rico-447830493.html|title=Iowa Guard deploying to Puerto Rico|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|publisher=KCRG|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112658/http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Iowa-Guard-deploying-to-Puerto-Rico-447830493.html|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.wqlz.com/2017/09/24/illinois-national-guardsmen-deploy-to-kuwait-puerto-rico/|title=Illinois National Guardsmen Deploy To Kuwait, Puerto Rico|date=September 24, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|publisher=WQLZ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927114208/http://www.wqlz.com/2017/09/24/illinois-national-guardsmen-deploy-to-kuwait-puerto-rico/|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}
• {{cite news|url=http://abc7ny.com/weather/riding-along-with-ny-air-national-guard-in-puerto-rico/2450120/|title=Riding along with NY Air National Guard in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria|author=Joe Torres|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|publisher=ABC7 New York|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926154056/http://abc7ny.com/weather/riding-along-with-ny-air-national-guard-in-puerto-rico/2450120/|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}}
• {{cite news|url=http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/how-new-york-is-helping-puerto-rico-after-hurricane-maria/article_05f2abf4-a18c-11e7-abf9-c78d161e724b.html|title=How New York is helping Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria|author=Robert Harding|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|publisher=Auburn Pub|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112507/http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/how-new-york-is-helping-puerto-rico-after-hurricane-maria/article_05f2abf4-a18c-11e7-abf9-c78d161e724b.html|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}
• {{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/national-guard-units-across-the-country-join-puerto-rico-relief-effort-1054656067627|title=National Guard Units Across the Country Join Puerto Rico Relief Effort|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|publisher=CBS News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926220615/https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/national-guard-units-across-the-country-join-puerto-rico-relief-effort-1054656067627|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-air-national-guard-providing-puerto-rico-disaster-relief/12480271|title=Savannah Air National Guard providing Puerto Rico disaster relief|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017|publisher=WJCL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927113144/http://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-air-national-guard-providing-puerto-rico-disaster-relief/12480271|archive-date=September 27, 2017|url-status=live}}

File:20171007- SC National Guard in Puerto Rico (36846539124).jpg]]

On September 29, the hospital ship {{USNS|Comfort|T-AH-20|6}} left port at Norfolk, Virginia to help victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and arrived in San Juan on October 3. A couple of days later, Comfort departed on an around the island tour to assist, remaining a dozen miles off shore.{{cite web|url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/hospital-ship-treats-more-patients-at-pier-than-at-sea|title=Hospital Ship Helps More Puerto Ricans at the Pier than at Sea|website=The Maritime Executive|access-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110061838/https://maritime-executive.com/article/hospital-ship-treats-more-patients-at-pier-than-at-sea|archive-date=November 10, 2017|url-status=live}} Patients were brought to the ship by helicopter or boat tender after being referred by Puerto Rico's Department of Health. However, most of the 250 bed floating state-of-the-art hospital went unused despite overburdened island clinics and hospitals because there were few referrals.{{cite web|last1=Hernandez|first1=Daniela|title=A U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Was Sent to Puerto Rico—It's Barely Been Used|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-a-u-s-navy-hospital-ship-in-puerto-rico-has-hardly-been-used-1508433604|website=Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 9, 2017|date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109171222/https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-a-u-s-navy-hospital-ship-in-puerto-rico-has-hardly-been-used-1508433604|archive-date=November 9, 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/16/health/puerto-rico-hospital-ship/index.html|title=There's a hospital ship waiting for sick Puerto Ricans – but no one knows how to get on it|last1=Santiago|first1=Leyla|date=October 17, 2017|work=CNN|access-date=October 17, 2017|last2=Simon|first2=Mallory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017000216/http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/16/health/puerto-rico-hospital-ship/index.html|archive-date=October 17, 2017|url-status=live}} Governor Rosselló explained on or about October 17 that "The disconnect or the apparent disconnect was in the communications flow" and added "I asked for a complete revision of that so that we can now start sending more patients over there." After remaining offshore for three weeks, the Comfort docked in San Juan on October 27, briefly departing only once to restock at sea from a naval resupply ship. By November 8, 2017, Comfort{{'}}s staff had treated 1,476 patients, including 147 surgeries and two births.{{cite web|title=USNS Comfort Restocks to Continue Post-Hurricane Care|url=http://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/News/Article/Article/1367372/usns-comfort-restocks-to-continue-post-hurricane-care/|website=U.S. Department of Defense|access-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108193216/https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1367372/usns-comfort-restocks-to-continue-post-hurricane-care/|archive-date=November 8, 2017|url-status=live}}

On September 27, the Pentagon reopened two major airfields on Puerto Rico and started sending aircraft, specialized units, and a hospital ship to assist in the relief effort; Brigadier General Richard C. Kim, the deputy commanding general of United States Army North, was responsible for coordinating operations between the military, FEMA and other government agencies, and the private sector.{{cite news |last=Lamothe |first=Dan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/09/27/after-pleas-for-more-help-pentagon-sends-one-star-general-to-lead-puerto-rico-recovery/ |title=After pleas for more help, Pentagon sends one-star general to lead Puerto Rico recovery |date=September 27, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929011223/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/09/27/after-pleas-for-more-help-pentagon-sends-one-star-general-to-lead-puerto-rico-recovery/ |archive-date=September 29, 2017 |url-status=live }} Massive amounts of water, food, and fuel either had been delivered to ports in Puerto Rico or were held up at ports in the mainland United States because there was a lack of truck drivers to move the goods into the interior; the lack of communication networks hindered the effort as only 20% of drivers reported to work.[http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-aid-problem/index.html CNN: "Vital aid stranded at Puerto Rico's main port" By Patrick Gillespie, Rafael Romo and Maria Santana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007024138/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-aid-problem/index.html |date=October 7, 2017 }} September 27, 2017 By September 28, the Port of San Juan had been able to dispatch only 4% of deliveries received and had very little room to accept additional shipments.[http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-aid-problem/index.html CNN: "Puerto Rico's aid is trapped in thousands of shipping containers" by Patrick Gillespie, Rafael Romo and Maria Santana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007024138/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-aid-problem/index.html |date=October 7, 2017 }} September 28, 2017 By September 28, 44 percent of the population remained without drinking water and the U.S. military was shifting from "a short term, sea-based response to a predominantly land-based effort designed to provide robust, longer-term support" with fuel delivery a top priority.[https://www.army.mil/article/194489/army_dod_officials_provide_update_on_hurricane_relief_efforts U.S. Army: "Army, DOD officials provide update on hurricane relief efforts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007010503/https://www.army.mil/article/194489/army_dod_officials_provide_update_on_hurricane_relief_efforts |date=October 7, 2017 }} September 28, 2017 A joint Army National Guard and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) team established an Installation Staging Base at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station; they transported via helicopter Department of Health and Human Services assessment teams to hospitals across Puerto Rico to determine medical requirements. On September 29, the amphibious assault ship {{USS|Wasp|LHD-1|6}} which had been providing relief activities to the island of Dominica was diverted to Puerto Rico.[https://pilotonline.com/news/military/nation/navy-sending-another-combat-ship-to-hurricane-ravaged-puerto-rico/article_be0098a4-5f46-52f7-bf14-c9c5f9d79d3f.html The Virginian-Pilot: "Navy sending another combat ship to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico" by Dan Lamothe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930222525/https://pilotonline.com/news/military/nation/navy-sending-another-combat-ship-to-hurricane-ravaged-puerto-rico/article_be0098a4-5f46-52f7-bf14-c9c5f9d79d3f.html |date=September 30, 2017 }} September 29, 2017 By September 30, FEMA official Alejandro de la Campa stated that 5% of electricity, 33% of the telecommunications infrastructure, and 50% of water services had been restored to the island.[http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/30/us/puerto-rico-responds-to-trump-tweets/index.html CNN: "Puerto Ricans fire back at Trump for critical tweets" By Ralph Ellis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008084519/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/30/us/puerto-rico-responds-to-trump-tweets/index.html |date=October 8, 2017 }} September 30, 2017

File:Residents of Ponce, Puerto Rico, line up at an ATM in hopes of getting some cash. More than a week after Hurricane Maria struck, residents are waiting in long lines to withdraw money and for gasoline.jpg wait in long lines at an ATM to withdraw cash.{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-official-to-puerto-rico-we-are-here-to-help/4050833.html|title=Trump Blasts Mayor of Hurricane-Devastated San Juan, Puerto Rico|first=Peter|last=Heinlein|date=September 30, 2017 |access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006061335/https://www.voanews.com/a/us-official-to-puerto-rico-we-are-here-to-help/4050833.html|archive-date=October 6, 2017|url-status=live}}]]

On September 28, 2017, Lieutenant General Jeffrey S. Buchanan was dispatched to Puerto Rico to lead all military hurricane relief efforts there and to see how the military could be more effective in the recovery effort, particularly in dealing with the thousands of containers of supplies that were stuck in port because of "red tape, lack of drivers, and a crippling power outage".{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/28/aid-trickling-into-puerto-rico-but-thousands-supplies-still-stuck-port/711894001/|title=U.S. military dispatches three-star general to Puerto Rico amid charges of supply snafus|last=Stanglin|first=Doug|work=USA Today|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929002012/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/28/aid-trickling-into-puerto-rico-but-thousands-supplies-still-stuck-port/711894001/|archive-date=September 29, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/28/politics/pentagon-general-to-lead-puerto-rico-efforts/index.html|title=Pentagon names 3-star general to lead Puerto Rico efforts|last1=Starr|first1=Barbara|last2=Cohen|first2=Zachary|date=September 28, 2017|work=CNN|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930090717/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/28/politics/pentagon-general-to-lead-puerto-rico-efforts/index.html|archive-date=September 30, 2017|url-status=live}} On September 29 he stated that there were not enough troops and equipment in place but more would be arriving soon.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/353137-not-enough-troops-equipment-in-puerto-rico-says-general-in-charge-of-relief/|title='Not enough' troops, equipment in Puerto Rico, says general in charge of relief|last=Mitchell|first=Ellen|date=September 29, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001070813/http://thehill.com/policy/defense/353137-not-enough-troops-equipment-in-puerto-rico-says-general-in-charge-of-relief|archive-date=October 1, 2017|url-status=live}}

With centralized fossil-fuel-based power plants and grid infrastructure expected to be out of commission for weeks to months, some renewable energy projects were in the works, including the shipment of hundreds of Tesla Powerwall battery systems to be integrated with solar PV systems{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2017/09/28/tesla-battery-puerto-rico-power/|title=Tesla Is Helping Puerto Rico Get Power After Hurricane Maria|last=Korosec|first=Kirsten|date=September 28, 2017|work=Fortune|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012030411/http://fortune.com/2017/09/28/tesla-battery-puerto-rico-power|archive-date=October 12, 2017|url-status=live}} and Sonnen solar microgrid projects at 15 emergency community centers; the first were expected to be completed in October.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-02/puerto-rico-to-get-power-relief-from-german-microgrid-supplier|title=Puerto Rico to Get Power Relief From German Microgrid Supplier|last=Martin|first=Chris|date=October 2, 2017|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003075154/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-02/puerto-rico-to-get-power-relief-from-german-microgrid-supplier|archive-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=live}} In addition, other solar companies jumped into help, including Sunnova and New Start Solar. A charity called Light Up Puerto Rico raised money to both purchase and deliver solar products, including solar panels, on Oct. 19.{{Cite news|url=https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2017/10/10/solar-rushes-in-to-re-light-hope-in-puerto-rico/|title=Solar rushes in to re-light hope in Puerto Rico|work=pv magazine USA|access-date=October 10, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010165416/https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2017/10/10/solar-rushes-in-to-re-light-hope-in-puerto-rico/|archive-date=October 10, 2017|url-status=live}} The idea would be to supplement the existing electrical grid with power from solar and wind farms. A complete replacement of fossil fuel infrastructure is unlikely as solar and wind are too intermittent and are also vulnerable to another hurricane.{{Cite web |first=Larry |last=Greenemeier |title=Repair or Renovate? Puerto Rico Faces Stark Power Grid Options – The island wants to upgrade its infrastructure, but must first wait for the lights to come back on |publisher=Scientific American |date=November 13, 2017 |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/repair-or-renovate-puerto-rico-faces-stark-power-grid-options/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624120431/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/repair-or-renovate-puerto-rico-faces-stark-power-grid-options/ |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|first=Angela|last=Chen|title=More solar panels mean more waste and there's no easy solution – It's going to be a major problem by 2050|publisher=The Verge|date=October 25, 2018|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/25/18018820/solar-panel-waste-chemicals-energy-environment-recycling|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419205720/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/25/18018820/solar-panel-waste-chemicals-energy-environment-recycling|archive-date=April 19, 2019|url-status=live}} Four of the five large solar farms on Puerto Rico were damaged and many of the wind turbines suffered damaged blades.{{Cite web|first=Angela|last=Chen|title=Engineer Visits Recent Natural Disaster Sites for Insight on Infrastructure Improvements|publisher=University of Pittsburgh|date=April 3, 2018|url=https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/engineer-visits-recent-natural-disasters-insight-infrastructure-improvements|quote=Kwasinski visited downed high-voltage towers and power lines, destroyed substations, windmills with damaged blades and demolished solar farms, all caused by these extreme weather events.|access-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419211222/https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/engineer-visits-recent-natural-disasters-insight-infrastructure-improvements|archive-date=April 19, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Puerto Rico Wind – Solar – Cellular Structures Destroyed – Aerial |publisher=Live Storm Media|date= September 22, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=1AAHJs-j3uw }}

Many TV and movie stars donated money to hurricane relief organizations to help the victims of Harvey and Maria. Prominently, Jennifer Aniston pledged a million U.S. dollars, dividing the amount equally between the Red Cross and the Ricky Martin Foundation for Puerto Rico. Martin's foundation had raised over three million dollars by October 13, 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jennifer-aniston-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-relief-donation-a7998696.html|title=Jennifer Aniston has donated $1 million to Puerto Rico to help with Hurricane Maria relief|last=Shepard|first=Jack|date=October 13, 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014215805/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jennifer-aniston-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-relief-donation-a7998696.html|archive-date=October 14, 2017|url-status=live}}

On October 9, 2017, the United States Postal Service stated that 99 of its 128 offices were delivering packages and mail to residents, albeit some were working out of tents{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-puertorico-mail-idUSKBN1CE15G|title=U.S. mail carriers emerge as heroes in Puerto Rico recovery|newspaper=Reuters |date=October 9, 2017|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225132411/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-puertorico-mail-idUSKBN1CE15G|archive-date=December 25, 2019|url-status=live}} and their offices had no power for one week after the hurricane. Care packages were coming in to Puerto Rico from all over and USPS hired temporary workers and had workers delivering packages 7 days a week, to help with the brunt.{{Cite web |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article180373206.html |title=Many U.S. Mail packages to Puerto Rico are too heavy | Miami Herald |website=Miami Herald |access-date=December 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408122158/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article180373206.html |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |url-status=live }}

On October 10, 2017, Carnival Cruise Lines announced that it would resume departures of cruises from San Juan on October 15, 2017.[https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2017/10/10/carnival-resume-sailings-san-juan-puerto-rico-sunday/749383001/ USA Today: "Carnival to resume sailings from San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday" by Gene Sloan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010212032/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2017/10/10/carnival-resume-sailings-san-juan-puerto-rico-sunday/749383001/ |date=October 10, 2017 }} October 10, 2017 On October 13, both CNN and The Guardian reported that Puerto Ricans were drinking water that was being pumped from a well at an EPA Superfund site;{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/13/us/puerto-rico-superfund-water/index.html?adkey=bn|title=Desperate Puerto Ricans are drinking water from a hazardous-waste site|last=Sutter|first=John D.|work=CNN|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014083853/http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/13/us/puerto-rico-superfund-water/index.html?adkey=bn|archive-date=October 14, 2017|url-status=live}} the water was later determined to be safe to drink.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/19/us/puerto-rico-superfund-water-tests-safe-invs/index.html|title=Expert: Water from a polluted Puerto Rico site 'safe to drink'|last=Lavandera|first=Ed|work=CNN|access-date=October 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020000423/http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/19/us/puerto-rico-superfund-water-tests-safe-invs/index.html|archive-date=October 20, 2017|url-status=live}}

File:Mountain melted down due to winds and heavy rain in Villalba..jpg

On October 13, the Trump administration requested $4.9 billion to fund a loan program that Puerto Rico could use to address basic functions and infrastructure needs.[http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/12/politics/fema-trump-hurricane-puerto-rico-san-juan-mayor-don-lemon-cnntv/index.html?iid=EL CNN: "San Juan mayor slams Trump over tweets: He's a 'hater-in-chief'" By Leinz Vales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022142629/http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/12/politics/fema-trump-hurricane-puerto-rico-san-juan-mayor-don-lemon-cnntv/index.html?iid=EL |date=October 22, 2017 }} October 13, 2017 On October 20, only 18.5% of the island had electricity, 49.1% of cell towers were working, and 69.5% of customers had running water, with the slowest restoration in the north.{{cite web |url=http://status.pr/ |title=statusPR |date=October 20, 2017 |access-date=October 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004190628/http://status.pr/ |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |url-status=live }} Ports and commercial flights were back to normal operations, but 7.6% of USPS locations, 11.5% of supermarkets, and 21.4% of gas stations were still closed. 4,246 people were still living in emergency shelters, and tourism was down by half. On November 5, more than 100,000 people had left Puerto Rico for the mainland.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/puerto-ricos-storm-of-misery/|title=Puerto Rico's storm of misery|website=CBS News|date=November 5, 2017 |access-date=November 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106062334/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/puerto-ricos-storm-of-misery/|archive-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live}} A December 17 report indicated that 600 people remained in shelters while 130,000 had left the island to go to the mainland.{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/report-slams-local-us-hurricane-response-puerto-rico-51847896 |author=Danica Coto |title=Report slams local, US hurricane response in Puerto Rico |publisher=ABC News |date=December 17, 2017 |access-date=December 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219011655/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/report-slams-local-us-hurricane-response-puerto-rico-51847896 |archive-date=December 19, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Three months after the hurricane, 45% of Puerto Ricans still had no power, over 1.5 million people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/us/puerto-rico-power-outage.html|title=Three Months After Maria, Roughly Half of Puerto Ricans Still Without Power|last1=Robles|first1=Frances|date=December 29, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 3, 2018|last2=Bidgood|first2=Jess|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102110912/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/us/puerto-rico-power-outage.html|archive-date=January 2, 2018|url-status=live}} 14% of Puerto Rico had no tap water; cell service was returning with over 90% of service restored and 86% of cell towers functioning.{{Cite journal|last=Holmes|first=Jack|date=December 21, 2017|title=Here's What Life is Like in Puerto Rico 3 Months After Hurricane Maria|url=http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a14474788/puerto-rico-3-months-after-hurricane/|journal=Esquire|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102012401/http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a14474788/puerto-rico-3-months-after-hurricane/|archive-date=January 2, 2018|url-status=live}}

Elaine Duke, the acting Secretary of Homeland Security at the time, recalled years later that President Trump suggested "selling" Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the hurricane. "Can we outsource the electricity? Can we sell the island? You know, or divest of that asset?" she remembered him saying. She said the topic was never mentioned again beyond that comment.{{cite news |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=July 10, 2020 |title=Leading Homeland Security Under a President Who Embraces 'Hate-Filled' Talk |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/10/us/politics/elaine-duke-homeland-security-trump.html|access-date=July 12, 2020 |issn=0362-4331}} Former DHS Chief of Staff Miles Taylor said that Trump asked if they could swap Puerto Rico for Greenland, because ""Puerto Rico was dirty and the people were poor."{{cite news |last=Acevedo |first=Nicole |date=August 19, 2020 |title=Trump was serious about trading hurricane-stricken Puerto Rico for Greenland, ex-DHS official says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-was-serious-about-trading-hurricane-stricken-puerto-rico-greenland-n1237336 |url-status=live |work=NBC News |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324090942/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-was-serious-about-trading-hurricane-stricken-puerto-rico-greenland-n1237336 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |access-date=April 13, 2022}}

File:18 Months After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico Still Struggling.webm.]]

Puerto Rico is a major manufacturer of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, which represent 30% of its economy.Securing the Future for Puerto Rico: Restoring the Island's robust Medical Product Manuring Sector, p. 4-5, EPA, 2017, https://www.fda.gov/downloads/NewsEvents/Newsroom/FDAInBrief/UCM584030.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114170247/https://www.fda.gov/downloads/NewsEvents/Newsroom/FDAInBrief/UCM584030.pdf |date=November 14, 2017 }} These factories shut down or greatly reduced production because of the hurricane, and were slowly recovering since. This caused a months long shortage in medical supplies in the United States, especially of IV bags.{{cite news | last = Kodjak | first = Alison | author-link = Alison Kodjak | url = https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/11/15/564203110/hurricane-damage-to-manufacturers-in-puerto-rico-affects-mainland-hospitals-too | title = Hurricane Damage To Manufacturers In Puerto Rico Affects Mainland Hospitals, Too | work = National Public Radio | date = November 15, 2017 | access-date = January 1, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180113205014/https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/11/15/564203110/hurricane-damage-to-manufacturers-in-puerto-rico-affects-mainland-hospitals-too | archive-date = January 13, 2018 | url-status = live }} Small IV bags often come pre-filled with saline or common drugs in solution, and have forced health care providers to scramble behind the scenes for alternative methods of drug delivery.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/health/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-drug-shortage.html|title=U.S. Hospitals Wrestle With Shortages of Drug Supplies Made in Puerto Rico|last=Thomas|first=Katie|date=October 23, 2017|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119001145/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/health/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-drug-shortage.html|archive-date=January 19, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/01/14/iv-bag-shortage-puerto-rico/1032369001/|title=Hospitals find other ways to deliver medicine amid IV bag shortage|last1=Saker|first1=Annie|date=January 14, 2018|work=USA Today|last2=Rudavsky|first2=Shari|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119060544/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/01/14/iv-bag-shortage-puerto-rico/1032369001/|archive-date=January 19, 2018|url-status=live}} In January 2018, when the shortage was projected to ease, flu season hit and led to a spike in patients.

By the end of January 2018, approximately 450,000 customers remained without power island-wide.{{cite news|author=Leyla Santiago and Susannah Cullinane|publisher=CNN|date=February 12, 2018|access-date=February 12, 2018|title=Explosion cuts power in Puerto Rico|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/11/us/puerto-rico-power/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212044957/http://www.cnn.com/2018/02/11/us/puerto-rico-power/index.html|archive-date=February 12, 2018|url-status=live}} On February 11, an explosion and fire damaged a power substation in Monacillo,{{cite news|author=Scott Neuman|publisher=NPR|date=February 12, 2018|access-date=February 12, 2018|title=Explosion At Substation Plunges Parts Of Puerto Rico Into Darkness Once Again|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/12/585016644/explosion-at-substation-plunges-parts-of-puerto-rico-into-darkness-once-again|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084241/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/12/585016644/explosion-at-substation-plunges-parts-of-puerto-rico-into-darkness-once-again|archive-date=February 12, 2018|url-status=live}} causing a large blackout in northern parts of the island, including Caguas, Carolina, Guaynabo, Juncos, San Juan, and Trujillo Alto. Cascading outages affected areas powered by substations in Villa Betina and Quebrada Negrito. Approximately 400 megawatts of electricity production was lost. On March 1, 2018, a second major blackout occurred when a transmission line failed and caused two power stations to shut down; more than 970,000 people lost electricity.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|publisher=NBC News|date=March 1, 2018|access-date=March 2, 2018|title=Another major blackout hits Puerto Rico after 2 power plants shut down|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/another-major-blackout-hits-puerto-rico-after-2-power-plants-n852316|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302015914/https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/another-major-blackout-hits-puerto-rico-after-2-power-plants-n852316|archive-date=March 2, 2018|url-status=live}} Excluding those affected by the second blackout, more than 200,000 people remained without power following Maria on March 2, 2018.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=March 2, 2018|access-date=March 2, 2018|title=Puerto Rico capital hit by power blackout for second day in a row|url=https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/puerto-rico-capital-hit-by-power-blackout-for-second-day-in-a-row/63143370|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303111327/https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/puerto-rico-capital-hit-by-power-blackout-for-second-day-in-a-row/63143370|archive-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=live}} Another large-scale blackout occurred on April 12 from a line failure.{{cite tweet|user=DavidBegnaud|author=David Begnaud|date=April 12, 2018|access-date=April 12, 2018|title=BREAKING: A massive power outage is being reported across Puerto Rico, from the southern part of the island to the north. PREPA says there's an "event" of the 50900 line which runs north to south Previous failures of this line have affected most of the 1,473,000 customers|number=984482138442600450}} Less than a week later on April 18, another blackout affected all of Puerto Rico. Rapid transit line passengers required help to disembark stalled trains.{{cite news|author=Ray Sanchez and Lonzo Cook|publisher=CNN|date=April 18, 2018|access-date=April 18, 2018|title=Puerto Rico suffers island-wide power outage|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/18/us/puerto-rico-mass-power-outage/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418202607/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/18/us/puerto-rico-mass-power-outage/index.html|archive-date=April 18, 2018|url-status=live}}{{dubious|date=April 2019}}

Power was not restored to all customers until August 2018.[https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/08/15/npr-nearly-year-after-maria-puerto-rico-officials-claim-power-totally-restored Nearly a year after Maria, Puerto Rico officials claim power is totally restored]

FEMA was a major supplier of relief in the form of bereavement, food, and other emergency supplies, as well as rebuilding some homes. FEMA's relief efforts in Puerto Rico post-Maria engaged a smaller work force and budget than the agency's efforts in Texas and Florida, in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, respectively. FEMA does not rebuild homes to which the owner has no title, which has presented a major obstacle for many Puerto Ricans, who may have erected structures on family plots without procuring legal paperwork beforehand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketplace.org/2018/04/25/economy/puerto-rico-no-title-no-lease-and-no-assistance-rebuild|title=No Title, No Lease, No Assistance to Rebuild|last=Balonon-Rosen|first=Peter|date=April 26, 2018|website=Market Place|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519033251/https://www.marketplace.org/2018/04/25/economy/puerto-rico-no-title-no-lease-and-no-assistance-rebuild|archive-date=May 19, 2018|url-status=live}} Compounding the problem in rebuilding the housing infrastructure is the fact that only about 50% of houses in Puerto Rico were covered by insurance policies that protect against wind damage, meaning that homeowners were reliant on their own money, FEMA, or other charities rather than insurance proceeds for rebuilding.{{Cite web |first2= Leslie |last2= Scism |first1= Nicole |last1= Friedman |title= Hurricane Maria Exposes a Common Problem for Puerto Rico Homeowners: No Insurance – Only about half of houses on the island are covered by policies that protect against wind damage |publisher= The Wall Street Journal |date= September 20, 2017 |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/hurricane-maria-exposes-a-common-problem-for-puerto-rico-homeowners-no-insurance-1505940660 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190419143910/https://www.wsj.com/articles/hurricane-maria-exposes-a-common-problem-for-puerto-rico-homeowners-no-insurance-1505940660 |archive-date= April 19, 2019 |url-status= live }} Although banks require that people with mortgages have homeowner's insurance, Puerto Rico has a low mortgage penetration rate with only 500,000 active mortgages in a population of 3 million as many homes are fully owned by families and passed to the next generation. In addition, 10% of mortgage holders in Puerto Rico were delinquent at the time (compared to 5.8% on the mainland), an indication of the fragile state of the local economy.

As a consequence of the hurricane, a population drop of approximately 14% was forecasted, due to an exodus to the mainland United States, according to a research study conducted by the Center for Puerto Rican Studies of Hunter College.{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/puerto-rico-population-drop-14-hurricane-001954834.html |title=Puerto Rico population to drop 14% after hurricane |publisher=Yahoo.com |date=November 7, 2017 |access-date=June 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143236/https://www.yahoo.com/news/puerto-rico-population-drop-14-hurricane-001954834.html |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=live }} In preparation for the 2018 hurricane season, FEMA drastically increased its stockpiles on the island, including 35 times more bottled water, 43 times more tarps, and 16 times more meals as the previous year.{{Cite web|date=July 13, 2018|title=FEMA Emptied Its Puerto Rico Warehouse Just Before Maria Struck|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-13/fema-emptied-its-puerto-rico-warehouse-just-before-maria-struck|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916093140/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-13/fema-emptied-its-puerto-rico-warehouse-just-before-maria-struck|archive-date=September 16, 2018|access-date=September 16, 2018|website=Bloomberg.com}} FEMA has added three new warehouses on Puerto Rico and pre-positioned emergency power generators at hospitals and water pump stations. The territorial government added satellite and radio equipment at hospitals, to prevent a communications blackout in the event the land and cell phone networks fail again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/06/03/616661103/how-is-fema-preparing-for-hurricane-season-in-puerto-rico|title=How Is FEMA Preparing For Hurricane Season In Puerto Rico?|website=NPR.org|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001220513/https://www.npr.org/2018/06/03/616661103/how-is-fema-preparing-for-hurricane-season-in-puerto-rico|archive-date=October 1, 2018|url-status=live}} In addition to FEMA, Direct Relief provided important medical supplies to those affected including insulin and vaccines.{{Cite web|url=https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-maria/|title=Hurricane Maria Relief|date=February 15, 2018|website=Direct Relief|language=en-US|access-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322141918/https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-maria/|archive-date=March 22, 2019|url-status=live}} A year later, repairs to homes were not completed, schools were shuttered, and residents were suffering from depression.

Governor Rosselló submitted a vague request to Congress for $94.4 billion in disaster recovery funds, including $15 billion for health care, $17.7 for the power grid, $8.4 billion for schools,[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/14/us/puerto-rico-prepa-whitefish-contract.html After Doomed Whitefish Deal, Puerto Rico Asks Congress for $94 Billion] and $46 billion for Community Development Block Grants.[https://www.ibtimes.com/can-trump-revoke-16-billion-hurricane-maria-aid-promised-puerto-rico-2731762 Can Trump Revoke $16 Billion Hurricane Maria Aid Promised To Puerto Rico?] The territorial government estimated it needed $132 billion from 2018 to 2028 to repair damaged infrastructure.[https://www.gao.gov/blog/hurricane-recovery-can-take-years-puerto-rico-5-years-show-its-unique-challenges Hurricane Recovery Can Take Years—But For Puerto Rico, 5 Years Show Its Unique Challenges]

As of November 2021, in addition to increasing emergency stockpiles in the territory, the federal government had allocated for Hurricane Maria recovery:[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/hurricane-maria-numbers DR-4339 Hurricane Maria By The Numbers]

• $28.9 billion in government-to-government assistance:
• $725 million: debris removal
• $4.6 billion: emergency protective measures
• $23.6 billion: permanent public works
• $168 million: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
• $20 billion: Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program from United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
• $9.5 billion: power grid reconstruction
• $1.5 billion: individual assistance from FEMA

The Government Accountability Office reported that as of August 2022, the government of Puerto Rico had expended only $5.3 billion of the government-to-government assistance, mostly on debris removal and emergency measures.[https://www.gao.gov/assets/730/722663.pdf 2017 HURRICANES - Update on FEMA's Disaster Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands] - written version of testimony by Chris Currie, Director, Homeland Security and Justice $407 million had been spent on permanent repairs.[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/09/puerto-rico-recovery-hurricane-maria-fiona-power-grid Puerto Rico's Recovery From Hurricane Maria Was Years Behind Schedule. Then Fiona Hit.] GAO cited lack of local familiarity with disaster programs, problems procuring labor and supplies, inflation, and difficulty reaching agreement about project scopes. As of September 2022, only $40.3 million out of a $13.2 billion FEMA budget had been spent on utility repairs. FEMA attempted to bypass Puerto Rico's lack of capital by offering to disburse grant money up front rather than reimbursing already-spent funds, but the newness of this system caused delays.

About 60% of households that applied for FEMA assistance were rejected, primarily for lack of proof of ownership.{{Cite news|url=https://slate.com/technology/2018/06/hurricane-maria-aftermath-fema-rejects-60-percent-of-assistance-requests.html|title=FEMA Has Rejected 60 Percent of Assistance Requests in Puerto Rico. Why?|last=Panditharatne|first=Mekela|date=June 15, 2018|work=Slate|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513185559/https://slate.com/technology/2018/06/hurricane-maria-aftermath-fema-rejects-60-percent-of-assistance-requests.html|archive-date=May 13, 2019|url-status=live}} Different legal and inheritance customs in Puerto Rico often result in there being no title deed to a property. Further, there have been accusations that FEMA policies have been applied unfairly.{{Cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article217935625.html|title=They lost homes in Hurricane Maria, but didn't have deeds. FEMA rejected their claims.|last=Viglucci|first=Andres|work=The Miami Herald|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514231018/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article217935625.html|archive-date=May 14, 2019|url-status=live}} January 2019 has also seen a $600 million cut in food aid to Puerto Rico by the Trump Administration.{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2G0PwwV|title=Trump White House stonewalls as Puerto Rico aid runs dry|last=Rogers|first=David|website=POLITICO|date=January 26, 2019 |language=en|access-date=January 28, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/puerto-rican-officials-blast-trump-administration-for-opposing-bill-to-fund-the-islands-nutritional-program/|title=Puerto Rico's leaders slam Trump administration for opposing food assistance funding|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=January 17, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=January 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129013107/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/puerto-rican-officials-blast-trump-administration-for-opposing-bill-to-fund-the-islands-nutritional-program/|archive-date=January 29, 2019|url-status=live}}'

In 2019 and 2020, the Trump Administration added layers of federal review for HUD CDBG money not required for U.S. states, citing the possibility of corruption and mismanagement and delaying the release of funds.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/22/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-trump-delayed-aid Trump delayed $20bn in aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, report finds] Access to federal programs was further delayed by the 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown.[https://www.hudoig.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/HUD%20OIG%20Final%20Report_2019SU008945I.pdf Review of HUD's Disbursement of Grant Funds Appropriated for Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Activities in Puerto Rico] The Washington Post reported that President Trump, contrary to the law he had signed, wanted to stop all aid to Puerto Rico and redirect it to Texas and Florida, and that (despite her citation of personal reasons) HUD Deputy Secretary Pam Patenaude resigned in part because of frustration over distribution efforts.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/top-hud-officials-departure-follows-disagreements-over-housing-policy-and-puerto-rico-disaster-funds/2019/01/16/e6ba5be4-1839-11e9-9ebf-c5fed1b7a081_story.htmlte After butting heads with Trump administration, top HUD official departs agency]

Slow arrival of relief funding became an issue in the 2020 United States presidential election.{{cite news |title=Biden to Free Up Billions in Delayed Puerto Rico Storm Aid (Published 2021) |work=The New York Times |date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604134346/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/climate/puerto-rico-maria-federal-aid.html |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/climate/puerto-rico-maria-federal-aid.html |last1=Flavelle |first1=Christopher |last2=Mazzei |first2=Patricia }} After his victory, the administration of President Joe Biden removed the additional restrictions on billions of dollars of HUD CDBG funds.

In January 2021, people affected by the 2019–20 Puerto Rico earthquakes broke into a warehouse in Ponce, discovering aid supplies that should have been used in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.{{cite web |title=Political Unrest In Puerto Rico After Discovery Of Unused Hurricane Aid |website=NPR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515042052/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/20/797996503/political-unrest-in-puerto-rico-after-discovery-of-unused-hurricane-aid |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/20/797996503/political-unrest-in-puerto-rico-after-discovery-of-unused-hurricane-aid}}

As of January 2023, the roofs of residences damaged by Hurricanes Maria, Irma, and even Georges (in 1998) were still being repaired.[https://www.npr.org/2023/01/03/1145946868/hurricane-damaged-roofs-in-puerto-rico-remain-a-problem-one-group-is-offering-a- Hurricane-damaged roofs in Puerto Rico remain a problem. One group is offering a fix.]

{{Main|Hurricane Maria death toll controversy}}

{{Deadliest United States hurricanes}}

The deaths of 64 people were initially directly attributed to the hurricane by the government of Puerto Rico.{{cite news|publisher=Fox News|author=Nicole Darrah|date=August 28, 2018|access-date=August 28, 2018|title=Puerto Rico governor raises Hurricane Maria death toll from 64 to 2,975|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/puerto-rico-governor-raises-hurricane-maria-death-toll-from-64-to-2975|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828211640/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/28/puerto-rico-governor-raises-hurricane-maria-death-toll-from-64-to-2975.html|archive-date=August 28, 2018|url-status=live}}

In the immediate months following Maria, the initial death toll relayed from the Government of Puerto Rico came into question by media outlets, politicians, and investigative journalists. Scores of people who survived the hurricane's initial onslaught later died from complications in its aftermath. Catastrophic damage to infrastructure and communication hampered efforts to accurately document the total loss of life.

Investigations into the hurricane's aftermath suggested a wide variety of possible death tolls. On October 11, 2017, Vox reported 81 deaths directly or indirectly related to the hurricane, with another 450 deaths awaiting investigation. Furthermore, they indicated 69 people were missing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/10/11/16424356/puerto-rico-official-hurricane-maria-death-toll|title=Everything that's been reported about deaths in Puerto Rico is at odds with the official count|work=Vox|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012222005/https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/10/11/16424356/puerto-rico-official-hurricane-maria-death-toll|archive-date=October 12, 2017|url-status=live}} Official statistics showed increases of about 20% and 27% in overall fatalities in Puerto Rico during September 2017, compared to 2016 and 2015, followed by a decrease of about 10% in October 2017 compared to the previous two Octobers.{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/a64526dd9e314f3aa9de8de6ebd4117a|title=Puerto Rico reports increase in overall deaths after storm|last=Coto|first=Danica|date=November 11, 2017|work=Associated Press|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141639/https://apnews.com/a64526dd9e314f3aa9de8de6ebd4117a|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}}Calculation from provided monthly statistics. There were 238 more reported deaths in September and October 2017 than during the same months in 2016, and 336 more compared to September and October 2015. A two-week investigation in November 2017 by CNN of 112 funeral homes—approximately half of the island—found 499 deaths that were said to be hurricane-related between September 20 and October 19.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/20/health/hurricane-maria-uncounted-deaths-invs/index.html|title=We surveyed 112 Puerto Rican funeral homes to check the accuracy of the hurricane death toll. This is what we found.|author1=Sutter, J.D.|author2=Santiago, L.|author3=Shah, K.|publisher=CNN|date=November 20, 2017|access-date=August 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829222320/https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/20/health/hurricane-maria-uncounted-deaths-invs/index.html|archive-date=August 29, 2018|url-status=live}} Two scientists, Alexis Santos and Jeffrey Howard, estimated the death toll in Puerto Rico to be 1,085 by the end of November 2017. They used average monthly deaths and the spike in fatalities following the hurricane. The value accounted for only reported deaths, and with limitations to communication, the actual toll could have been even higher.{{Cite news|publisher=Vox|author=Eliza Barclay and Alexia Fernández Campbell|date=November 29, 2017|access-date=November 29, 2017|title=New data shows hurricane deaths in Puerto Rico could be 20 times higher than the government claims|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/29/16623926/puerto-rico-death-toll-hurricane-maria-count|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129170548/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/29/16623926/puerto-rico-death-toll-hurricane-maria-count|archive-date=November 29, 2017|url-status=live}} Using a similar method, The New York Times indicated an increase of 1,052 fatalities in the 42 days following Maria compared to previous years. Significant spikes in causes of deaths compared to the two preceding Septembers included sepsis (+47%), pneumonia (+45%), emphysema (+43%), diabetes (+31%), and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's (+23%).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/08/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-death-toll.html|title=Official Toll in Puerto Rico: 64. Actual Deaths May Be 1,052|author=Frances Robles|author2=Kenan David|author3=Sheri Fink|author4=Sarah Almukhtar|date=December 9, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201034318/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/08/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-death-toll.html|archive-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=live}} Robert Anderson at the National Center for Health Statistics conveyed the increase in monthly fatalities was statistically significant and likely driven in some capacity by Hurricane Maria. A Harvard study found an estimated 15 excess deaths in the four months after the hurricane in interviews with 3,299 households, resulting in an estimated 793 to 8,498 excess deaths (with a 95% confidence interval).{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/us/puerto-rico-deaths-hurricane.html|title=New Study Estimates Hurricane Maria Death Toll in Puerto Rico Could Exceed 4,000|date=May 29, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 29, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529145150/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/us/puerto-rico-deaths-hurricane.html|archive-date=May 29, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite journal |last1=Kishore |first1=Nishant|last2=Marqués |first2=Domingo|last3=Mahmud |first3=Ayesha|last4=Kiang |first4=Mathew V.|last5=Rodriguez |first5=Irmary|last6=Fuller |first6=Arlan|last7=Ebner |first7=Peggy|last8=Sorensen |first8=Cecilia|last9=Racy |first9=Fabio|last10=Lemery |first10=Jay|last11=Maas|first11=Leslie|last12=Leaning |first12=Jennifer|last13=Irizarry |first13=Rafael A.|last14=Balsari |first14=Satchit|last15=Buckee |first15=Caroline O. |title=Mortality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|volume=379|issue=2|pages=162–170|date=May 29, 2018 |doi=10.1056/nejmsa1803972 |pmid=29809109|s2cid=44155986|language=en|issn=0028-4793|url=http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:37309252|doi-access=free}}{{Cite news |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |title=Did exactly 4,645 people die in Hurricane Maria? Nope. |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 1, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/06/02/did-4645-people-die-in-hurricane-maria-nope/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616054017/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/06/02/did-4645-people-die-in-hurricane-maria-nope/ |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}

On December 18, 2017, Governor Rosselló ordered a recount and a new analysis of the official death toll.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/puerto-rico-governor-orders-recount-of-death-toll/2017/12/18/2aa0ad5e-e401-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html|author=Arelis R. Hernandez|title=Puerto Rico governor orders recount of hurricane death toll|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 18, 2017|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219100605/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/puerto-rico-governor-orders-recount-of-death-toll/2017/12/18/2aa0ad5e-e401-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html|archive-date=December 19, 2017|url-status=live}} In February 2018, the task of reviewing the death toll was given to The George Washington University – Milken Institute School of Public Health with some assistance from the University of Puerto Rico at the request of researchers from George Washington University.{{Cite web|title=Hurricane Maria {{!}} GW's Bicentennial Celebration {{!}} The George Washington University|url=https://bicentennial.gwu.edu/hurricane-maria|access-date=April 7, 2021|website=bicentennial.gwu.edu|language=en}} In response to three lawsuits, including one from CNN and Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism, the Government of Puerto Rico released updated death statistics for the months following Hurricane Maria. Compared to the average deaths in September to December 2013 – 2016, September to December 2017 had 1,427 excess deaths; however, it is unknown how many of these deaths are attributable to the hurricane. The government acknowledged the death toll was greater than 64, but awaited the results of the government commissioned study to determine the true death toll.{{cite news|publisher=NPR|author=Daniella Cheslow|date=June 13, 2018|access-date=June 21, 2018|title=Puerto Rico Releases Data On Hundreds Of Deaths Following Hurricane Maria|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/06/13/619440877/puerto-rico-releases-data-on-hundreds-of-deaths-following-hurricane-maria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621194230/https://www.npr.org/2018/06/13/619440877/puerto-rico-releases-data-on-hundreds-of-deaths-following-hurricane-maria|archive-date=June 21, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|publisher=NBC News|date=June 13, 2018|title=Lawsuits reveal data showing higher death count in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/puerto-rico-issues-new-data-hurricane-maria-deaths-n882816|access-date=June 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618112859/https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/puerto-rico-issues-new-data-hurricane-maria-deaths-n882816|archive-date=June 18, 2018|url-status=live}}

{{tweet

| text = 3,000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3,000 ...

| name = Donald J. Trump

| username = realDonaldTrump

| date = September 13, 2018

| ID = 1040217897703026689

}}

In late August 2018, almost a year after the hurricane, the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University published their results. They estimated 2,658–3,290 additional people died in the six months after the hurricane over the expected background rate, after accounting for emigration from the island.{{cite web|publisher=The George Washington University|department=Milken Institute of Public Health|date=August 28, 2018|access-date=August 28, 2018|title=Ascertainment of the Estimated Excess Mortality from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico|url=https://publichealth.gwu.edu/sites/default/files/downloads/projects/PRstudy/Acertainment%20of%20the%20Estimated%20Excess%20Mortality%20from%20Hurricane%20Maria%20in%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828212503/https://publichealth.gwu.edu/sites/default/files/downloads/projects/PRstudy/Acertainment%20of%20the%20Estimated%20Excess%20Mortality%20from%20Hurricane%20Maria%20in%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf|archive-date=August 28, 2018|url-status=live}} As result, the official death toll was updated from the initial 64 to an estimated 2,975 by the Governor of Puerto Rico.{{cite web | title=Issue Brief | website=The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation | date=September 19, 2018 | url=https://www.kff.org/report-section/one-year-after-the-storms-recovery-and-health-care-in-puerto-rico-and-the-u-s-virgin-islands-issue-brief/ | access-date=April 2, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213060424/https://www.kff.org/report-section/one-year-after-the-storms-recovery-and-health-care-in-puerto-rico-and-the-u-s-virgin-islands-issue-brief/ | archive-date=February 13, 2020 | url-status=live }}

In September 2018, President Trump disputed the revised death toll. Writing on Twitter, Trump claimed that "3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico", but that the Democrats had inflated the official death toll to "make me look as bad as possible". Trump provided no evidence to support his claims.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45511865|title=Trump rejects Puerto Rico storm death toll|date=September 13, 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=September 13, 2018|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913144144/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45511865|archive-date=September 13, 2018|url-status=live}} The response was met with immediate criticism, including from Mayor of San Juan Carmen Yulín Cruz and Florida Congresswoman and fellow Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.{{cite news |last=Holpuch |first=Amanda |date=September 13, 2018 |title=Trump falsely claims Hurricane Maria death toll was made up by Democrats |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/13/donald-trump-says-hurricane-maria-death-toll-number-was-made-up-by-democrats |work=The Guardian |access-date=September 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913133804/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/13/donald-trump-says-hurricane-maria-death-toll-number-was-made-up-by-democrats |archive-date=September 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}

By September 25, 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that the ports of Crown Bay, East Gregerie Channel, West Gregerie Channel, and Redhook Bay on Saint Thomas; the ports of Krause Lagoon, Limetree Bay, and Frederiksted on Saint Croix, and the port of Cruz Bay on Saint John were open with restrictions. On September 25, 11 flights arrived with 200,000 meals, 144,000 liters of water, and tarps. Troops were activated and deployed to the U.S. Virgin Islands from the Virginia National Guard,[https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/first-group-of-virginia-national-guard-soldiers-departs-for-u-s-virgin-islands WSLS: "First group of Virginia National Guard soldiers departs for US Virgin Islands"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112139/https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/first-group-of-virginia-national-guard-soldiers-departs-for-u-s-virgin-islands |date=September 27, 2017 }} September 25, 2017 the West Virginia National Guard,[http://wvmetronews.com/2017/09/19/w-va-guard-troops-to-ride-out-maria-in-virgin-islands/ West Virginia Metro news: "W.Va. Guard troops to ride out Maria in Virgin Islands" By Chris Lawrence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927113010/http://wvmetronews.com/2017/09/19/w-va-guard-troops-to-ride-out-maria-in-virgin-islands/ |date=September 27, 2017 }} September 19, 2017 Missouri National Guard,[https://www.army.mil/article/194347/missouri_army_national_guard_to_support_virgin_islands_relief_effort U.S. Army news: "Missouri Army National Guard to support Virgin Islands relief effort" by 1st Lt. Phil Fountain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925225313/https://www.army.mil/article/194347/missouri_army_national_guard_to_support_virgin_islands_relief_effort |date=September 25, 2017 }} September 25, 2017 and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the Tennessee Army National Guard.

Nearly a month after the hurricane, electricity had been restored to only 16 percent of people in St. Thomas and 1.6 percent of people in St. Croix.{{cite web|last1=Erdman|first1=Jonathan|title=Why Hurricane Maria Was Such a Catastrophe in Puerto Rico|url=https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2017-10-19-why-hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-catastrophe|website=The Weather Channel|access-date=October 23, 2017|date=October 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222104509/https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2017-10-19-why-hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-catastrophe|archive-date=February 22, 2018|url-status=live}} Three months after Maria, about half the entire U.S. territory still had no power, and 25% of the U.S. territory had no cell service.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/us/virgin-islands-hurricanes-boats.html|title=Recovering What Was Lost in the U.S. Virgin Islands, One Boat at a Time|last=Pérez-Peña|first=Richard|date=December 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105233836/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/us/virgin-islands-hurricanes-boats.html|archive-date=January 5, 2018|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Hurricane Maria death toll controversy}}

File:Donald Trump Pentagon 2017.jpg's Office of Inspector General{{Cite journal |last=U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development |first=Office of Inspector General |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Review of HUD's Disbursement of Grant Funds Appropriated for Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Activities in Puerto Rico |url=https://www.hudoig.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/HUD%20OIG%20Final%20Report_2019SU008945I.pdf |journal=U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development}} found that 45th U.S. president Donald Trump purposefully delayed over $20 billion in federal aid for Puerto Rico, despite that aid being appropriated and approved by Congress.{{Cite news |last=Marcos |first=Coral Murphy |date=April 22, 2021 |title=Trump delayed $20bn in aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, report finds |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/22/hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-trump-delayed-aid |access-date=October 8, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}]]

The U.S. government hurricane response was criticized as inadequate and slow.{{cite web |last1=Gambino |first1=Lauren |title=Donald Trump attacked for calling Hurricane Maria response an 'incredible success' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/11/trump-hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-success |work=The Guardian |date=September 12, 2018 |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917175505/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/11/trump-hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-success |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |url-status=live }} The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately waive the Jones Act for Puerto Rico, which prevented the commonwealth from receiving any aid and supplies from non-U.S.-flagged vessels from U.S. ports (shipments from non-US ports were unaffected).{{cite web|url=https://aflcio.org/2017/9/29/fact-checking-inaccurate-news-about-jones-act|title=Fact-Checking Inaccurate News About the Jones Act|date=September 29, 2017|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010212100/https://aflcio.org/2017/9/29/fact-checking-inaccurate-news-about-jones-act|archive-date=October 10, 2017|url-status=live}} A DHS Security spokesman said that there would be enough U.S. shipping for Puerto Rico, and that the limiting factors would be port capacity and local transport capacity.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/puerto-rico-maria-irma-hurricane-waiver-to-bring-vital-fuel-and-supplies-to-island-a7969156.html|title=America denies Puerto Rico request for waiver to bring vital fuel and supplies to island|website=Independent.co.uk|date=September 27, 2017|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018125005/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/puerto-rico-maria-irma-hurricane-waiver-to-bring-vital-fuel-and-supplies-to-island-a7969156.html|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Ed Pilkington|newspaper=The Guardian|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2017|title=Trump finally responds to Puerto Rico crisis, saying island has 'massive debt'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/26/trump-puerto-rico-crisis-massive-debt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926062719/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/26/trump-puerto-rico-crisis-massive-debt|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Nelson Denis|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2017|title=The Law Strangling Puerto Rico|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/opinion/hurricane-puerto-rico-jones-act.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926044913/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/opinion/hurricane-puerto-rico-jones-act.html|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}} The Jones Act was ultimately waived for a period of ten days starting on September 28 following a formal request by Puerto Rico Governor Rosselló.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-waives-jones-act-in-response-to-puerto-rico-devastation/|title=White House waives Jones Act in response to Puerto Rico devastation|date=September 28, 2017 |publisher=CBS News|access-date=September 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002151145/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-waives-jones-act-in-response-to-puerto-rico-devastation/|archive-date=October 2, 2017|url-status=live}}File:Carmenyulin.jpg (pictured) harshly criticized the federal response to Maria in Puerto Rico as inadequate.]]San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz called the disaster a "terrifying humanitarian crisis" and on September 26 pleaded for relief efforts to be sped up.{{cite news|author=Daniella Silva and Sandra Lilley|publisher=NBC News|date=September 27, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|title=Mayor Issues 'S.O.S.' as Puerto Ricans Scramble to Help Most Vulnerable|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/puerto-ricans-scramble-help-most-vulnerable-residents-supplies-dwindle-n805006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007080541/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/puerto-ricans-scramble-help-most-vulnerable-residents-supplies-dwindle-n805006|archive-date=October 7, 2017|url-status=live}} The White House contested claims that the administration was not responding effectively.{{cite web|publisher=BBC|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2017|title=Does Trump care about Puerto Rico's hurricane victims?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41398263|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926152727/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41398263|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live}} General Joseph L. Lengyel, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, defended the Trump Administration's response, and reiterated that relief efforts were hampered by Puerto Rico being an island rather than on the mainland.{{cite news|author=Ellen Mitchell|newspaper=The Hill|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2017|title=National Guard leaders says he's seen no delay in federal help to Puerto Rico|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/352444-national-guard-leaders-says-hes-seen-no-delay-in-federal-help-to-puerto-rico/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003113750/http://thehill.com/policy/defense/352444-national-guard-leaders-says-hes-seen-no-delay-in-federal-help-to-puerto-rico|archive-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=live}} President Donald Trump responded to accusations that he does not care about Puerto Rico: "Puerto Rico is very important to me, and Puerto Rico—the people are fantastic people. I grew up in New York, so I know many people from Puerto Rico. I know many Puerto Ricans. And these are great people, and we have to help them. The island is devastated."{{cite news |last1=Stracqualursi |first1=Veronica |last2=Kelsey |first2=Adam |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-visit-hurricane-ravaged-puerto-rico-amid-criticism/story?id=50101038 |title=Trump to visit hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, says he is 'very proud' of response |date=September 27, 2017 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=September 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927030013/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-visit-hurricane-ravaged-puerto-rico-amid-criticism/story?id=50101038 |archive-date=September 27, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Mayor Cruz criticized the federal response on September 29 during a news conference. "We are dying and you are killing us with the inefficiency", she said. Trump responded by criticizing her for "poor leadership", and tweeted that the mayor and "others in Puerto Rico ... want everything to be done for them."

Frustrated with the federal government's "slow and inadequate response", relief group Oxfam announced on October 2 that it planned to get involved in the humanitarian aid effort, sending a team to "assess a targeted and effective response" and support its local partners' on-the-ground efforts.{{cite web|last1=Hui|first1=Mary|title=Donald Trump criticised by Oxfam for 'slow and inadequate' Puerto Rico response|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-oxfam-puerto-rico-response-criticism-relief-effort-hurricane-maria-a7982381.html|website=The Independent|date=October 4, 2017 |access-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008145944/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-oxfam-puerto-rico-response-criticism-relief-effort-hurricane-maria-a7982381.html|archive-date=October 8, 2017|url-status=live}} The organization released a statement, saying in part: "While the US government is engaged in relief efforts, it has failed to address the most urgent needs. Oxfam has monitored the response in Puerto Rico closely, and we are outraged at the slow and inadequate response the US Government has mounted," said Oxfam America's president Abby Maxman. "Oxfam rarely responds to humanitarian emergencies in the US and other wealthy countries, but as the situation in Puerto Rico worsens and the federal government's response continues to falter, we have decided to step in. The US has more than enough resources to mobilize an emergency response, but has failed to do so in a swift and robust manner."{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/stories/despite-desperate-shortages-us-fails-to-mount-robust-response-in-puerto-rico/|title=Despite desperate shortages, US fails to mount robust response in Puerto Rico|website=www.oxfamamerica.org|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008215527/https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/stories/despite-desperate-shortages-us-fails-to-mount-robust-response-in-puerto-rico/|archive-date=October 8, 2017|url-status=live}} In an update on October 19, the agency called the situation in Puerto Rico "unacceptable" and called for "a more robust and efficient response from the US government".{{cite web|publisher=Oxfam America|date=October 19, 2017|access-date=October 19, 2017|title=One month on, millions of Puerto Ricans still caught in crisis|url=https://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/one-month-on-millions-of-puerto-ricans-still-caught-in-crisis/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019183227/https://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/one-month-on-millions-of-puerto-ricans-still-caught-in-crisis/|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=live}}

File:Puerto Rico Rally IMG 7743 (37439192926).jpg, on October 3]]

On October 3, 2017, President Trump visited Puerto Rico. He compared the damage from Hurricane Maria to that of Hurricane Katrina, saying: "If you looked—every death is a horror, but if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina, and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died, and you look at what happened here with really a storm that was just totally overbearing, nobody has seen anything like this ... What is your death count as of this morning, 17?".{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/353637-trump-compares-hurricane-maria-katrina-death-counts/ |title=Trump compares Hurricane Maria, Katrina 'death counts' |work=The Hill |date=October 3, 2017 |first=Jonathan |last=Easley |access-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003215556/http://thehill.com/homenews/media/353637-trump-compares-hurricane-maria-katrina-death-counts |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |url-status=live }} Trump's remarks were widely criticized for implying that Hurricane Maria was not a "real catastrophe".{{cite news |url=http://people.com/politics/trump-compares-puerto-rico-to-real-catastrophe-like-katrina/ |title=Donald Trump Boasts Puerto Rico Should Be 'Proud' More Haven't Died Like in 'a Real Catastrophe Like Katrina' |work=People |date=October 3, 2017 |first=Lindsay |last=Kimble |access-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003234737/http://people.com/politics/trump-compares-puerto-rico-to-real-catastrophe-like-katrina/ |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-visits-puerto-rico_us_59d3640de4b0655781554854 |title=Trump Downplays Puerto Rico's Suffering, Says It's Not A 'Real Catastrophe Like Katrina' |work=HuffPost |first1=Willa |last1=Frej |first2=Marina |last2=Fang |date=October 3, 2017 |access-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004013017/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-visits-puerto-rico_us_59d3640de4b0655781554854 |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |url-status=live }} While in Puerto Rico, Trump also distributed canned goods and paper towels to crowds gathered at a relief shelter{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-s-roll-puerto-rico-n807216 |title=Trump Throws Paper Towels to Hurricane Victims in Puerto Rico |first=Ali |last=Vitali |date=October 3, 2017 |work=NBC News |access-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004003008/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-s-roll-puerto-rico-n807216 |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |url-status=live }} and told the residents of the devastated island "I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you've thrown our budget a little out of whack, because we've spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico, and that's fine. We saved a lot of lives."{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/353634-trump-puerto-rico-has-thrown-our-budget-a-little-out-of-whack/ |first=Jonathan |last=Easley |date=October 3, 2017 |work=The Hill |title=Trump: Puerto Rico has 'thrown our budget a little out of whack' |access-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011072147/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/353634-trump-puerto-rico-has-thrown-our-budget-a-little-out-of-whack |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}

On October 12, Trump tweeted, "We cannot keep FEMA, the Military & the First Responders, who have been amazing (under the most difficult circumstances) in P.R. forever!",{{cite web | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-puerto-rico-aid-20171012-story.html | title=Trump lashes out at Puerto Rico as House passes $36.5 billion aid package | work=Chicago Tribune | date=October 12, 2017 | access-date=October 13, 2017 | last1=Thomas | first1=Ken | last2=Taylor | first2=Andrew | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013022822/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-puerto-rico-aid-20171012-story.html | archive-date=October 13, 2017 | url-status=live }} prompting further criticism from lawmakers in both parties;{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-threat-to-abandon-puerto-rico-recovery-sparks-a-backlash/2017/10/12/cf0d0abe-af62-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html | title=Trump threat to abandon Puerto Rico recovery sparks a backlash | newspaper=Washington Post | date=October 12, 2017 | access-date=October 13, 2017 | last1=Rucker | first1=Philip | last2=Hernández | first2=Arelis R. | last3=Roig-Franzia | first3=Manuel | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013015841/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-threat-to-abandon-puerto-rico-recovery-sparks-a-backlash/2017/10/12/cf0d0abe-af62-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html | archive-date=October 13, 2017 | url-status=live }} Mayor Cruz replied, "You are incapable of empathy and frankly simply cannot get the job done."{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/12/trump-criticises-puerto-rico-hurricane-aid-cannot-go-on-forever | title=Trump hints at ending aid as Puerto Ricans forced to drink polluted water | work=The Guardian | date=October 12, 2017 | access-date=October 13, 2017 | last1=Milman | first1=Oliver | last2=Holpuch | first2=Amanda | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013005947/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/12/trump-criticises-puerto-rico-hurricane-aid-cannot-go-on-forever | archive-date=October 13, 2017 | url-status=live }} In response to a request for clarification on the tweet from Governor Rosselló, John F. Kelly assured that no resources were being pulled and replied: "Our country will stand with those American citizens in Puerto Rico until the job is done".{{cite news|author=Peter Baker and Caitlin Dickerson|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 12, 2017|access-date=October 13, 2017|title=Trump Warns Storm-Ravaged Puerto Rico That Aid Won't Last 'Forever'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/us/politics/trump-warns-puerto-rico-weeks-after-storms-federal-help-cannot-stay-forever.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012232015/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/us/politics/trump-warns-puerto-rico-weeks-after-storms-federal-help-cannot-stay-forever.html|archive-date=October 12, 2017|url-status=live}}

After visiting Puerto Rico about two months after the hurricane, Refugees International issued a report that severely criticized the slow response of the federal authorities, noted poor coordination and logistics, and indicated the island was still in an emergency mode and in need of more help. Politico compared the federal response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico to that for Hurricane Harvey, which had hit the greater Houston area of Texas a month earlier. Though Maria caused catastrophic damage, the response was slower in quantitative terms.{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/27/donald-trump-fema-hurricane-maria-response-480557 |title=How Trump favored Texas over Puerto Rico |author=Danny Vinik |date=March 27, 2018 |work=Politico |access-date=April 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404235701/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/27/donald-trump-fema-hurricane-maria-response-480557 |archive-date=April 4, 2018 |url-status=live }}

A Harvard Humanitarian Initiative analysis of the military deployment in March 2018 said the military mission in Puerto Rico after hurricane was better than critics say but suffered flaws. It concluded that the U.S. military itself performed as well in Puerto Rico as it does in its international relief missions, and that coordination had been greatly improved since Katrina, but that real shortcomings exist in planning for disasters.{{cite web | url = http://theconversation.com/military-mission-in-puerto-rico-after-hurricane-was-better-than-critics-say-but-suffered-flaws-91558 | title = Military mission in Puerto Rico after hurricane was better than critics say but suffered flaws | date = March 30, 2018 | access-date = September 22, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180922101607/http://theconversation.com/military-mission-in-puerto-rico-after-hurricane-was-better-than-critics-say-but-suffered-flaws-91558 | archive-date = September 22, 2018 | url-status = live }}{{cite web | url = https://wtop.com/national/2018/03/military-mission-in-puerto-rico-after-hurricane-was-better-than-critics-say-but-suffered-flaws/ | title = WTOP Military mission in Puerto Rico | publisher = AP | access-date = September 22, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180922101725/https://wtop.com/national/2018/03/military-mission-in-puerto-rico-after-hurricane-was-better-than-critics-say-but-suffered-flaws/ | archive-date = September 22, 2018 | url-status = live }}

After the official death toll was updated to the estimated 2,975 on August 28, 2018, President Donald Trump stated that he still believed the federal government did a "fantastic job" in its hurricane response.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/29/politics/trump-puerto-rico-fantastic/index.html|title=Trump touts Puerto Rico response as 'fantastic' despite nearly 3,000 dead|author1=Kevin Liptak|author2-link=Jeremy Diamond (journalist)|author2=Jeremy Diamond|work=CNN|access-date=August 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829214046/https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/29/politics/trump-puerto-rico-fantastic/index.html|archive-date=August 29, 2018|url-status=live}} and less than a month later Trump described the federal response to Hurricane Maria as "an incredible, unsung success ... the best job we did was Puerto Rico [compared to hurricanes in Texas and Florida] but nobody would understand that". These remarks received condemnation from Carmen Yulín Cruz and other figures, who cited the near 3,000 death toll as not showing a success.

A 2021 Inspector General investigation found that the Trump administration erected bureaucratic hurdles which stalled approximately $20 billion in hurricane relief for Puerto Rico.The Washington Post reported that President Donald Trump instructed officials to closely monitor Puerto Rico's disaster relief because he believed the island's government was corrupt. They also reported that he told his staff that he did not want a single dollar of relief funding to go Puerto Rico, instead pressing for the money to go to Florida and Texas.{{cite news |newspaper = The Washington Post | title = Investigation suppressed by Trump administration reveals obstacles to hurricane aid for Puerto Rico | date = April 22, 2021 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/22/puerto-rico-hurricane-trump-hud/ | first1=Tracy|last1=Jan|first2=Lisa|last2=Rein}} The Trump Administration subsequently obstructed the efforts of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Inspector General to investigate the delays in federal aid.

{{Main|Whitefish Energy#Hurricane Maria controversy}}

File:Puerto Rico at night before and after Hurricane Maria.jpg

Soon after the hurricane struck, Whitefish Energy, a small Montana-based company with only two full-time employees, was awarded a $300 million contract by PREPA, Puerto Rico's state-run power company, to repair Puerto Rico's power grid, a move considered by many to be highly unusual for several reasons. The company contracted more than 300 personnel, most of them subcontractors, and sent them to the island to carry out work. PREPA cited Whitefish's comparatively small upfront cost of $3.7 million for mobilization as one of the main reasons for contracting them over larger companies. PREPA Executive Director Ricardo Ramos stated: "Whitefish was the only company—it was the first that could be mobilized to Puerto Rico. It did not ask us to be paid soon or a guarantee to pay".{{cite news|author1=Erin Dooley|author2=Stephanie Ebbs|author3=Joshua Hoyos|publisher=ABC News|date=October 24, 2017|access-date=October 25, 2017|title=Lawmakers asking why small Montana business landed $300M Puerto Rico power restoration contract|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lawmakers-small-montana-business-landed-300m-puerto-rico/story?id=50682108|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025010205/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lawmakers-small-montana-business-landed-300m-puerto-rico/story?id=50682108|archive-date=October 25, 2017|url-status=live}} No requests for assistance had been made to the American Public Power Association by October 24. The decision to hire such a tiny company was considered highly unusual by many, such as former Energy Department official Susan Tierney, who stated: "The fact that there are so many utilities with experience in this and a huge track record of helping each other out, it is at least odd why [the utility] would go to Whitefish". Several representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, also voiced their concern over the choice to contract Whitefish instead of other companies. As the company was based in Whitefish, Montana, the hometown of US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and one of Zinke's sons had once done a summer internship at Whitefish, Zinke knew Whitefish's CEO personally. These facts led to accusations of privatization and cronyism, though Zinke dismissed these claims and stated that he had no role in securing the contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/small-montana-firm-lands-puerto-ricos-biggest-contract-to-get-the-power-back-on/2017/10/23/31cccc3e-b4d6-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html|title=Small Montana firm lands Puerto Rico's biggest contract to get the power back on|last1=Mufson|first1=Steven|date=October 23, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 24, 2017|last2=Gillum|first2=Jack|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|last3=Davis|first3=Aaron C.|last4=Hernández|first4=Arelis R.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024151011/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/small-montana-firm-lands-puerto-ricos-biggest-contract-to-get-the-power-back-on/2017/10/23/31cccc3e-b4d6-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html|archive-date=October 24, 2017|url-status=live}}

In a press release on October 27, FEMA stated it did not approve of PREPA's contract with Whitefish and cited "significant concerns".{{cite news|publisher=Reuters|date=October 27, 2017|access-date=October 27, 2017|title=FEMA cites concerns over repair contract in Puerto Rico|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-puertorico-power/fema-cites-concerns-over-repair-contract-in-puerto-rico-idUSKBN1CW1X1|archive-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232435/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-puertorico-power/fema-cites-concerns-over-repair-contract-in-puerto-rico-idUSKBN1CW1X1|url-status=dead}} Governor Rosselló subsequently ordered an audit of the contract's budget. DHS Inspector General John Roth led the FEMA audit while Governor Rosselló called for a second review by Puerto Rico's Office of Management and Budget.{{cite news|author=Oren Dorell|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 27, 2017|access-date=October 27, 2017|title=Puerto Rico's Gov. Rosselló orders audit of Whitefish contract to fix power grid|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/26/puerto-ricos-gov-rossello-orders-audit-whitefish-contract-fix-power-grid/803095001/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027012018/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/26/puerto-ricos-gov-rossello-orders-audit-whitefish-contract-fix-power-grid/803095001/|archive-date=October 27, 2017|url-status=live}} The governor then demanded that the contract be canceled; this was executed on October 29.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/29/560683583/puerto-rican-governor-calls-for-cancellation-of-controversial-whitefish-contract|title=Puerto Rico's Power Authority Cancels Controversial Whitefish Contract|date=October 29, 2017|publisher=NPR|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327234349/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/29/560683583/puerto-rican-governor-calls-for-cancellation-of-controversial-whitefish-contract|archive-date=March 27, 2018|url-status=live}}

On April 18, 2018 (Wednesday), The Associated Press reported that the entire island experienced a blackout. On April 19, 2018 (Thursday), Puerto Rico's power company said that it had restored electricity to all customers affected by an island-wide blackout that was caused by an excavator hitting a transmission line, but tens of thousands of families still remained without normal service seven months after Hurricanes Maria and Irma.{{cite web|date=April 19, 2018|title=Power restored to those hit by Puerto Rico blackout|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2018-04-19/puerto-rico-restores-power-to-over-70-perecnt-of-customers-after-blackout|access-date=April 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501170522/https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2018-04-19/puerto-rico-restores-power-to-over-70-perecnt-of-customers-after-blackout|archive-date=May 1, 2018|url-status=live}}

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz said one week before the blackout that about 700,000 Americans in Puerto Rico did not have power after a line repaired by Montana contracting firm Whitefish Energy had failed. Puerto Rico's electric grid has suffered in the months since Hurricane Maria struck the island. The territory announced earlier in 2018 that it would privatize its power system over its "deficient service".{{cite web|date=April 18, 2018|title=Puerto Rico hit with island-wide blackout|website=MSN|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/puerto-rico-hit-with-island-wide-blackout/ar-AAw1yKo|access-date=April 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501160448/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/puerto-rico-hit-with-island-wide-blackout/ar-AAw1yKo|archive-date=May 1, 2018|url-status=live}}

Cruiseline French America Line claimed to be working with Whitefish Energy, and that their boat the "Louisiane" would serve as "headquarters for relief services" after Hurricane Maria.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/07/04/investigation-cruise-start-up-french-america-line-took-customer-money-didnt-deliver/741734002/ |title=Investigation: Cruise start-up French America Line took customer money, didn't deliver |website=thenewsstar.com |language=en |access-date=July 28, 2018}} Further investigation revealed that the boat had been docked in New Orleans since 2016. French America Line has been accused of scamming customers without delivering on services, and some have alleged the company used proposed "hurricane relief services" as a coverup.

{{See also|List of retired Atlantic hurricane names}}

Because of the extensive damage and loss of life the hurricane caused along its path, especially in Dominica, Saint Croix, and Puerto Rico, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Maria from its rotating name lists in April 2018, and it will never again be used to name an Atlantic tropical cyclone. It was replaced with Margot for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/national/hurricane-names-harvey-irma-maria-and-nate-being-retired/2018/04/12/1d594506-3e4d-11e8-955b-7d2e19b79966_story.html|title=Hurricane names Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate being retired|newspaper=The Washington Post|agency=Associated Press|date=April 12, 2018|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043249/https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/national/hurricane-names-harvey-irma-maria-and-nate-being-retired/2018/04/12/1d594506-3e4d-11e8-955b-7d2e19b79966_story.html|archive-date=April 13, 2018|url-status=dead}}

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones|United States|Puerto Rico}}

• 2017 Puerto Rico Leptospirosis outbreak – an outbreak of leptospirosis that followed the hurricane
• List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
• List of the deadliest tropical cyclones
• List of disasters by cost
• List of disasters in the United States by death toll
• Tropical cyclones and climate change
• Tropical cyclones in 2017
• Weather of 2017

; Other storms

• 1899 San Ciriaco hurricane – the deadliest hurricane in Puerto Rican history
• 1928 Okeechobee hurricane – A hurricane that made landfall on Puerto Rico at Category 5 intensity; the death toll on the island was much lower
• 1932 San Ciprian hurricane – another hurricane to make landfall on Puerto Rico at Category 4 strength or higher
• Hurricane David in 1979 – one of the deadliest tropical cyclones to hit Dominica
• Hurricane Hugo in 1989 – the last Category 4 hurricane to strike Saint Croix
• Hurricane Luis in 1995 – brought severe damage to several islands of the Lesser Antilles
• Hurricane Marilyn in 1995 – affected Dominica and Guadeloupe and brought severe damage to the U.S. Virgin Islands just a few days after Luis
• Hurricane Hortense in 1996 – affected Puerto Rico and caused widespread flooding across the island
• Hurricane Georges in 1998 – most recent major hurricane to strike Puerto Rico before Maria
• Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 – a Category 3 hurricane that devastated and killed the same number of people in Haiti
• Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 – devastated the island of Dominica with severe flooding
• Hurricane Irma in 2017 – Category 5 major hurricane that affected many of the same areas weeks before Hurricane Maria.
• Hurricane Jose in 2017 – major hurricane that passed dangerously close to some of the same areas that had just been affected by Hurricane Irma and were further affected by Maria.
• Hurricane Fiona in 2022 – a Category 4 hurricane with a similar track; affected Puerto Rico five years later and brought widespread flooding and island-wide total power outage

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation |last=Santiago |first=Gilberto Rivera |year=2018 |title=Siguiendo la Trayectoria del Huracán María Sobre Puerto Rico: Un evento sin precedentes de cómo un Puerto Rico se levanta |language=Spanish |location=n/a |publisher=n/a |isbn=9781725930957 |oclc=1090803877}} (426 pages)

{{Commons category|Hurricane Maria}}

• The National Hurricane Center (NHC)'s [https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL152017_Maria.pdf Tropical Cyclone Report on Hurricane Maria 5 April 2018]
• The National Hurricane Center (NHC)'s [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/MARIA.shtml? advisory archive on Hurricane Maria]
• {{YouTube|id=hNtlJeOwCUI|title=Hurricane Maria Viewed From Space by NOAA's GOES East Satellite}}
• {{YouTube|id=1d21THRBMBc|title=NASA GPM Satellite Analyzes Rainfall in Hurricane Maria}}
• [https://weather.com/storms/hurricane-central/AL152017 Track and wind speed history]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} from The Weather Channel
• [https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/100000005450694/dominica-hurricane-maria.html A Walk Through Dominica, Hours After Hurricane Maria] from the New York Times
• [https://www.fema.gov/blog/2017-09-29/overview-federal-efforts-prepare-and-respond-hurricane-maria Overview of Federal Efforts to Prepare for and Respond to Hurricane Maria] – activity summaries, graphic
• [https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-maria Hurricane Maria] FEMA main page for Hurricane Maria information
• [https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/167249 2017 Hurricane Season FEMA After-Action Report]
• [https://owi.usgs.gov/vizlab/hurricane-maria/ Hurricane María's Water Footprint by USGS.gov] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820074747/https://owi.usgs.gov/vizlab/hurricane-maria/ |date=August 20, 2018 }}

{{Hurricane Maria series}}

{{Retired Atlantic hurricanes}}

{{Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes}}

{{2017 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}

{{First presidency of Donald Trump}}

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