FEMA’s response to natural disasters is meant to provide relief and recovery. Yet, its handling of Puerto Rico’s post-Hurricane Maria recovery only worsened the crisis. Systemic mismanagement, poor hiring practices, and a culture of avoiding accountability plagued the process. Those who attempted to expose these failures faced retaliation.
Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017, causing catastrophic damage and leaving millions without power, water, or essential services. With the island already weakened by economic decline, damages exceeded $90 billion. Despite Congress allocating tens of billions in aid, FEMA’s mismanagement led to widespread delays. Reports surfaced of misallocated funds, unqualified personnel overseeing major infrastructure projects, and political interference stalling recovery efforts. Years later, many communities remained in disrepair due to FEMA’s failure to meet its commitments.
