Este macro-mural está dedicado al perscador aguadillano
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After the aftermath
After the aftermath
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
March 2019
A lot of folks asked me if the aftermath of Hurricane Maria was still present in Puerto Rico. Few of the tourist attractions had been closed, but it was the innumerable abandoned buildings that gave an indication to the devastation of the storm. The entire island was (and continues to be) affected.
One neighborhood in Aguadilla, PR was rendered inhabitable and the houses were left decrepit. Samuel González, a local artist, began a project to paint the largest mural in Puerto Rico in efforts to revitalize the area.
The murals are dedicated to the aquatic lifestyle that the locals embody. The colorful neighborhood celebrates the community’s pride.
The Jones Act (Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920) essentially prohibits cabotage between non-US ports. In order for Puerto Rico to receive goods, the boats which carry them must be built, owned, and registered in the US. Meaning, neighboring nations that import products have to bypass Puerto Rico’s port and head to mainland US (usually Miami) first. This antiquated law also imposes import fees and higher taxes for puertorriqueños.
This law continues to be disastrous. In the wake of Hurricane Maria, the public went without electricity and had limited access to life’s staples — and some prices were gouged. Coupled with a lack of resources, many suffered from discontinuing their medical treatments. Not receiving much aid from outside of the island, the community banded together to clear roads and fetch water. The few available resources were rationed, having limits on the amount of cash or gasoline one could obtain.
El Chorro de Doña Juana
The aftermath of Hurricane Maria is still evident on the island, from the city to the mountains. We hiked Bosque Estatal de Guajataca to visit Cueva del Viento. The trail to the cave had a tree limb across the entrance. It was apparently closed, although previous hikers had written and dated their trail notes on the wood. We climbed over it soon saw a glimpse of the storm’s destruction as the trunks of uprooted trees strewn the narrow path. Among the brush, D found some sticks that were long and sturdy enough to assist in hiking, which became critical when scaling the trees obstructing the path. We safely made it to Cueva del Viento, aptly named for the wind heard from within.
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