

What began as a natural disaster quickly escalated into a humanitarian crisis as days, weeks, and then months passed without restoration of essential services.ĭelivery of food and other necessities in PR was hampered by a variety of ills, including lack of telecommunication services and what has been deemed as a slow and insufficient response from the local and federal government.Īnother issue slowing recovery was the lack of geographic data. On September 2017, hurricane Irma and María raged across Puerto Rico, dismantling the archipelago’s infrastructure and energy distribution systems.

#Teaching about hurricane aftermath full#
The post below pertains to the work performed by Penn Libraries in collaboration with Humanitarian OpenStreetMap.ĭata, Displacement, and Disaster Response: Two Philadelphia Libraries Take Action in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria (view the full presentation)
#Teaching about hurricane aftermath free#
The presentation was conducted by Penn Libraries Digital Strategies Librarian, Coral Salomón Bartolomei, and Free Library of Philadelphia Community Organizer, Tania Ríos Marrero. This is why most evacuation orders are given for water, not wind.The following text is part of the “Data, Displacement, & Disaster Response: Two Philadelphia Libraries Take Action in the Aftermath of Hurricane María” presentation given at the Penn in Latin American and the Caribbean (PLAC) 4 th Annual Conference: Climate Change, Resilience, and Environmental Justice in Latin America and the Caribbean. When there are high winds, but no danger of flooding (rare in hurricanes, but also important during any storm), it’s important to shelter in place in a sturdy structure, away from doors and windows. When you’re at risk from flooding, it’s important to get to high ground away from bodies of water and any flood-prone areas. Historically, about half of direct fatalities offsite link from hurricanes that make landfall in the U.S. With much of the United States' densely populated Atlantic and Gulf Coast coastlines less than 10 feet above mean sea level, the danger from storm surges is tremendous. This rise in water level can cause severe flooding in coastal areas. Storm surge is water that is pushed toward the shore by winds swirling around the storm. Though hurricanes are well known for strong and destructive winds, hurricane storm surge is the greatest threat. If you live in a low-lying or flood prone area, always have an evacuation plan before a storm begins. Always follow evacuation orders and never drive into flooded roadways. These rains can occur not only at the coast, but many miles inland, causing flooding that can continue for days or even weeks after a storm. The moisture cools as it rises and condenses into heavy rain, often much more than a typical low pressure system offsite link. In tropical cyclones, the air is particularly warm and can hold a tremendous amount of moisture. Warm air can hold more moisture than cool air. Be prepared to evacuate and do so immediately when ordered.

Evacuation orders are released to ensure residents have enough time to leave vulnerable areas before the first hazards from the storm arrive. Local officials may issue evacuation orders before storm or storm surge watches or warnings are issued for your area. Even if you’ve previously survived a storm in your area, future hurricanes may bring different hazards. It’s critical to know your risk, especially if you live in a storm surge evacuation zone or in an area where flooding could occur.

