Puerto Rico

Jose Torres's rearranges some of the photos he was able to save in his home.

National

'You Have To Try': Puerto Ricans, Without Power, Find Ways Forward

9:07pm September 25, 2017

by Camila Domonoske

Hurricane Maria knocked out power across the entire island, and many areas lack running water. Doing laundry, turning on the lights, eating dinner: Everyday life has become a constant challenge.

Until it was surpassed recently by a similar instrument in China, the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, completed in 1963, was the world's single largest.

Science

Puerto Rico's Arecibo Radio Telescope Suffers Hurricane Damage

7:28pm September 25, 2017

by Scott Neuman

Early reports that a secondary dish at the observatory was destroyed by Maria turn out not to be correct, according to a group that helps run the facility.

Marco Dorta and his daughter, Patricia Dorta, use three phones to try to find service along Highway 22 in Puerto Rico.

Cut Off From The World, Puerto Ricans Search For A Ghost Of A Signal

11:36pm September 24, 2017

On a major expressway in the north of the island, drivers chase after elusive cell service. Some have managed to make calls to the mainland — though not always to relatives elsewhere on the island.

A man pushes his bicycle through a flooded street in Cataño, Puerto Rico, on Friday. Hurricane Maria drenched many spots on the island with about 20 inches of rain.

National

'Imminent' Dam Failure Threatens Thousands In Puerto Rico

6:15pm September 23, 2017

by Chris Benderev

The National Weather Service warned locals to evacuate, but with most communications down, it remained unclear how many would heed the alerts.

Puerto Rico Update: How One NGO Is Helping The Island Rebuild After Hurricane Maria

12:29pm September 23, 2017

Michael Fernandez, executive director of CARAS, a nonprofit based in Puerto Rico, speaks with NPR's Scott Simon from the island, where he's aiding in the disaster recovery efforts.

An aerial view shows the flooded neighborhood of Juana Matos in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Catano, Puerto Rico, on Friday. The island could be without power for months, complicating relief efforts.

Puerto Rico's Weak Infrastructure Creates Big Challenges For Recovery

9:05pm September 22, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

Even before Maria, the island suffered from frequent power outages and crippling debt. Now organizations must figure out how to deliver relief to a place that may not have electricity for months.

Three-year-old Deyanery Ramirez is in the La Perla neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Thursday. Without cell service on the island, it has been difficult for people to check on their loved ones.

National

With Power Out And Phones Down, A Struggle To Reach Loved Ones In Puerto Rico

4:46pm September 22, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

Two days after Hurricane Maria thrashed the island, most of Puerto Rico's cellular sites are down — along with the entire power grid — making it difficult to check on people there.

Electricity poles and power lines toppled by Hurricane Maria are seen in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday. The storm left the island without electricity service, officials say.

'We've Never Gone Through This': Hurricane Maria Knocks Out Puerto Rico's Electricity

6:06pm September 21, 2017

by Bill Chappell

"We are without power, the whole island is without power," Jenniffer González-Colón, Puerto Rico's resident commissioner, tells NPR.

Queue Listen Now

Rescue vehicles stand trapped under a collapsed awning while Hurricane Maria lashed Humacao, Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

How To Soften The Blow From Recent Hurricanes And Earthquakes

12:31pm September 21, 2017

by Amy Held

There are numerous ways to donate in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes across the Caribbean and earthquakes in Mexico.

Residents seek shelter inside Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, early on Wednesday, as Hurricane Maria struck the island.

Puerto Rico Energy Infrastructure Is 'Completely Down,' Governor Says

11:38pm September 20, 2017

by Doreen McCallister

Hurricane Maria, the strongest hurricane to have hit the island in decades, is believed to have taken down critical high-voltage power lines. Gov. Ricardo Rosselló says repairs could take months.