It’s been over a year since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico and caused catastrophic damage. Although the island is rarely in the news these days, life has not returned to normal for many Puerto Ricans. The island is still struggling to rebuild its infrastructure and many are worried the island will not be able to withstand even a small storm.
Hurricane Recovery Is A Long Road
Hurricane season is now at its peak, and Hurricane Maria remains on the minds of many Puerto Ricans. The damage to the island’s infrastructure was catastrophic. The island’s power grid was destroyed and damage to roads and highways prevented FEMA workers and needed supplies from reaching the interior of the island. This has continued to cause problems for rebuilding, and some Puerto Ricans waited over nine months to have power restored. Even for those whose power was restored earlier, the power grid was and still is incredibly fragile. Power outages are a frequent occurrence.
Damaged roads and infrastructure aren’t the only obstacles Puerto Ricans are facing. Insurance companies have been slow to pay out on valid claims. Much of the Puerto Rican insurance market has been sold to foreign reinsurers. These reinsurers have been happy to collect premiums from policyholders, but now that it’s their turn to evaluate and pay out on claims they have gone silent. Puerto Rico’s Commissioner of Insurance has already levied several million dollars in fines, but many of the insurance companies remain recalcitrant.
Puerto Rico Remains Extremely Fragile
There are several storms brewing in the Atlantic that could spell disaster for an already struggling Puerto Rico. The island was drenched last week by Tropical Storm Isaac, which caused power outages across the island. Now more than ever, the island needs help to continue to repair and protect themselves from new threats. Unfortunately, many people have forgotten about the struggles the people of Puerto Rico are still facing and others have blatantly denied the storm’s damage.
President Trump Denies Hurricane Maria Death Toll
For the people of Puerto Rico, the greatest loss experienced on the island was the loss of life. Puerto Ricans know the death toll firsthand because they lost loved ones, but President Donald Trump has consistently denied and refused to acknowledge the enormous loss of life caused by the hurricane. In a series of tweets, Mr. Trump claimed the estimated death toll of nearly 3,000 was a conspiracy by the Democratic Party.
The 3,000-person death toll estimate came from a study by independent researchers at George Washington University commissioned by the Puerto Rico government. Researchers found 16,608 documented deaths on the island from September 2017 to February 2018. This number is 2,975 deaths higher than the predicted mortality rates for Puerto Rico, meaning Hurricane Maria caused the additional 2,975 deaths. Other studies have also found the death toll is much higher than original estimates of 6-18 people.
Raizner Law Is Proud To Help Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico doesn’t deserve to be forgotten. The insurance lawyers at Raizner Law are proud to help Puerto Rican business owners with their Hurricane Maria insurance claims. We understand the island is facing desperate times and are working tirelessly to help policyholders get what they rightfully deserve under their policies. Contact us today to see how we can help.
