In the time since Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico, the island has worked hard to rebuild. Unfortunately the rebuilding process has been extremely slow. Part of the widespread damage from the hurricane actually came in the form of landslides, which were two orders of magnitude greater than previous hurricanes. In a new study, the Geological Society of America (GSA) reports on the depth of devastation caused by landslides.
When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, it caused a monumental amount of rainfall. According to GSA, Hurricane Maria produced more rainfall in the island’s tropical regions than any other storm since 1960. The island also saw over 40,000 landslides from increased rainfall and water retention in the soil. Approximately 75% of the island’s municipalities saw at least one landslide.
Landslides are incredibly dangerous and often destroy anything in their path. Structures that manage to survive a landslide are buried under feet of debris. Because landslides deposit such large amounts of soil and debris, they take a considerable amount of time to clean up. After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico had extreme difficulty cleaning up the debris caused by the storm because much of island’s infrastructure had also been damaged in the hurricane. The landslides played a significant role in damaging property, infrastructure, and slowing down rebuilding efforts.
However it isn’t just damaged infrastructure that is slowing down Puerto Rico’s recovery. The island is also struggling with insurance companies who are refusing to pay out on valid Hurricane Maria claims. Without insurance claim payouts, recovery has completely stalled for many property owners.
Raizner Law Is Helping Hurricane Maria Victims
If your insurance claim has been delayed, underpaid, or completely denied, contact us today for a free consultation with one of our experienced insurance lawyers. We only work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost for working with us and you owe us nothing unless we help you recover compensation.
