The Storm
Hurricane Maria made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Puerto Rico, causing an estimated $94 billion in damages; some studies attribute nearly 3,000 deaths to the hurricane and its aftermath. Many survivors lived for months without power or safe water and little or no access to health services. Hurricane Maria also devastated Dominica and caused considerable damage in other Caribbean islands, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. Today, Americares work continues in Dominica and Puerto Rico, restoring health services, addressing chronic disease, training health workers in preparedness and mental health and psychosocial services and working to meet needs in health facilities and communities struggling to re-establish basic services.