The Impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico's Health System Post-Disaster Perceptions and Experiences of Health Care Providers and Administrators

The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers and administrators to understand how the blackout in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017 affected healthcare delivery. The interviews revealed that the power outage and a lack of disaster management plan contributed to a crisis for the island’s healthcare system and the deaths of 3,052 individuals. The results emphasize the importance of having alternative strategies (e.g., grassroots and community initiatives, expanding services by turning a pharmacy into a clinic) for providing healthcare after disasters.