How a small Caribbean island is trying to become hurricane-proof

After Dominica was devastated by Hurricane Maria, it wanted a climate-resilient future.

Emily Wilkinson, Director, Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative at the ODI, and Co-director, Caribbean Resilience and Recovery Knowledge Network, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus • conversation
Nov. 28, 2023 • ~7 min

Maui wildfires: Extra logistical challenges hinder government's initial response when disasters strike islands

An expert on Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria explains why it’s hard for the US to deliver disaster aid in places like Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Ivis García, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University • conversation
Aug. 10, 2023 • ~8 min

Puerto Rico's vulnerability to hurricanes is magnified by weak government and bureaucratic roadblocks

Hurricane Fiona will set back efforts to restore Puerto Rico that date back five years to Hurricane Maria. Two scholars explain how the island’s weak institutions worsen the impacts of disasters.

Fernando Tormos-Aponte, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
Sept. 21, 2022 • ~11 min

Puerto Rico has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a clean energy grid – but FEMA plans to spend $9.4 billion on fossil fuel infrastructure instead

Four years after Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico, federal money to rebuild its electricity system is finally about to flow. But it may not deliver what islanders want.

Rachel Stevens, Professor of Law & Staff Attorney, Vermont Law School • conversation
Oct. 4, 2021 • ~8 min

Hurricanes and other extreme weather disasters prompt some people to move and trap others in place

Extreme weather events prompt people to move, a trend that could accelerate in a warming climate. But the ability to migrate internally in the US depends largely on economic status.

Jack DeWaard, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Minnesota • conversation
May 26, 2020 • ~8 min

/

1