The Pulse

Hurricane Maria: Puerto Rico One Year Later

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It’s been a year since Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico, destroying lives and reducing many communities to rubble. The storm also affected the island in other ways — devastating its power grid, crippling communications, and transforming industry.

On this episode, we explore Maria’s aftermath — what the storm revealed about Puerto Rico’s vulnerabilities, the changing landscape, and the human toll of failed infrastructure. Plus, efforts by locals to adapt and rebuild, and the challenges they face moving forward.

Also heard on this week’s episode:

  • Investigative journalist Omaya Sosa Pascual unpacks the disastrous impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico’s health care system — and why she thinks it could happen again.
  • Biophysical chemist Belinda Pastrana on how Maria has affected her startup and why she decided she had to relocate.
  • Marvel writer Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez explains the inspiration behind his character La Borinqueña — a superhero who’s become a symbol of strength for Puerto Ricans.
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