Video On Demand

Rebuilding Better: Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria

October 5, 2017 • 10:00 – 11:00 am EDT
Puerto Rico recently suffered devastating damage as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Hurricane Irma, a category 5 hurricane, caused power outages for over 1 million people living in Puerto Rico. Not long after, category 4 Hurricane Maria made direct landfall on Puerto Rico, uprooting the lives of 3.4 million U.S. citizens. Several days later, millions of households remain without power, water, fuel, or cell phone service. In many remote areas, food supply is running short. Hospitals are running on back-up generators, but capacity and resources are limited. 
 
Despite all of this, the situation is on track toward improvement. We can use this as an opportunity to engage in discussions geared toward reform, reconstruction, and modernization of infrastructure and preparedness. 
 
This discussion seeks to answer three overarching questions:
  1. How can the U.S. better prepare for these types of natural events?
  2. How can the U.S. better react to these types of natural events?
  3. Does this disaster open the door to a different – or better – future for Puerto Rico in terms of preparation?  

Please join us October 5th for this public panel discussion. 

Image
Daniel F. Runde
Senior Vice President; William A. Schreyer Chair; Director, Project on Prosperity and Development
Image
Romina Bandura
Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development, Project on U.S. Leadership in Development

David E. Lewis

10th Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and former President of Puerto Rico's Party for Progress (PNP)

Rodrigo Masses Artze

President of Puerto Rico Manufacturers

Brad Kieserman

Vice President of Disaster Operations and Logistics at the American Red Cross