CSIS PRESENTS
Past Event

Rebuilding Better: Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Thursday, October 5, 2017 10:00 am - 11:00 am
CSIS Headquarters
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. 

Featuring
David E. Lewis
Luis Fortuño
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
Jonathan Rath Hoffman
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at Department of Homeland Security
Brad Kieserman
Vice President of Disaster Operations and Logistics at the American Red Cross
CSIS Experts
Daniel F. Runde
Senior Vice President; William A. Schreyer Chair and Director, Project on Prosperity and Development
Romina Bandura
Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development, Project on U.S. Leadership in Development
Contact
Contact Jena Santoro
Tel: 202.775.3146
Media Queries

Contact H. Andrew Schwartz
Chief Communications Officer
Tel: 202.775.3242

Contact Caleb Diamond
Media Relations Manager and Editorial Associate
Tel: 202.775.3173

Related
Americas, Americas Program, Caribbean, Civil Society, Food and Agriculture, Governance and Rule of Law, Humanitarian Assistance, International Development, North America, Private Sector Development, Project on Prosperity and Development, U.S. Development Policy

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