Part 7/10:
The devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017 unveiled the ramifications of years of neglect and mismanagement. The federal response was slow and inadequate, compounding the devastation as power grids collapsed, and communities found themselves without basic resources. The resulting death toll was staggering—not merely from the storm but from the systemic failures that ensued.
In the wake of Maria, Puerto Ricans united in community efforts to aid one another, filling the void left by government inaction. However, subsequent financial decisions made by La Junta leaned towards privatizing essential services, often at the expense of the local population. Notably, the takeover of Puerto Rico's power grid by private corporations led to higher rates and diminished service quality.