Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

More from Hurricane Maria: devastation in Puerto Rico

Media
How the media ignored Puerto Rico, in one chartHow the media ignored Puerto Rico, in one chart
Media

Puerto Rico coverage faded — and with it, the president’s attention.

By Alvin Chang
Climate
The entire island of Puerto Rico just lost power. Again.The entire island of Puerto Rico just lost power. Again.
Climate

The local power authority has restored power to three-quarters of customers since Wednesday’s blackout.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
Puerto Rico’s blackout is the world’s second longestPuerto Rico’s blackout is the world’s second longest
Climate

Thousands are still without power across the island months after Hurricane Maria struck.

By Umair Irfan
Podcasts
6 months after Maria6 months after Maria
Podcast
Podcasts

A podcast revealing the tragedy of where things stand six months after Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico.

By Julie Bogen
Politics
6 months after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico has a suicide crisis and a housing shortage6 months after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico has a suicide crisis and a housing shortage
Politics

The road to recovery is long.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
Calls to Puerto Rico’s suicide hotline have skyrocketed since Hurricane MariaCalls to Puerto Rico’s suicide hotline have skyrocketed since Hurricane Maria
Politics

Reported suicide attempts have tripled in recent months.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Climate
It’s been more than 100 days and Puerto Rico is still in the longest blackout in US historyIt’s been more than 100 days and Puerto Rico is still in the longest blackout in US history
Climate

More than 43 percent of Puerto Ricans still don’t have power, and some may not get it until May.

By Umair Irfan
Politics
Puerto Rico’s governor admits there’s a big problem with the hurricane death countPuerto Rico’s governor admits there’s a big problem with the hurricane death count
Politics

Gov. Ricardo Rosselló can’t ignore the mounting evidence of uncounted deaths anymore.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
Data shows hurricane deaths in Puerto Rico could be over 1,000Data shows hurricane deaths in Puerto Rico could be over 1,000
Politics

Puerto Rican officials say only 62 people died from the storm. Researchers estimate more than 1,000 people did.

By Eliza Barclay and Alexia Fernández Campbell
Climate
Hurricane season 2017: what the hell just happened?Hurricane season 2017: what the hell just happened?
Climate

The 2017 hurricane season, which ends today, was intense. Blaming climate change isn’t so easy.

By Brian Resnick
Politics
The head of Puerto Rico’s power utility resigns after the Whitefish debacleThe head of Puerto Rico’s power utility resigns after the Whitefish debacle
Politics

And more than half of the island is still in the dark.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
Companies barely had to compete for half of the federal contracts awarded in Puerto Rico so farCompanies barely had to compete for half of the federal contracts awarded in Puerto Rico so far
Politics

The US government has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in no-bid contracts related to Hurricane Maria.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Climate
Puerto Rico is starting to take solar power more seriouslyPuerto Rico is starting to take solar power more seriously
Climate

But dire finances stand in the way of cleaner grid.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
Puerto Rico just got hit with another big blackoutPuerto Rico just got hit with another big blackout
Climate

Another outage stemming from a line repaired by Whitefish plunged the island back into darkness.

By Umair Irfan
Politics
Puerto Rico’s deal with Whitefish was shady as hell, new records showPuerto Rico’s deal with Whitefish was shady as hell, new records show
Politics

A congressional investigation revealed how the island’s public utility bungled its largest grid repair contract.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell and Umair Irfan
Climate
The FBI is investigating Whitefish Energy’s contract to rebuild Puerto Rico’s gridThe FBI is investigating Whitefish Energy’s contract to rebuild Puerto Rico’s grid
Climate

The $300 million deal was canceled over the weekend after overwhelming criticism.

By Umair Irfan
Politics
Nurses returning from Puerto Rico accuse the federal government of leaving people to dieNurses returning from Puerto Rico accuse the federal government of leaving people to die
Politics

“We cannot be silent while millions of people continue to endure these conditions.”

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
Puerto Rico just hired 2 contractors with little experience to fix its broken power gridPuerto Rico just hired 2 contractors with little experience to fix its broken power grid
Politics

It’s the island’s most important hurricane recovery project.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Climate
Puerto Rico is slipping into an environmental crisisPuerto Rico is slipping into an environmental crisis
Climate

And the best agency to fix it, the EPA, is facing big budget and staff cuts.

By Umair Irfan
Politics
Puerto Rican officials claim the water crisis is under control. Reports on the ground tell a very different story.Puerto Rican officials claim the water crisis is under control. Reports on the ground tell a very different story.
Politics

Local officials and the water company’s own data contradict official statistics.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Darkness: life in Puerto Rico without electricity
Politics

Puerto Rico’s misery won’t end without power. The problem is that it isn’t getting any.

By Yochi Dreazen
Politics
President Trump gives himself a 10 out of 10 on helping Puerto RicoPresident Trump gives himself a 10 out of 10 on helping Puerto Rico
Politics

Meanwhile, people on the island are drinking river water.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Science
The unrelenting crisis in Puerto Rico is forcing people to drink dirty waterThe unrelenting crisis in Puerto Rico is forcing people to drink dirty water
Science

Islanders are bathing in rivers contaminated with raw sewage and drinking from condemned wells and hazardous waste sites.

By Julia Belluz
Politics
FEMA has yet to authorize full disaster help for Puerto RicoFEMA has yet to authorize full disaster help for Puerto Rico
Politics

The US Virgin Islands got it two weeks ago.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
What every American needs to know about Puerto Rico’s hurricane disaster
Science

Nine essential things to know about Puerto Rico’s humanitarian crisis.

By Brian Resnick and Eliza Barclay