Hurricanes are one of the most frequent natural hazards that Caribbean islands are prone to encounter. The frequency of storms and their intensity could increase with climate change. This page contains a variety of USGS research on hurricane impacts to Puerto Rico, dating back to 1989, when Hurricane Hugo impacted the island. Research topics include storm-induced landslides, as well as impacts on coral reefs, coastal flooding, water resources, and ecosystems. Explore the publications, data releases, and news highlights related to hurricane hazards in Puerto Rico in the corresponding tabs.
Los huracanes son uno de los peligros naturales más frecuentes en las islas del Caribe. Con el cambio climático, podría aumentar la frecuencia de las tormentas y su intensidad. Esta página contiene algunas de las investigaciones que realizó el USGS sobre los efectos de huracanes en Puerto Rico que se remontan a 1989, cuando el huracán Hugo azotó la isla. Entre los temas de investigación, están los deslizamientos de tierra provocados por tormentas, el impacto en los arrecifes de coral, las inundaciones costeras, el impacto en los recursos hídricos y en los ecosistemas. Explore las publicaciones, las cesiones de datos y las noticias destacadas relacionadas con las amenazas de los huracanes en Puerto Rico en esta página.
Hurricane Maria | Huracán María
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in the Caribbean as a category 4 storm. Based on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 2018 report (FEMA P-2020, 2018), it caused $90 billion in damages, mostly in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria was the third costliest hurricane ever recorded in the United States. In Puerto Rico, more than fifty thousand houses were reported as visually affected or destroyed by the hurricane. Critical infrastructures were damaged and interrupted for months, including the water supply, electric network, telecommunications, transportation, roads, and healthcare. The image below shows the tracks of Hurricane Maria. USGS scientists have investigated the aftermath of hurricane Maria and other hurricanes such as Hugo (1989), Georges (1998), and Irma (2017). Learn more about these projects in the sections below.
En septiembre de 2017, el huracán María azotó el Caribe como una tormenta de categoría 4. En base al informe de 2018 de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencia (FEMA P-2020, 2018), provocó daños por 90,000 millones de dólares, principalmente en Puerto Rico. El huracán María fue el tercer huracán más costoso registrado en los Estados Unidos. En Puerto Rico, se reportaron más de 50 mil casas que fueron destruidas o afectadas por el huracán. Luego del huracán, la infraestructura crítica se vio dañada o interrumpida por meses, incluyendo el suministro de agua, la red energética, las telecomunicaciones, el transporte, los caminos y la atención sanitaria. La próxima imagen muestra la trayectoria del huracán María. Los científicos del USGS han investigado las consecuencias de éste y otros huracanes como Hugo (1989), Georges (1998) e Irma (2017). Conozca más de estos proyectos en las secciones que están a continuación.

Figura 1: Trayectorias de los huracanes Hugo (1989), Georges (1998), Irma (2017) y María (2017). Datos provistos por la NOAA. La imagen de base es propiedad intelectual de Esri y se usa aquí bajo licencia. Los derechos de autor y reproducción son propiedad de Esri y sus licenciatarios.
Hurricane Maria Landslides | Los deslizamientos de tierra causados por el Huracán María
Hurricane Maria triggered over seventy thousand landslides in Puerto Rico, affecting critical infrastructure across the island, disrupting roads and dislodging houses from their foundations. An interactive landslide susceptibility map for Puerto Rico can be accessed here. USGS collaborated with federal and academic partners to produce materials describing landslide risk to better support residents and facilitate information dissemination to emergency managers. A landslide guide was created in Spanish and English that can be accessed via the Puerto Rico Landslide Hazard Mitigation Project page.
Learn more about landslide hazard assessment and risk communication following Hurricane Maria.
El huracán María desencadenó más de 70,000 deslizamientos de tierra en Puerto Rico, los que afectaron la infraestructura crítica en toda la isla, interrumpiendo las vías de trasportación y desplazando casas de sus cimientos. Se puede acceder al mapa interactivo de susceptibilidad a los deslizamientos de tierra para Puerto Rico aquí. El USGS colaboró con socios federales y académicos para proporcionar materiales que describan el riesgo de deslizamiento de tierra para asistir mejor a los residentes y facilitar la divulgación de información entre los manejadores de emergencias. Se creó una guía sobre los deslizamientos de tierra en español y en inglés que se encuentra en la página del Proyecto para la Mitigación de Riesgos por Deslizamiento de Tierra.
Obtenga más información sobre la evaluación del riesgos por deslizamiento de tierra y la comunicación de riesgos después del huracan María.
Figura 2: Un geólogo investigador del USGS toma fotografías de las laderas de las colinas boricuas desde un helicóptero del Ejército de los Estados Unidos para documentar los deslizamientos de tierra provocados por el Huracán María.
Storm Surges and Floods | Las marejadas y las inundaciones
USGS collaborated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in installing temporary stations with water-level and barometric pressure sensors prior to Hurricane Maria to measure coastal and riverine high-water marks throughout Puerto Rico during the storm. In addition to the temporary sensors, USGS has a network of 99 permanent real-time stream gages and 36 real-time precipitation stations in Puerto Rico. Access the report about the effects of Hurricane Maria, developed to assess flooding, storm tides, and precipitation.
El USGS colaboró con la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencia (FEMA por sus siglas en inglés) en la instalación de estaciones temporales de instrumentos que miden el nivel de agua y la presión barométrica antes del huracán María a fin de medir las marcas de la marea alta fluvial y costera en Puerto Rico durante la tormenta. Además de los sensores temporeros, el USGS tiene una red de 99 medidores permanentes de caudal en tiempo real y 36 estaciones de precipitación en tiempo real, en Puerto Rico. Acceda el informe de los efectos del huracán María para evaluar los desbordamientos, las marejadas y las precipitaciones.
Coastal Flood Risk Increase Due to Hurricane-Induced Coral Reef Damage | El aumento del riesgo de inundación costera debido a los daños en los arrecifes de coral provocados por huracanes
Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused a significant increase in risk of future coastal flooding due to coral reef damages. The fringing coral reefs surrounding the coastline of Puerto Rico are the first line of flood defense from coastal hazards. The repercussions of reef damage in Puerto Rico were assessed with high resolution hydrodynamic and socioeconomic models. In Puerto Rico, it was estimated that the cost of future flood damages could increase due to reef damage by $178 million annually (visit report). However, reef restoration could potentially avert over $40 million in economic damages per year (visit report).
Los huracanes Irma y María causaron un aumento importante en el riesgo de inundaciones costeras futuras debido a los daños de los arrecifes de coral, que son la primera línea de defensa contra los riesgos costeros. Las repercusiones de los daños de los arrecifes de coral en Puerto Rico fueron evaluadas con modelos socioeconómicos e hidrodinámicos de alta resolución. En Puerto Rico, se estimó que el costo de los daños de inundaciones futuras debido a daños en los arrecifes de coral podría aumentar 178 millones de dólares por año (consulte el informe). Sin embargo, la restauración de los arrecifes podría evitar más de 40 millones de dólares en daños económicos por año (consulte el informe).
Figura 3: El daño de los huracanes a los arrecifes de coral aumenta el riesgo de inundaciones futuras: Los polígonos azules muestran los resultados de las encuestas de NOAA sobre los daños a los arrecifes después de los huracanes Irma y María en 2017 alrededor de San Juan, Puerto Rico. Las barras blancas indican el riesgo de inundación esperado en la llanura aluvial de 100 años antes de los huracanes y las barras de colores indican cuánto ha aumentado el riesgo debido a los daños a los arrecifes por cada 50,000 m2 (ancho máximo del hexágono = 277 m). Obtenga más información.
Learn more about USGS Puerto Rico hazards research and tools. | Obtenga más información sobre las herramientas e investigaciones del USGS acerca de riesgos en Puerto Rico.
Science
The USGS has investigated hurricane impacts in Puerto Rico across various research topics, including hurricane-induced landslides, and the hurricane effects impacts on coral reefs, coastal flooding, water resources, and ecosystems. Explore the links below to learn more.
Ciencias
El USGS ha investigado los efectos de los huracanes en Puerto Rico en diferentes temas, como los deslizamientos de tierra, los arrecifes de coral, las inundaciones costeras, los recursos hídricos y los ecosistemas. Explore los enlaces que están a continuación para conocer más sobre las consecuencias de huracanes.
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Rainfall-Induced Landslides in Puerto Rico
Quantifying Flood Risk and Reef Risk Reduction Benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico: The Consequences of Hurricane Damage, Long-term Degradation, and Restoration Opportunities
Explore data releases about hurricanes in Puerto Rico.
Explore las cesiones de datos sobre los huracanes en Puerto Rico.
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in the greater karst region of northwest Puerto Rico
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods for the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico before and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria due to the storms' damage to the coral reefs
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods for the State of Florida, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands for current and potentially restored coral reefs
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in four study areas of Puerto Rico
Infiltration data collected post-Hurricane Maria across landslide source area materials, Puerto Rico, USA
Map of slope-failure locations in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods, with and without coral reefs, for the States of Hawaii and Florida, the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Map data showing concentration of landslides caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Explore maps about hurricane impacts in Puerto Rico.
Explore mapas sobre los efectos de los huracanes en Puerto Rico.
Explore media products about hurricanes in Puerto Rico.
Explore los productos multimedia sobre los huracanes en Puerto Rico.
Explore scientific publications by USGS researchers about hurricane impacts in Puerto Rico.
Explore publicaciones científicas por investigadores del UGS sobre los efectos de los huracanes en Puerto Rico.
Rigorously valuing the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on coastal hazard risks in Florida and Puerto Rico
Experimental warming and its legacy effects on root dynamics following two hurricane disturbances in a wet tropical forest
Tropical forests are expected to experience unprecedented warming and increases in hurricane disturbances in the coming decades; yet, our understanding of how these productive systems, especially their belowground component, will respond to the combined effects of varied environmental changes remains empirically limited. Here we evaluated the responses of root dynamics (production, mortality, and
Land-based sediment sources and transport to southwest Puerto Rico coral reefs after Hurricane Maria, May 2017 to June 2018
Coffee plantations, hurricanes and avian resiliency: Insights from occupancy, and local colonization and extinction rates in Puerto Rico
Rapid observations of ocean dynamics and stratification along a steep island coast during Hurricane María
Hurricanes are extreme storms that affect coastal communities, but the linkages between hurricane forcing and ocean dynamics remain poorly understood. Here, we present full water column observations at unprecedented resolution from the southwest Puerto Rico insular shelf and slope during Hurricane María, representing a rare set of high-frequency, subsurface, oceanographic observations collected al
Drought stress and hurricane defoliation influence mountain clouds and moisture recycling in a tropical forest
Mountain ranges generate clouds, precipitation, and perennial streamflow for water supplies, but the role of forest cover in mountain hydrometeorology and cloud formation is not well understood. In the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico, mountains are immersed in clouds nightly, providing a steady precipitation source to support the tropical forest ecosystems and human uses. A severe drou
Hillslopes in humid-tropical climates aren’t always wet: Implications for hydrologic response and landslide initiation in Puerto Rico, USA
The devastating impacts of the widespread flooding and landsliding in Puerto Rico following the September 2017 landfall of Hurricane Maria highlight the increasingly extreme atmospheric disturbances and enhanced hazard potential in mountainous humid‐tropical climate zones. Long‐standing conceptual models for hydrologically driven hazards in Puerto Rico posit that hillslope soils remain wet through
Tropical understory herbaceous community responds more strongly to hurricane disturbance than to experimental warming
The effects of climate change on tropical forests may have global consequences due to the forests’ high biodiversity and major role in the global carbon cycle. In this study, we document the effects of experimental warming on the abundance and composition of a tropical forest floor herbaceous plant community in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. This study was conducted within Tropical
Mobility characteristics of landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Soil biogeochemical responses of a tropical forest to warming and hurricane disturbance
Tropical forests represent 50% of the planets species and play a disproportionately large role in determining climate due to the vast amounts of carbon they store and exchange with the atmosphere. Currently, disturbance patterns in tropical ecosystems are changing due to factors such as increased land use pressure and an occurrence of hurricanes. At the same time, these regions are expected to exp
Debris-flow growth in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria: Preliminary results from analyses of pre- and post-event lidar data
Monitoring storm tide, flooding, and precipitation from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 2017
Hurricane Maria made landfall south of Yabucoa Harbor, Puerto Rico, as a category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour on September 20, 2017. The hurricane devastated much of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Federal Emergency Management Agency, installed a temporary monitoring network of 13 water-level and bar
Explore web tools for Puerto Rico related to hurricane hazards.
Explore las herramientas de Internet sobre los peligros de huracanes.
Hurricane Maria's Water Footprint
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, bringing with it a mix of high winds and extreme rainfall. This data visualization animates Hurricane Maria's Water Footprint, the cumulative precipitation the storm dropped on the island, and the impact of rainfall on river gage height.
Hurricane Maria's Water Footprint
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, bringing with it a mix of high winds and extreme rainfall. Much of the island experienced flooding and structural damage along with a loss of electricity and water.
Coastal Change Hazards Portal
Interactive access to coastal change science and data for our Nation’s coasts. Information and products are organized within three coastal change hazard themes: 1) extreme storms, 2) shoreline change, and 3) sea-level rise. Displays probabilities of coastal erosion.
Read research news highlights about hurricanes in Puerto Rico.
Lea las principales noticias de investigación sobre huracanes en Puerto Rico.
- Overview
Hurricanes are one of the most frequent natural hazards that Caribbean islands are prone to encounter. The frequency of storms and their intensity could increase with climate change. This page contains a variety of USGS research on hurricane impacts to Puerto Rico, dating back to 1989, when Hurricane Hugo impacted the island. Research topics include storm-induced landslides, as well as impacts on coral reefs, coastal flooding, water resources, and ecosystems. Explore the publications, data releases, and news highlights related to hurricane hazards in Puerto Rico in the corresponding tabs.
Los huracanes son uno de los peligros naturales más frecuentes en las islas del Caribe. Con el cambio climático, podría aumentar la frecuencia de las tormentas y su intensidad. Esta página contiene algunas de las investigaciones que realizó el USGS sobre los efectos de huracanes en Puerto Rico que se remontan a 1989, cuando el huracán Hugo azotó la isla. Entre los temas de investigación, están los deslizamientos de tierra provocados por tormentas, el impacto en los arrecifes de coral, las inundaciones costeras, el impacto en los recursos hídricos y en los ecosistemas. Explore las publicaciones, las cesiones de datos y las noticias destacadas relacionadas con las amenazas de los huracanes en Puerto Rico en esta página.
Hurricane Maria | Huracán María
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in the Caribbean as a category 4 storm. Based on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 2018 report (FEMA P-2020, 2018), it caused $90 billion in damages, mostly in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria was the third costliest hurricane ever recorded in the United States. In Puerto Rico, more than fifty thousand houses were reported as visually affected or destroyed by the hurricane. Critical infrastructures were damaged and interrupted for months, including the water supply, electric network, telecommunications, transportation, roads, and healthcare. The image below shows the tracks of Hurricane Maria. USGS scientists have investigated the aftermath of hurricane Maria and other hurricanes such as Hugo (1989), Georges (1998), and Irma (2017). Learn more about these projects in the sections below.
En septiembre de 2017, el huracán María azotó el Caribe como una tormenta de categoría 4. En base al informe de 2018 de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencia (FEMA P-2020, 2018), provocó daños por 90,000 millones de dólares, principalmente en Puerto Rico. El huracán María fue el tercer huracán más costoso registrado en los Estados Unidos. En Puerto Rico, se reportaron más de 50 mil casas que fueron destruidas o afectadas por el huracán. Luego del huracán, la infraestructura crítica se vio dañada o interrumpida por meses, incluyendo el suministro de agua, la red energética, las telecomunicaciones, el transporte, los caminos y la atención sanitaria. La próxima imagen muestra la trayectoria del huracán María. Los científicos del USGS han investigado las consecuencias de éste y otros huracanes como Hugo (1989), Georges (1998) e Irma (2017). Conozca más de estos proyectos en las secciones que están a continuación.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.Figure 1. Hurricane tracks for Hugo (1898), Georges (1998), Irma (2017) and Maria (2017). Data provided by NOAA. Base image is intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license. Copyright Esri and its creator.
Figura 1: Trayectorias de los huracanes Hugo (1989), Georges (1998), Irma (2017) y María (2017). Datos provistos por la NOAA. La imagen de base es propiedad intelectual de Esri y se usa aquí bajo licencia. Los derechos de autor y reproducción son propiedad de Esri y sus licenciatarios.Hurricane Maria Landslides | Los deslizamientos de tierra causados por el Huracán María
Hurricane Maria triggered over seventy thousand landslides in Puerto Rico, affecting critical infrastructure across the island, disrupting roads and dislodging houses from their foundations. An interactive landslide susceptibility map for Puerto Rico can be accessed here. USGS collaborated with federal and academic partners to produce materials describing landslide risk to better support residents and facilitate information dissemination to emergency managers. A landslide guide was created in Spanish and English that can be accessed via the Puerto Rico Landslide Hazard Mitigation Project page.
Learn more about landslide hazard assessment and risk communication following Hurricane Maria.
El huracán María desencadenó más de 70,000 deslizamientos de tierra en Puerto Rico, los que afectaron la infraestructura crítica en toda la isla, interrumpiendo las vías de trasportación y desplazando casas de sus cimientos. Se puede acceder al mapa interactivo de susceptibilidad a los deslizamientos de tierra para Puerto Rico aquí. El USGS colaboró con socios federales y académicos para proporcionar materiales que describan el riesgo de deslizamiento de tierra para asistir mejor a los residentes y facilitar la divulgación de información entre los manejadores de emergencias. Se creó una guía sobre los deslizamientos de tierra en español y en inglés que se encuentra en la página del Proyecto para la Mitigación de Riesgos por Deslizamiento de Tierra.
Obtenga más información sobre la evaluación del riesgos por deslizamiento de tierra y la comunicación de riesgos después del huracan María.
Figure 2: USGS Research Geologist takes photographs of Puerto Rican hillsides from a U.S. Army helicopter to document landslides caused by Hurricane Maria. Photo by Jason Marineau, DOI Office of Emergency Management.
Figura 2: Un geólogo investigador del USGS toma fotografías de las laderas de las colinas boricuas desde un helicóptero del Ejército de los Estados Unidos para documentar los deslizamientos de tierra provocados por el Huracán María.Storm Surges and Floods | Las marejadas y las inundaciones
USGS collaborated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in installing temporary stations with water-level and barometric pressure sensors prior to Hurricane Maria to measure coastal and riverine high-water marks throughout Puerto Rico during the storm. In addition to the temporary sensors, USGS has a network of 99 permanent real-time stream gages and 36 real-time precipitation stations in Puerto Rico. Access the report about the effects of Hurricane Maria, developed to assess flooding, storm tides, and precipitation.
El USGS colaboró con la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencia (FEMA por sus siglas en inglés) en la instalación de estaciones temporales de instrumentos que miden el nivel de agua y la presión barométrica antes del huracán María a fin de medir las marcas de la marea alta fluvial y costera en Puerto Rico durante la tormenta. Además de los sensores temporeros, el USGS tiene una red de 99 medidores permanentes de caudal en tiempo real y 36 estaciones de precipitación en tiempo real, en Puerto Rico. Acceda el informe de los efectos del huracán María para evaluar los desbordamientos, las marejadas y las precipitaciones.
Coastal Flood Risk Increase Due to Hurricane-Induced Coral Reef Damage | El aumento del riesgo de inundación costera debido a los daños en los arrecifes de coral provocados por huracanes
Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused a significant increase in risk of future coastal flooding due to coral reef damages. The fringing coral reefs surrounding the coastline of Puerto Rico are the first line of flood defense from coastal hazards. The repercussions of reef damage in Puerto Rico were assessed with high resolution hydrodynamic and socioeconomic models. In Puerto Rico, it was estimated that the cost of future flood damages could increase due to reef damage by $178 million annually (visit report). However, reef restoration could potentially avert over $40 million in economic damages per year (visit report).
Los huracanes Irma y María causaron un aumento importante en el riesgo de inundaciones costeras futuras debido a los daños de los arrecifes de coral, que son la primera línea de defensa contra los riesgos costeros. Las repercusiones de los daños de los arrecifes de coral en Puerto Rico fueron evaluadas con modelos socioeconómicos e hidrodinámicos de alta resolución. En Puerto Rico, se estimó que el costo de los daños de inundaciones futuras debido a daños en los arrecifes de coral podría aumentar 178 millones de dólares por año (consulte el informe). Sin embargo, la restauración de los arrecifes podría evitar más de 40 millones de dólares en daños económicos por año (consulte el informe).
Figure 3: Hurricane Damage to Coral Reefs Increases Future Flood Risk: The blue polygons show the results of NOAA surveys of damages to reefs after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 around San Juan, Puerto Rico. The white bars indicate expected flood risk in the 100-year floodplain before the hurricanes and the colored bar tops indicate how much risk has increased because of damages to reefs per 50,000 m2 (hexagon max width = 277 m). Learn more.
Figura 3: El daño de los huracanes a los arrecifes de coral aumenta el riesgo de inundaciones futuras: Los polígonos azules muestran los resultados de las encuestas de NOAA sobre los daños a los arrecifes después de los huracanes Irma y María en 2017 alrededor de San Juan, Puerto Rico. Las barras blancas indican el riesgo de inundación esperado en la llanura aluvial de 100 años antes de los huracanes y las barras de colores indican cuánto ha aumentado el riesgo debido a los daños a los arrecifes por cada 50,000 m2 (ancho máximo del hexágono = 277 m). Obtenga más información.Learn more about USGS Puerto Rico hazards research and tools. | Obtenga más información sobre las herramientas e investigaciones del USGS acerca de riesgos en Puerto Rico.
- Science
Science
The USGS has investigated hurricane impacts in Puerto Rico across various research topics, including hurricane-induced landslides, and the hurricane effects impacts on coral reefs, coastal flooding, water resources, and ecosystems. Explore the links below to learn more.
CienciasEl USGS ha investigado los efectos de los huracanes en Puerto Rico en diferentes temas, como los deslizamientos de tierra, los arrecifes de coral, las inundaciones costeras, los recursos hídricos y los ecosistemas. Explore los enlaces que están a continuación para conocer más sobre las consecuencias de huracanes.
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
The island of Puerto Rico is subject to numerous threats from natural hazards, including hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal and inland flooding, environmental contaminants, and freshwater scarcity, among others. USGS science can help citizens better prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to these hazards. This website compiles USGS resources available for Puerto Rico to provide...Rainfall-Induced Landslides in Puerto Rico
In September 2017 Hurricane María triggered more than 70,000 landslides across Puerto Rico that caused loss of life and widespread damage to transportation, communication, and power-supply infrastructure, and to other public and private property.Quantifying Flood Risk and Reef Risk Reduction Benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico: The Consequences of Hurricane Damage, Long-term Degradation, and Restoration Opportunities
Coastal flooding and erosion from extreme weather events affect thousands of vulnerable coastal communities; the impacts of coastal flooding are predicted to worsen during this century because of population growth and climate change. Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 were particularly devasting to humans and natural communities. The coral reefs off the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of... - Data
Explore data releases about hurricanes in Puerto Rico.
Explore las cesiones de datos sobre los huracanes en Puerto Rico.
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in the greater karst region of northwest Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria caused widespread landsliding throughout Puerto Rico in September 2017. While the majority of landslide inventories following the hurricane focused on mountainous regions underlain by igneous and volcaniclastic bedrock (Bessette-Kirton et al., 2017, 2019), here we fill an important knowledge gap and document the occurrence of landslides along the greater karst region on the northweProjected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods for the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico before and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria due to the storms' damage to the coral reefs
This data release provides flooding extent polygons based on wave-driven total water levels for the coral lined coast of Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The wave and sea-level conditions were then propagated using the XBeach over 100-m spaced shore-normal transects modified to account for base and post-storm scenarios. In situ observations following hurricanes Irma and Maria were usedProjected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods for the State of Florida, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands for current and potentially restored coral reefs
This data release provides flooding extent polygons based on wave-driven total water levels for the coral lined coasts of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The locations of the restoration lines along and across shore were defined by the presence of continuous coral/hardbottom habitat of greater than 100 m alongshore length and proximity to the 3-m depth contour. The wave and seaMap data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in four study areas of Puerto Rico
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria caused widespread landsliding throughout mountainous regions of Puerto Rico. Nearly all landslides mobilized as debris flows (Bessette-Kirton et al., 2019), but herein, we simply use the term "landslides" when describing all types of slope failures that occurred during Hurricane Maria. To examine the extent and physical characteristics of landslides in severely iInfiltration data collected post-Hurricane Maria across landslide source area materials, Puerto Rico, USA
This Data Release includes information to support the characterization of surface/near-surface infiltration rates of selected landslide source area materials following Hurricane Maria across Puerto Rico, USA. The dataset includes comma-delimited measurements of field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) collected over two field campaigns (Fall 2018 and Spring 2019) as well as laboratory-derivedMap of slope-failure locations in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
In Puerto Rico, tens of thousands of landslides, slumps, debris flows, rock falls, and other slope failures were triggered by Hurricane Maria, which made landfall on 20 September 2017. "Landslide" is used here and below to represent all types of slope failures. This dataset is a point shapefile of landslide headscarps identified across Puerto Rico using georeferenced aerial and satellite imagery rProjected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods, with and without coral reefs, for the States of Hawaii and Florida, the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
This data release provides flooding extent polygons (flood masks) and depth values (flood points) based on wave-driven total water levels for 22 locations within the States of Hawaii and Florida, the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For each of the 22 locations there are eight associated flood maskMap data showing concentration of landslides caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico as a category 4 storm. Heavy rainfall caused landslides in mountainous regions throughout the territory. This data release presents geospatial data describing the concentration of landslides generated by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. We used post-hurricane satellite and aerial imagery collected between September 26, 201 - Maps
Explore maps about hurricane impacts in Puerto Rico.
Explore mapas sobre los efectos de los huracanes en Puerto Rico.
- Multimedia
Explore media products about hurricanes in Puerto Rico.
Explore los productos multimedia sobre los huracanes en Puerto Rico.
- Publications
Explore scientific publications by USGS researchers about hurricane impacts in Puerto Rico.
Explore publicaciones científicas por investigadores del UGS sobre los efectos de los huracanes en Puerto Rico.
Filter Total Items: 36Rigorously valuing the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on coastal hazard risks in Florida and Puerto Rico
The degradation of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, raises risks by increasing the exposure of coastal communities to flooding hazards. In the United States, the physical protective services provided by coral reefs were recently assessed in social and economic terms, with the annual protection provided by U.S. coral reefs off the coasts of the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of PuAuthorsCurt D. Storlazzi, Borja G. Reguero, T. Shay Viehman, Kristen A. Cumming, Aaron Cole, James B. Shope, Sarah H. Groves, Camila Gaido L., Barry A. Nickel, Michael W. BeckExperimental warming and its legacy effects on root dynamics following two hurricane disturbances in a wet tropical forest
Tropical forests are expected to experience unprecedented warming and increases in hurricane disturbances in the coming decades; yet, our understanding of how these productive systems, especially their belowground component, will respond to the combined effects of varied environmental changes remains empirically limited. Here we evaluated the responses of root dynamics (production, mortality, and
AuthorsDaniela Yaffar, Tana E. Wood, Sasha C. Reed, Benjamin L. Branoff, Molly A. Cavaleri, Richard J. NorbyLand-based sediment sources and transport to southwest Puerto Rico coral reefs after Hurricane Maria, May 2017 to June 2018
The effects of runoff from land on nearshore ecosystems, including coral reef communities, are influenced by both sediment supply and removal by coastal processes. Integrated studies across the land-sea interface describing sources and transport of terrestrial sediment and its nearshore fate allow reef protection initiatives to target key onshore and offshore areas. Geochemical signatures in the fAuthorsRenee K. Takesue, Clark E Sherman, Aaron O. Reyes, Olivia Cheriton, Natalia I. Ramirez, Roberto Viqueira Ríos, Curt StorlazziCoffee plantations, hurricanes and avian resiliency: Insights from occupancy, and local colonization and extinction rates in Puerto Rico
Insights on impacts and resiliency of avian species with respect to hurricanes in the Caribbean have largely focused on responses measured in protected habitats. We assessed avian responses in non-protected habitat, specifically shade-restored coffee plantations, because their structural complexity retains many attributes of secondary forests, and may contribute to landscape scale species resilieAuthorsAmarilys D. Irizarry, Jaime A. Collazo, J. Vandermeer, I. PerfectoRapid observations of ocean dynamics and stratification along a steep island coast during Hurricane María
Hurricanes are extreme storms that affect coastal communities, but the linkages between hurricane forcing and ocean dynamics remain poorly understood. Here, we present full water column observations at unprecedented resolution from the southwest Puerto Rico insular shelf and slope during Hurricane María, representing a rare set of high-frequency, subsurface, oceanographic observations collected al
AuthorsOlivia Cheriton, Curt Storlazzi, Kurt J. Rosenberger, Clark E Sherman, Wilford SchmidtDrought stress and hurricane defoliation influence mountain clouds and moisture recycling in a tropical forest
Mountain ranges generate clouds, precipitation, and perennial streamflow for water supplies, but the role of forest cover in mountain hydrometeorology and cloud formation is not well understood. In the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico, mountains are immersed in clouds nightly, providing a steady precipitation source to support the tropical forest ecosystems and human uses. A severe drou
AuthorsMartha A. Scholl, Maoya Bassiouni, Angel J. Torres-SanchezHillslopes in humid-tropical climates aren’t always wet: Implications for hydrologic response and landslide initiation in Puerto Rico, USA
The devastating impacts of the widespread flooding and landsliding in Puerto Rico following the September 2017 landfall of Hurricane Maria highlight the increasingly extreme atmospheric disturbances and enhanced hazard potential in mountainous humid‐tropical climate zones. Long‐standing conceptual models for hydrologically driven hazards in Puerto Rico posit that hillslope soils remain wet through
AuthorsMatthew A. Thomas, Benjamin B. Mirus, Joel B. SmithTropical understory herbaceous community responds more strongly to hurricane disturbance than to experimental warming
The effects of climate change on tropical forests may have global consequences due to the forests’ high biodiversity and major role in the global carbon cycle. In this study, we document the effects of experimental warming on the abundance and composition of a tropical forest floor herbaceous plant community in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. This study was conducted within Tropical
AuthorsDeborah K. Kennard, David Matlaga, Joanne Sharpe, Clay C. King, Aura M. Alonso-Rodríguez, Sasha C. Reed, Molly A. Cavaleri, Tana E. WoodMobility characteristics of landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Mobility is an important element of landslide hazard and risk assessments yet has been seldom studied for shallow landslides and debris flows in tropical environments. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria triggered > 70,000 landslides across Puerto Rico. Using aerial imagery and a lidar digital elevation model (DEM), we mapped and characterized the mobility of debris slides and flows in four differeAuthorsErin K. Bessette-Kirton, Jeffrey A. Coe, William Schulz, Corina Cerovski-Darriau, Mason Muir EinbundSoil biogeochemical responses of a tropical forest to warming and hurricane disturbance
Tropical forests represent 50% of the planets species and play a disproportionately large role in determining climate due to the vast amounts of carbon they store and exchange with the atmosphere. Currently, disturbance patterns in tropical ecosystems are changing due to factors such as increased land use pressure and an occurrence of hurricanes. At the same time, these regions are expected to exp
AuthorsSasha C. Reed, Robin H. Reibold, Molly A. Cavaleri, Aura M. Alonso-Rodríguez, Megan E. Berberich, Tana E. WoodDebris-flow growth in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria: Preliminary results from analyses of pre- and post-event lidar data
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria triggered widespread debris flows in Puerto Rico. We used field observations and pre- and post-Maria lidar to study the volumetric growth of long-travelled (>400 m) debris flows in four basins. We found overall growth rates that ranged from 0.7 to 30.4 m3 per meter of channel length. We partitioned the rates into two growth mechanisms, aggregation of multipleAuthorsJeffrey A. Coe, Erin K. Bessette-Kirton, Dianne L. Brien, Mark E. ReidMonitoring storm tide, flooding, and precipitation from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 2017
Hurricane Maria made landfall south of Yabucoa Harbor, Puerto Rico, as a category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour on September 20, 2017. The hurricane devastated much of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Federal Emergency Management Agency, installed a temporary monitoring network of 13 water-level and bar
AuthorsMichael J. Byrne - Web Tools
Explore web tools for Puerto Rico related to hurricane hazards.
Explore las herramientas de Internet sobre los peligros de huracanes.
Hurricane Maria's Water Footprint
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, bringing with it a mix of high winds and extreme rainfall. This data visualization animates Hurricane Maria's Water Footprint, the cumulative precipitation the storm dropped on the island, and the impact of rainfall on river gage height.
Hurricane Maria's Water Footprint
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, bringing with it a mix of high winds and extreme rainfall. Much of the island experienced flooding and structural damage along with a loss of electricity and water.
Coastal Change Hazards Portal
Interactive access to coastal change science and data for our Nation’s coasts. Information and products are organized within three coastal change hazard themes: 1) extreme storms, 2) shoreline change, and 3) sea-level rise. Displays probabilities of coastal erosion.
ByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Isaias, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Marco, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Nate, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricanes - News
Read research news highlights about hurricanes in Puerto Rico.
Lea las principales noticias de investigación sobre huracanes en Puerto Rico.