Images

Colorized satellite imagery from 2017-09-19 15:00 UTC of Hurricane Maria impacting the Eastern Caribbean. Data provided by NOAA. Base image is intellectual property of NOAA and is used herein under license. Copyright Esri and its creator. 

Hurricane tracks for Hugo (1989), 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. 

Report Summary

The Social and Economic Benefits of Coral Reef Restoration in Puerto Rico

Key Points

Coral reef restoration can yield significant flood reduction benefits. These natural defenses were damaged in the 2017 hurricanes; their recovery would reduce the risks of further storm damages to nature, people and property.

RESUMEN DEL REPORTE

Los beneficios sociales y económicos de la restauración de arrecifes de coral en Puerto Rico

PUNTOS CLAVE

La restauración de los arrecifes de coral puede producir beneficios significativos en la reducción de inundaciones. Estas defensas naturales sufrieron daños a causa de los huracanes de 2017; su recuperación reduciría riesgos adicionales a la naturaleza, las personas y propiedades causados por tormentas.

Report Summary

Hurricane Damage to Coral Reefs in 2017 Increases Future Flood Risk in Puerto Rico and Florida

The damage to reef natural infrastructure from Hurricanes Irma and Maria puts U.S. people and property at significant risk of future flooding

Key Points

The significant flood risk consequences of damage to coral reefs from Hurricanes Irma and Maria clarify why the defense benefits from this natural infrastructure should be recovered, repaired and restored.

RESUMEN DEL REPORTE

Los daños causados ​​por los huracanes a los arrecifes de coral en 2017 aumentan el riesgo de inundaciones futuras en Puerto Rico y Florida

Las consecuencias significativas del riesgo de inundación debido a los daños en los arrecifes de coral causado por los huracanes Irma y María clarifican por qué los beneficios de defensa de esta infraestructura natural deben recuperarse, repararse y restaurarse.

Maps for the southern part of the Florida coastline show the increase in annual coastal hazard risk due to damage by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

1. Increase in population at risk due to coral reef damage per kilometer (left)
2. Increase in value ($) of assets at risk due to coral reef damage per kilometer (right)

Maps of Puerto Rico show the increase in annual coastal hazard risk due to damage by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

1. Increase in population at risk due to coral reef damage per kilometer (top)
2. Increase in value ($) of assets at risk due to coral reef damage per kilometer (bottom)

USGS ground failure experts examine landslides after Hurricane Maria in the municipality of Las Marias, Puerto Rico.

An aerial view of landslide damage after Hurricane Maria in Utuado municipality, Puerto Rico.

Figure 2: Zooming in to red rectangle A from figure 1. Points colored by laser intensity (blue = low intensity, red = high intensity).

Figure 3: Zooming in and rotating scene in 3D from figure 2. Points coloer by laser intensity (blue = low intensity, red = high intensity).

This USGS Rapid Deployment Gauge was installed near Morovis, Puerto Rico, to monitor the Río Grande de Manatí after Hurricane Maria destroyed the permanent streamgage which typically monitors the river. USGS photo.

Bill Schulz, USGS Research Geologist, takes photographs of Puerto Rican hillsides from a U.S. Army helicopter to document landslides caused by Hurricane Maria.

This pair of Landsat 8 images shows the large-scale damage done to Puerto Rico. The lush green landscape in the 2016 image is replaced by a faded green. The strong winds stripped the leaves off trees to cause the degraded landscape. The forest is expected to recover.