Calls for Reform in Puerto Rico as Hurricane Fiona Leaves Island Without Power
Ask Students: Where has Hurricane Fiona struck? What are some of the ways Fiona has impacted Puerto Rico and when was it last struck by a devastating hurricane?
Summary
Parts of the northern Caribbean washed away as heavy rains and winds from Hurricane Fiona bombarded islands. Puerto Rico saw some of the worst as homes, roads and businesses were still underwater after days of rain. William Brangham reports. For a transcript of this story, click here.
Discussion Questions
- Where has Hurricane Fiona struck?
- What are some of the ways Fiona has impacted Puerto Rico?
- When did Puerto Rico last experience a devastating hurricane?
- Why are some calling for reform after this latest hurricane?
- How might these reforms address system-wide problems in Puerto Rico?
Focus Questions
What is the major reform being called for after the latest storm? Why do you think Puerto Rico’s infrastructure is not equipped to recover after major disasters? Who should take responsibility?
Media Literacy: What interests do you think Puerto Rico’s Resiliency Law Center represents? How can you find out?
Visualizing the Rainfall
Look at the chart in the tweet below from the National Weather Service in San Juan to see how different parts of the island received staggeringly different amounts of rainfall.
[SEP20] #Fiona
Latest Radar Total Estimate from Hurricane Fiona (Friday Afternoon to Today morning).
Estimados de Radar más recientes totales del Huracán Fiona (viernes hasta la mañana de hoy). #prwx #usviwx pic.twitter.com/trzGnESaKd— NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 20, 2022
Learn More
Follow this link to read about how to help Puerto Rico following the storm. To better understand some of the challenges to reform in Puerto Rico, watch the following video from 2020 as the island prepared to vote on new leadership and a referendum to become a U.S. state.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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