Aftershocks of Disaster

1. Hurricane María exposed Puerto Rico's colonial vulnerability and systemic inequalities

"María's effects... are best understood as the product of a long-standing colonial disaster."

Colonial legacy: Puerto Rico's status as a US territory without full rights or representation left it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. The hurricane exposed deep-rooted inequalities and government neglect that had existed long before the storm hit.

Systemic failures: The inadequate response from both local and federal governments revealed the fragility of Puerto Rico's infrastructure and institutions. Key issues included:

• Collapsed electrical grid
• Limited access to clean water and food
• Inadequate healthcare services
• Delayed and insufficient aid distribution

Disproportionate impact: The most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, low-income families, and rural communities, suffered the most severe consequences. This highlighted existing social and economic disparities on the island.

2. The debt crisis and austerity measures exacerbated Puerto Rico's post-hurricane struggles

"Puerto Rico's netherworld status—not a sovereign nation, not a US state—prevented it from using tactics like those available to Greece and Argentina, which were able to receive loans from the IMF, to renegotiate them, and also to adjust their currencies."

Pre-existing economic crisis: Before María, Puerto Rico was already grappling with a $72 billion debt crisis and imposed austerity measures. Key factors included:

• Limited economic autonomy due to colonial status
• Predatory lending practices by Wall Street firms
• Fiscal Control Board (la Junta) implementing severe budget cuts

Post-hurricane challenges: The economic situation worsened after María, as:

• Infrastructure damage further strained public resources
• Migration of residents to the mainland US reduced the tax base
• Debt repayment continued to take precedence over recovery efforts

Calls for debt cancellation: Many activists and scholars argued that Puerto Rico's debt was "odious" and should be canceled, especially in light of the humanitarian crisis caused by the hurricane.

3. Media representation and rhetorical incorporation reinforced colonial power dynamics

"Rhetorical incorporation also ignores the intimate ties between colonialism and racism, and it sidesteps that citizenship has never offered full protection for racialized, colonial, and otherwise minoritized legal citizens in the United States."

"Our fellow Americans" narrative: Mainstream US media often referred to Puerto Ricans as "fellow Americans" in an attempt to generate empathy and support. However, this framing:

• Obscured the reality of Puerto Rico's unequal citizenship status
• Reinforced US authority over Puerto Rico's future
• Ignored Puerto Ricans' own diverse identities and desires for self-determination

Disaster tropes: Media coverage often relied on stereotypical depictions of the "disastrous tropics," including:

• Images of helplessness and desperation
• Emphasis on chaos and disorder
• Portrayal of Puerto Ricans as passive victims rather than active agents in their recovery

Alternative perspectives: Puerto Rican journalists and artists worked to counter these narratives by:

• Highlighting local resilience and mutual aid efforts
• Exposing government failures and corruption
• Documenting the ongoing struggles of communities long after media attention faded

4. Artists and activists responded creatively to disaster, challenging dominant narratives

"Art is inherently social because it is produced in a web of human connection, and it must, therefore, be culturally relevant for a given group of people."

Diverse artistic responses: Puerto Rican artists employed various mediums to process trauma and critique power structures:

• Visual art: Installations, murals, and photography documenting destruction and resilience
• Theater: Performances like "¡Ay María!" using humor to address serious issues
• Literature: Poetry and prose exploring themes of loss, identity, and resistance

Key themes in post-María art:

• Exposing colonial relationships and government neglect
• Celebrating community solidarity and mutual aid
• Imagining alternative futures and paths to recovery

Art as social catalyst: Many artistic projects served dual purposes:

• Providing emotional catharsis for creators and audiences
• Raising awareness and mobilizing support for ongoing recovery efforts

5. Community-led initiatives emerged as powerful alternatives to government failures

"Even with the ports loaded with gasoline and merchandise, the government limited its distribution. During the first weeks, hundreds of truckers offered to work for free with no success."

Grassroots response: In the face of government inaction, communities organized to meet immediate needs:

• Clearing roads and debris
• Distributing food, water, and medical supplies
• Providing shelter and emotional support

Centros de Apoyo Mutuo (Mutual Support Centers): These community-run spaces emerged across the island, offering:

• Free meals and food distribution
• Health clinics and wellness services
• Educational and cultural activities
• Platforms for political organizing and advocacy

Long-term vision: Many community initiatives evolved beyond emergency response to address systemic issues:

• Developing sustainable food systems
• Creating alternative energy solutions
• Building networks of solidarity and mutual aid

6. The energy crisis revealed the need for sustainable and sovereign solutions

"Generating energy with the sun, water, wind, and biomass through micronetworks, hybrid systems, and other configurations at the point of consumption is a route to achieve welfare and progress for all and to start to decolonize Puerto Rico."

PREPA's failures: The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority's outdated and centralized system proved catastrophically vulnerable:

• Months-long blackouts across the island
• Controversial contracts with private companies for repairs
• Push for privatization and continued reliance on fossil fuels

Community-led alternatives: Organizations like Casa Pueblo demonstrated the potential of decentralized, renewable energy:

• Solar-powered community centers serving as "energy oases"
• Micro-grid projects combining solar, wind, and biomass
• Education and advocacy for energy sovereignty

Policy battles: The energy crisis became a key battleground for Puerto Rico's future:

• Calls for 100% renewable energy vs. plans for increased natural gas dependency
• Debates over public ownership vs. privatization of the electrical grid
• Linking energy independence to broader struggles for decolonization and self-determination

7. Police accountability and human rights became crucial in post-María Puerto Rico

"These safety problems were fully predictable. Organizations that work with these groups knew that a hurricane-like situation would generate threats against these vulnerable groups, and they anticipated it. It was not a mystery or a surprise."

Increased vulnerability: The post-hurricane context exacerbated existing issues:

• Rise in domestic violence and gender-based violence
• Heightened risks for LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized groups
• Limited access to support services and reporting mechanisms

Police failures: The Puerto Rico Police Department struggled to protect vulnerable populations:

• Lack of preparedness and appropriate protocols
• Continued patterns of discrimination and excessive force
• Insufficient resources and low morale among officers

Activist responses: Organizations like Kilómetro 0 worked to:

• Document human rights violations and police misconduct
• Advocate for police reform and accountability measures
• Educate communities about their rights and available resources

8. Disaster capitalism and privatization threatened Puerto Rico's public institutions

"Cutting funding to the public education system spurs the growth of private and for-profit institutions and reduces access to affordable educational opportunities, exacerbating the negative effects of María and increasing the island's already out of control inequality."

Shock doctrine in action: The post-María crisis created opportunities for privatization and austerity:

• Closure of hundreds of public schools
• Cuts to the University of Puerto Rico's budget
• Privatization plans for the electrical grid and other public services

Education under attack: The public education system faced particular threats:

• Charter school expansion and school voucher programs
• Reduced funding and resources for remaining public schools
• Brain drain as students and educators left the island

Resistance efforts: Students, educators, and activists organized to defend public institutions:

• Protests and strikes against school closures and budget cuts
• Alternative education initiatives in communities
• Legal challenges to privatization efforts

9. Mutual aid and solidarity networks offered hope amid devastation

"Unlike disaster, which makes one wonder about fate, but like crisis, which calls for a diagnosis, catastrophe calls for thinking; unlike crisis, however, catastrophe challenges all existing cognitive frameworks and 'induces new problematizations and modes of questioning.'"

Reimagining recovery: Community-led initiatives demonstrated alternatives to top-down, market-driven approaches:

• Comedores Sociales (community kitchens) providing meals and building social ties
• Brigades of volunteers clearing debris and rebuilding homes
• Collective farming projects addressing food insecurity

Diaspora connections: Puerto Ricans on the mainland US and elsewhere mobilized support:

• Fundraising and supply drives
• Volunteer trips to assist with recovery efforts
• Advocacy for increased federal aid and debt relief

Building long-term resilience: Many mutual aid projects evolved into sustained community development efforts:

• Creation of worker-owned cooperatives
• Implementation of agroecology practices
• Development of community-controlled infrastructure and services

10. Decolonial thinking is essential for true recovery and transformation

"Hurricane María's impact on Puerto Rico is perhaps best understood and theorized as a catastrophe, not merely as a crisis or disaster."

Beyond critique: Traditional frameworks of crisis and critique prove inadequate for understanding María's impact:

• Need to challenge fundamental assumptions about Puerto Rico's relationship with the US
• Importance of centering Puerto Rican voices and experiences in recovery planning
• Recognition of the ongoing nature of colonial disaster, not just a singular event

Imagining alternatives: Decolonial thinking opens possibilities for radical transformation:

• Rejecting false choices between statehood and current colonial status
• Exploring models of sovereignty and self-determination beyond the nation-state
• Connecting Puerto Rico's struggles to broader global movements for justice and liberation

Concrete steps: Putting decolonial thinking into practice could involve:

• Developing sustainable, locally-controlled economic models
• Strengthening connections with other Caribbean nations and movements
• Prioritizing cultural preservation and revitalization alongside material recovery

Last updated: August 29, 2024