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World & Nation

Puerto Rico aftermath and recovery

Lorna Fraguada, who has no running water or power in her home, washes clothes in the Espiritu Santo river before heavy rains hit more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 8, 2017 in Palmer, Puerto Rico. Only 11.7 percent of Puerto Rico's electricity has been restored and some residents are going to the river to bathe, wash clothes, gather water and cool off.

Lorna Fraguada, who has no running water or power in her home, washes clothes in the Espiritu Santo river before heavy rains hit more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 8, 2017 in Palmer, Puerto Rico. Only 11.7 percent of Puerto Rico’s electricity has been restored and some residents are going to the river to bathe, wash clothes, gather water and cool off.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

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After Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, residents struggled to recover with continued power outages and water shortages.

Young members of the Timoral family stand in front of their damaged home, with no running water or electricity, more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 9, 2017 in Jayuya, Puerto Rico. More than 80 percent of the island is still without power.

Young members of the Timoral family stand in front of their damaged home, with no running water or electricity, more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 9, 2017 in Jayuya, Puerto Rico. More than 80 percent of the island is still without power.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

People line up at the El Angel Ice Plant in Rio Piedras to get ice in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Power is still cut off on most of the island, schools and many businesses are closed and much of the countryside is struggling to find fresh water and food.

People line up at the El Angel Ice Plant in Rio Piedras to get ice in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Power is still cut off on most of the island, schools and many businesses are closed and much of the countryside is struggling to find fresh water and food.  (Carlos Giusti / AP)

Convenience store-owner Raymond Ortiz points to health related messages he posted outside his business to help residents in the impoverished Playita neighborhood recover from Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. Ortiz, who has passed out home cooked food to people who don't have enough food to eat, said the Salvation Army had distributed aid in Playita in recent days, but he had seen no federal effort.

Convenience store-owner Raymond Ortiz points to health related messages he posted outside his business to help residents in the impoverished Playita neighborhood recover from Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. Ortiz, who has passed out home cooked food to people who don’t have enough food to eat, said the Salvation Army had distributed aid in Playita in recent days, but he had seen no federal effort.  (Danica Coto / AP)

The Puerto Rican National Guard delivers food and water brought via helicopter to victims of Hurricane Maria, to the San Lorenzo neighborhood of Morovis, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017.

The Puerto Rican National Guard delivers food and water brought via helicopter to victims of Hurricane Maria, to the San Lorenzo neighborhood of Morovis, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017.  (Ramon Espinosa / AP)

Roberto Figueroa Caballero sits on a small table in his home that was destroyed by Hurricane Maria in La Perla neighborhood on the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Figueroa, who wanted to stay at home with his dog during the storm, said he was evicted by police and taken to a shelter for the night. When he returned the next day and saw what was left of his home, he decided to put his salvageable items back where they originally were, as if his home still had walls, saying that it frees his mind.

Roberto Figueroa Caballero sits on a small table in his home that was destroyed by Hurricane Maria in La Perla neighborhood on the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Figueroa, who wanted to stay at home with his dog during the storm, said he was evicted by police and taken to a shelter for the night. When he returned the next day and saw what was left of his home, he decided to put his salvageable items back where they originally were, as if his home still had walls, saying that it frees his mind.  (Ramon Espinosa / AP)

Mud remains in a room of the Reyes family's house after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 9, 2017 in Jayuya, Puerto Rico. An approximately 9-foot tall mudslide hit the house, butting up close to the top of the roof. The town has no running water or grid electricity currently. More than 80 percent of the island is still without power.

Mud remains in a room of the Reyes family’s house after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 9, 2017 in Jayuya, Puerto Rico. An approximately 9-foot tall mudslide hit the house, butting up close to the top of the roof. The town has no running water or grid electricity currently. More than 80 percent of the island is still without power.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

Hadyd Armaiz cuts the hair of Adriel Roman in an improvised outdoor barber shop after his business was damaged by the passing of Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico on October 6, 2017.

Hadyd Armaiz cuts the hair of Adriel Roman in an improvised outdoor barber shop after his business was damaged by the passing of Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico on October 6, 2017.  (Ricardo Arguengo / AFP/Getty Images)

A lone chair sits at a damaged property more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 7, 2017 in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. Only 11.7 percent of Puerto Rico's electricity has been restored.

A lone chair sits at a damaged property more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 7, 2017 in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. Only 11.7 percent of Puerto Rico’s electricity has been restored.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

Residents wait in the rain to register with FEMA more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 9, 2017 in Jayuya, Puerto Rico. Residents said many had been waiting on line outside for more than seven hours. Most of the municipality is without water or power.

Residents wait in the rain to register with FEMA more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 9, 2017 in Jayuya, Puerto Rico. Residents said many had been waiting on line outside for more than seven hours. Most of the municipality is without water or power.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

Yanira Rios collects spring water for use in her house, which is without running water or electricity, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 10, 2017 in Utuado, Puerto Rico. Most of the municipality is without running water or grid power. Only 16 percent of Puerto Rico's grid electricity has been restored.

Yanira Rios collects spring water for use in her house, which is without running water or electricity, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 10, 2017 in Utuado, Puerto Rico. Most of the municipality is without running water or grid power. Only 16 percent of Puerto Rico’s grid electricity has been restored.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

Israel Gonzales, 84, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, rests after walking up the hillside back to his home after picking coffeee beans to earn extra money, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 10, 2017 in Pellejas, Adjuntas municipality, Puerto Rico. His house and others in the area have no electricity or running water. Only 16 percent of Puerto Rico's grid electricity has been restored.

Israel Gonzales, 84, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, rests after walking up the hillside back to his home after picking coffeee beans to earn extra money, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 10, 2017 in Pellejas, Adjuntas municipality, Puerto Rico. His house and others in the area have no electricity or running water. Only 16 percent of Puerto Rico’s grid electricity has been restored.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

Maria Chiclano, who has no running water or power in her home, washes clothes with her sons in the Espiritu Santo river during heavy rains more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 8, 2017 in Palmer, Puerto Rico. More than 80 percent of the island is still without power, and some residents are going to the river to wash clothes, gather water, cool off, or bathe.

Maria Chiclano, who has no running water or power in her home, washes clothes with her sons in the Espiritu Santo river during heavy rains more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 8, 2017 in Palmer, Puerto Rico. More than 80 percent of the island is still without power, and some residents are going to the river to wash clothes, gather water, cool off, or bathe.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

People whose homes no longer have running water fill jugs with spring water flowing from a mountain more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 7, 2017 in Naranjito, Puerto Rico.

People whose homes no longer have running water fill jugs with spring water flowing from a mountain more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 7, 2017 in Naranjito, Puerto Rico.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

People sit at a home lit by a generator, as surrounding homes remain dark, more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 7, 2017 in San Isidro, Puerto Rico. The neighborhood is currently without electricity, as is more than 80 percent of the island.

People sit at a home lit by a generator, as surrounding homes remain dark, more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the island, on October 7, 2017 in San Isidro, Puerto Rico. The neighborhood is currently without electricity, as is more than 80 percent of the island.  (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

U.S. Army 1st Special Force Command Staff Sgt. Eric Reyes checks the depth of a river that was caused when heavy rains fell on the area days after Hurricane Maria swept through the island on October 7, 2017 in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. Reyes and the team of soldiers he is with are delivering supplies to people as well as checking on the well being of people caught up in the natural disaster.

U.S. Army 1st Special Force Command Staff Sgt. Eric Reyes checks the depth of a river that was caused when heavy rains fell on the area days after Hurricane Maria swept through the island on October 7, 2017 in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. Reyes and the team of soldiers he is with are delivering supplies to people as well as checking on the well being of people caught up in the natural disaster.  (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

U.S. Army 1st Special Force Command SFC Antonio Santini speaks with Pedro Bonilla, Emergency Managment Director, about their needs after Hurricane Maria swept through the island on October 7, 2017 in Villalba, Puerto Rico. Santini and the team of soldiers he is with are delivering supplies to people as well as checking on the well being of people caught up in the natural disaster.

U.S. Army 1st Special Force Command SFC Antonio Santini speaks with Pedro Bonilla, Emergency Managment Director, about their needs after Hurricane Maria swept through the island on October 7, 2017 in Villalba, Puerto Rico. Santini and the team of soldiers he is with are delivering supplies to people as well as checking on the well being of people caught up in the natural disaster.  (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

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