Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
WFTV

Looking back: Hurricane Maria devasted Puerto Rico 7 years ago

Gene Saladna

Friday marks seven years since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico.

? WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

Maria was a strong Category 4 storm when it hit on September 20th, 2017.

The storm killed about 3,000 people and caused more than $90 billion in damage.

Parts of the island are still rebuilding today.

Here’s a look back at some of the devastation in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria.

PUERTO RICO - OCTOBER 18: Destroyed buildings are viewed from the air during recovery efforts four weeks after Hurricane Maria struck on October 18, 2017 in-flight over Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is suffering shortages of food and water in areas with only 19.10 percent of grid electricity restored. Puerto Rico experienced widespread damage including most of the electrical, gas and water grid as well as agriculture after Hurricane Maria, a category 4 hurricane, swept through. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
PUERTO RICO - OCTOBER 18: Destroyed buildings are viewed from the air during recovery efforts four weeks after Hurricane Maria struck on October 18, 2017 in-flight over Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is suffering shortages of food and water in areas with only 19.10 percent of grid electricity restored. Puerto Rico experienced widespread damage including most of the electrical, gas and water grid as well as agriculture after Hurricane Maria, a category 4 hurricane, swept through. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO: A dog roamed the streets of the La Perla neighborhood in Old San Juan as residents prepared for a direct hit from Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
FILE PHOTO: A dog roamed the streets of the La Perla neighborhood in Old San Juan as residents prepared for a direct hit from Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A field of plantains is flooded one day after the impact of Hurricane Maria in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A field of plantains is flooded one day after the impact of Hurricane Maria in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2017, file photo, debris scatters a destroyed community in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2017, file photo, debris scatters a destroyed community in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
A man and his daughter flee from the rain on a beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 19, 2017, prior to the arrival of Hurricane Maria. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)
A man and his daughter flee from the rain on a beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 19, 2017, prior to the arrival of Hurricane Maria. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)
Winds lash the coastal city of Fajardo as Hurricane Maria approaches Puerto Rico, on September 19, 2017. Maria headed towards the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico after battering the Caribbean island of Dominica.(RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP/Getty Images)
Winds lash the coastal city of Fajardo as Hurricane Maria approaches Puerto Rico, on September 19, 2017. Maria headed towards the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico after battering the Caribbean island of Dominica.(RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Librada is seen at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum refuge in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 19, 2017, prior the arrival of Hurricane Maria. She left voluntarily of her house to take refuge. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Librada is seen at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum refuge in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 19, 2017, prior the arrival of Hurricane Maria. She left voluntarily of her house to take refuge. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)
Winds lash the coastal city of Fajardo as Hurricane Maria approaches Puerto Rico, on September 19, 2017. (RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP/Getty Images)
Winds lash the coastal city of Fajardo as Hurricane Maria approaches Puerto Rico, on September 19, 2017. (RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP/Getty Images)
<p>Rescue vehicles from the Emergency Management Agency stand trapped under an awning during the impact of Hurricane Maria, which hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)</p>

Rescue vehicles from the Emergency Management Agency stand trapped under an awning during the impact of Hurricane Maria, which hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

<p> FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2017 file photo, people affected by Hurricane Maria bathe in water piped from a creek in the mountains, in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. In the six months since the hurricane, more than 135,000 people have fled to the U.S. mainland, according to a recent estimate by the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File) </p>

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2017 file photo, people affected by Hurricane Maria bathe in water piped from a creek in the mountains, in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. In the six months since the hurricane, more than 135,000 people have fled to the U.S. mainland, according to a recent estimate by the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)

<p>Homes and other buildings destroyed by Hurricane Maria lie in ruins in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</p>

Homes and other buildings destroyed by Hurricane Maria lie in ruins in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

<p> FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2017, file photo, people wait in line outside a grocery store to buy food that wouldn't spoil and that they could prepare without electricity, in San Juan. Emails and text messages made public March 20, 2018, show frantic efforts after Hurricane Maria by officials of the Puerto Rican government and Walmart to get fuel to keep their generators going _ and silence from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A letter sent by the ranking member of the House oversight committee shows that as people stood in line for food and many went hungry, supermarkets were forced to throw out tons of spoiled meat, dairy and produce. (AP Photo/Ben Fox, File) </p>

FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2017, file photo, people wait in line outside a grocery store to buy food that wouldn't spoil and that they could prepare without electricity, in San Juan. Emails and text messages made public March 20, 2018, show frantic efforts after Hurricane Maria by officials of the Puerto Rican government and Walmart to get fuel to keep their generators going _ and silence from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A letter sent by the ranking member of the House oversight committee shows that as people stood in line for food and many went hungry, supermarkets were forced to throw out tons of spoiled meat, dairy and produce. (AP Photo/Ben Fox, File)

<p> FILE - In this June 1, 2018 file photo, a child shines a light on hundreds of shoes at a memorial for those killed by Hurricane Maria, in front of the Puerto Rico Capitol in San Juan. Puerto Rico has conceded that Hurricane Maria killed more than 1,400 people on the island last year and not just the 64 in the official death toll. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File) </p>

FILE - In this June 1, 2018 file photo, a child shines a light on hundreds of shoes at a memorial for those killed by Hurricane Maria, in front of the Puerto Rico Capitol in San Juan. Puerto Rico has conceded that Hurricane Maria killed more than 1,400 people on the island last year and not just the 64 in the official death toll. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)

<p> This June 18, 2018 photo shows an aerial view of the Amelia neighborhood in the municipality of Catano, east of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thousands of people across Puerto Rico are still living in damaged homes, protected by blue plastic tarps, nine months since Hurricane Maria devastated the island. (AP Photo/Dennis M. Rivera) </p>

This June 18, 2018 photo shows an aerial view of the Amelia neighborhood in the municipality of Catano, east of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thousands of people across Puerto Rico are still living in damaged homes, protected by blue plastic tarps, nine months since Hurricane Maria devastated the island. (AP Photo/Dennis M. Rivera)

<p> FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2017 file photo, a Puerto Rican national flag is mounted on debris of a damaged home in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in the seaside slum La Perla, San Juan, Puerto Rico. An independent investigation ordered by Puerto Rico’s government estimates that nearly 3,000 people died as a result of Hurricane Maria. The findings issued Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University contrast sharply with the official death toll of 64. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) </p>

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2017 file photo, a Puerto Rican national flag is mounted on debris of a damaged home in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in the seaside slum La Perla, San Juan, Puerto Rico. An independent investigation ordered by Puerto Rico’s government estimates that nearly 3,000 people died as a result of Hurricane Maria. The findings issued Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University contrast sharply with the official death toll of 64. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - SEPTEMBER 21: Property damage in the Vietnam suburb the day after Hurricane Maria made landfall, September 21, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The majority of the island has lost power, in San Juan many are left without running water or cell phone service, and the Governor said Maria is the
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - SEPTEMBER 21: Property damage in the Vietnam suburb the day after Hurricane Maria made landfall, September 21, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The majority of the island has lost power, in San Juan many are left without running water or cell phone service, and the Governor said Maria is the
<p>People wait in line for gas, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. </p>

People wait in line for gas, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017.

<p> </p><p>Acting Homeland Secretary Elaine Duke, center, is briefed on the Hurricane Maria response during a flight to Puerto Rico on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017.</p>

Acting Homeland Secretary Elaine Duke, center, is briefed on the Hurricane Maria response during a flight to Puerto Rico on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017.

<p>Condo buildings are seen along the beach as people deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on September 25, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.</p>

Condo buildings are seen along the beach as people deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on September 25, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

<p>A couple bathes in the Gurabo River in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. </p>

A couple bathes in the Gurabo River in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.

<p>Destroyed buildings are viewed from the air during recovery efforts four weeks after Hurricane Maria struck on October 18, 2017 in-flight over Puerto Rico. </p>

Destroyed buildings are viewed from the air during recovery efforts four weeks after Hurricane Maria struck on October 18, 2017 in-flight over Puerto Rico.

<p>U.S Army soldiers offload bottled water from a helicopter during recovery efforts four weeks after Hurricane Maria struck on October 18, 2017 in Utuado, Puerto Rico. </p>

U.S Army soldiers offload bottled water from a helicopter during recovery efforts four weeks after Hurricane Maria struck on October 18, 2017 in Utuado, Puerto Rico.

<p>People walk next to a gas station flooded and damaged by the impact of Hurricane Maria, which hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, September 20, 2017.  (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)</p>

People walk next to a gas station flooded and damaged by the impact of Hurricane Maria, which hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

<p>Trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)</p>

Trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)

<p>A man looks as trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)</p>

A man looks as trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)

<p>A photographer and police officers look as trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria.(HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)</p>

A photographer and police officers look as trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria.(HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)

<p>Rescue personnel from the Emergency Management Agency drive through a flooded road after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, September 20, 2017.  (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)</p>

Rescue personnel from the Emergency Management Agency drive through a flooded road after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, September 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

<p>Electricity poles and lines lay toppled on the road after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)</p>

Electricity poles and lines lay toppled on the road after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

<p>People walk next to a gas station flooded and damaged by the impact of Hurricane Maria, which hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, September 20, 2017. The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years.</p>

People walk next to a gas station flooded and damaged by the impact of Hurricane Maria, which hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, September 20, 2017. The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years.

<p>Trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)</p>

Trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017, during the passage of the Hurricane Maria. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)

<p>FILE PHOTO: A dog roamed the streets of the La Perla neighborhood in Old San Juan as residents prepared for a direct hit from Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images</p>

FILE PHOTO: A dog roamed the streets of the La Perla neighborhood in Old San Juan as residents prepared for a direct hit from Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images

<p>FILE PHOTO: Members of the U.S. Army 1st Special Forces Command deliver boxes of M.R.E's and water to people that were cut off after the bridge collapsed when Hurricane Maria swept through the island on October 5, 2017 in Utuado, Puerto Rico.</p>

FILE PHOTO: Members of the U.S. Army 1st Special Forces Command deliver boxes of M.R.E's and water to people that were cut off after the bridge collapsed when Hurricane Maria swept through the island on October 5, 2017 in Utuado, Puerto Rico.

<p>A woman places one of the hundreds of shoes in memory of those killed by Hurricane Maria in front of the Puerto Rico Capitol, in San Juan, Friday, June 1, 2018. Puerto Rico's Institute of Statistics announced that it has sued the U.S. territory's</p>

A woman places one of the hundreds of shoes in memory of those killed by Hurricane Maria in front of the Puerto Rico Capitol, in San Juan, Friday, June 1, 2018. Puerto Rico's Institute of Statistics announced that it has sued the U.S. territory's

<p>People fill containers with water funneled with pipes from a mountain stream in Utuado, Puerto Rico, nearly one month after Hurricane Maria struck on October 19, 2017.</p>

People fill containers with water funneled with pipes from a mountain stream in Utuado, Puerto Rico, nearly one month after Hurricane Maria struck on October 19, 2017.

READ: Central Florida leaders meet with Puerto Rican representatives, to discuss Hurricane Maria Recovery

Advertisement
Advertisement

READ: Why Puerto Ricans who came to Central Florida following Hurricane Maria are going back to the island

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement