After Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017, RAND helped its government develop a comprehensive recovery plan. With support from the RAND Alumni Impact Fund, researchers partnered with Puerto Rico communities, including local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and foundations, to help underserved communities rebuild and recover.
In this RAND Remote conversation, Marielena Lara and Gabriela Castro discuss the partnered approach they used to support reconstruction and recovery efforts. They describe barriers that surfaced through engagement and conversations with community-trusted NGOs, including issues of equity in disaster recovery, and also share ways that RAND can help strengthen and safeguard communities and build resilience for the future. Lara and Castro are introduced by Winfield A. Boerckel, Vice President of the RAND Office of External Affairs.
