Hurricane Maria is not an organization but one of the most catastrophic hurricanes to strike the Caribbean and the United States in recent history, making landfall in September 2017[1][6]. Originating from a tropical wave off the coast of Africa, Maria rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane before devastating Dominica—where it became the first Category 5 to hit the island nation—and then striking Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm, causing unprecedented destruction[1][6]. The storm resulted in an estimated $94 billion in damages in Puerto Rico alone, with studies attributing thousands of deaths to the hurricane and its aftermath, largely due to prolonged power outages, lack of clean water, and disrupted health services[4][6]. Maria’s impact was so severe that it contributed to 2017 becoming the costliest year for weather-related disasters in U.S. history[5].
In the wake of Hurricane Maria, numerous organizations and agencies mobilized for disaster response and long-term recovery. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played a critical role in restoring electrical service and infrastructure in Puerto Rico, while groups like The Salvation Army and Americares provided immediate relief—distributing meals, water, and medical supplies—and supported long-term recovery by rebuilding health services and training local workers[3][4]. Philanthropic efforts, such as the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Recovery Fund, raised millions to support health care, food security, and community resilience projects across affected regions[6]. The American Red Cross and other NGOs also launched extensive recovery and resiliency programs to help communities heal and rebuild[8].
From a business and technology perspective, the disaster underscored the fragility of critical infrastructure and the importance of disaster preparedness and resilient systems. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) initiated a comprehensive study of Maria’s effects, focusing on infrastructure failures and recovery strategies, with implications for improving codes, standards, and practices nationwide[7]. Their ongoing research, no