humanitarian crises. Hurricane Maria, a category 5 hurricane, passed through Dominica, St Croix and Puerto Rico and is considered the worst climate disaster in recorded history to affect those islands . Approximately 200,000 people migrated from Puerto Rico to the mainland USA in the weeks following the storm . Estimates for direct and indirect casualties in Puerto Rico point out a total of 4645 excess deaths, equivalent to a 62% increase in the mortality rate . The example of Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico illustrates that vulnerability is part of a long history of discrimination and colonial governance, which led to greater impacts on the island . In Puerto Rico, the economic costs of the collapse of the island's energy, water, transport, and communication infrastructures are estimated to range from USD 25 to USD 43 billion , further indebting the island and putting its long-term development at risk. Meanwhile the economic impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on the Caribbean region are estimated between USD 27 and USD 48 billion, and have long-term implications for state budgets for infrastructure supporting development of the poorest.
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report