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- Collection: Cultural Exchange
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Greenhouse Damage
The greenhouse at Finca Mi Casa in Camuy, Puerto Rico was damaged by Hurricane María. This greenhouse, when functional, is used for water and weed control, to grow crops that are difficult to grow in the fields such as lettuce and tomatoes. The…
Agricultural Zone
Over the past few years there has been a resurgence of agriculture on the island of Puerto Rico, with governmental programs pushing for an increase in agriculture, especially using conventional methods and preparing single crops for export; as well…
Zona Agricola
Seen from the highway leaving the San Juan area, “Zona Agricola” means agricultural zone. About 80% of agricultural crops were wiped out by Hurricane María in September 2017.
River of Garbage
Trash thrown into storm drainage systems that doesn’t get picked up by the workers assigned to clean this mess post-festival will end up washing downstream in the next storm, and ultimately end up in the island’s waterways and the ocean. Coming…
Litter and Pollution
A human-created sustainability problem. The aftermath of some festivals in Puerto Rico mirror that of the US, with debris, litter and pollution created en masse and left behind for municipal workers to deal with. Not all of the litter will be found…
A Sea of Litter - Unsustainable Festival
One of the saddest sights seen in Puerto Rico during the Raíces Sustainable Disaster Relief Support Trip in January 2018 was the sea of litter that remained after a festival in San Sebastian. After learning of and seeing first hand that many places…
Destruction - San Sebastian
Destroyed gas station in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. Debris from the collapsed structures remained four months after the storm had destroyed it. This was a common sight around the island in January 2018.
Hurricane Damage - San Sebastian
A gas station in San Sebstian, Puerto Rico which was damaged but not destroyed by Hurricane Maria. It remained closed four months after the storm when this photograph was taken.
Debris - San Sebastian
Debris from a gas station in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, destroyed by Hurricane María.
Destruction and Debris - San Sebastian
Destroyed gas station in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico.
Gandules
Farmland in San Sebastian that is being used to grow gandules, or pigeon peas, after being cleared following Hurricane María.
Bohío in San Sebastian
Traditional wooden home found in the mountains of Puerto Rico. This house was the birthplace the grandfather of Raíces Cultural Center BOD chair Angela Lugo. The home was relatively undamaged by Hurricane María.
Road Closed - Lake Guajataca
Road closed along the shoreline of Lake Guajataca in San Sebastian due to damage sustained during Hurricane María as well as the ongoing draining of the lake and repair and restoration of the dam.
Lake Guajataca
View of Lake Guajataca in January 2018. Water levels are visibly low as the lake is being drained in order to begin repair work on the dam which was breached during Hurricane María in September 2017.
Breached Dam at Lake Guajataca
Close up of the crumbling overspill that diverted water during the dam breach that
Measuring Water Levels
Water levels at Lake Guajataca were extremely low in January 2018, as seen on the measurement tower along the dam. The lake is being intentionally drained in order to repair the breech to the dam that occurred during Hurricane María.
Embalse Guajataca
The tower used to show the water levels of Lake Guajataca.
Water Levels Dropping
Water levels were near an all time low at Lake Guajataca when the Raíces crew drove over the dam in January 2018, due to the draining of Lake Guajataca for repairs to the dam.
Exposed Shoreline
The draining of Lake Guajataca exposed parts of the lakebed and altered the visible shoreline.
Lake Guajataca Overspill
Water flowing into one of the overspills from Lake Guajataca as it is being drained.
Construction at Lake Guajataca
Signs of construction and the beginning of repairs to the dam at Lake Guajataca which was breached during Hurricane María, threatening the lives and homes of tens thousands of residents who live downstream. The drinking water supply will be affected…
Repairing the Dam at Lake Guajataca
Construction crews working to drain Lake Guajataca and repair the dam, after a breach caused by damage during Hurricane María. One overspilll for the water being drained from the dam is also visible in this photograph.
Draining Lake Guajataca
Generators are running pumps 24 hours per day to continue the draining of Lake Guajataca in order to begin repairs of the dam, which was breached during Hurricane María.
Low Water Levels at Lake Guajataca
The water levels at Lake Guajataca were visible low in January 2018, as the lake had already been draining for months after the storm caused a breach in the dam.
Guarding the Dam
Puerto Rico National Guard service members on guard at the site of the draining of Lake Guajataca.