Living Through Hurricanes Hugo, Georges, María, and Reflecting on Hurricane Melissa

When Hurricane Hugo struck Puerto Rico in 1989, I was 10 years old, old enough to feel the fear, but too young to understand the magnitude of what was happening. Nearly a decade later, when Hurricane Georges arrived in 1998, I was 19 and saw the devastation with adult eyes. Though I wasn't on the island during Hurricane Maria in 2017, I watched from afar as Puerto Rico faced one of its darkest chapters. And today, as Hurricane Melissa leaves its mark on Jamaica and Cuba, I can't help but feel a deep empathy for those now enduring what so many of us once did.

Hurricane Hugo - 1989: Childhood in the Storm

At ten, I remember the roar of the wind during Hugo like it was alive - how it shook the walls, tore through trees, and ripped roofs off homes. When the storm passed, silence took over, broken only by the voices of neighbors calling out to check on one another. Life paused for weeks - no electricity, no school, and no news from outside our community. Yet through that darkness, I learned the strength of togetherness. People shared what little they had, finding light in unity and hope.

Hurricane Georges - 1998: A Young Adult's Test of Strength

By 19, when Georges made landfall, I understood more clearly what it meant to face destruction. The winds and rain seemed endless, flooding towns and washing away roads. The recovery was exhausting, but I witnessed incredible acts of kindness - neighbors helping rebuild homes, sharing food, and comforting each other through sleepless nights. Those moments shaped my understanding of resilience. Puerto Ricans don't wait for help; they become the help.

Hurricane Maria - 2017: Witnessing from Afar

Though I wasn't in Puerto Rico during Maria, watching the devastation from afar was deeply painful. Entire communities vanished beneath fallen trees and collapsed buildings. Millions were left without power or clean water for months. Maria wasn't just a storm - it was a test of endurance and identity. And once again, Puerto Rico rose, proving that our strength isn't measured by what we lose, but by how we rebuild.

Reflections and Solidarity

Having lived through Hugo and Georges, and witnessed Maria from a distance, I've come to see hurricanes as more than natural disasters - they are stories of people, resilience, and faith. Each storm changes the landscape, but it also reminds us of our capacity to endure. As Hurricane Melissa brings devastation to Jamaica and Cuba, my thoughts and prayers are with those communities. I know too well the fear, the uncertainty, and the long road to recovery that lies ahead. May they find the same strength, compassion, and solidarity that carried Puerto Rico through its darkest days.

Because in every storm, what truly defines us isn't the wind that breaks us - it's the love that helps us stand again.