Hurricane Maria Forces 73,000 Puerto Ricans To Flee For Florida

Last month Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico slammed Puerto Rico and at least 73,000 people have fled the devastated island of 3.4 million for Florida, according to Agence France-Presse Wednesday.

“As of October 3, 2017, more than 73,000 individuals arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico through Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and the Everglades Port,” said estaminet from the office of Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

The hurricane struck the island Sept. 20, but Florida declared an emergency to deal with the hurricane victims coming from Puerto Rico on Oct. 3. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and its residents are U.S. citizens.

The island is still largely incapacitated. Around 75 percent of the island is without electricity and at least 25 percent of the island is without water officially, but an investigation by Vox shows that that number could be much higher and in parts of the territory running water isn’t reliable. Cell phone and internet service were greatly affected and roads and bridges were washed out. Puerto Rico, in financial dire straits before the storm, could run out of cash before the end of October. Puerto Rico’s money problems have led people to leave the island even before the storm.

Florida opened up three relief centers which have assisted at least 15,000 people already. State agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and charity organization Red Cross are all helping with aid. At least 3,500 students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have enrolled in Florida elementary and high schools after both being hit by the natural disaster. Universities in Florida are also taking in students.

Experts predict the flow of Puerto Ricans leaving could continue for years.

“In a matter of four years, between half a million and 700,000. That is very feasible given the accelerated pace at which Puerto Ricans were leaving already,” said Luis Martínez Fernández, a history professor at the University of Central Florida, to NBC News Tuesday.

Around five million Puerto Ricans live in the continental U.S. and 1 million of them live in Florida.