Disasters disrupt community systems and structures.  A disruption in one area causes ripple effects and can create disproportionate impacts on other parts of the system.  What has been less well documented is the impact that disasters have on nutrition security, and how we can better prepare for them.

A  lot of studies have been done about hurricane Maria, which devastated the US territory Puerto Rico September 2017.   We estimated that approximately 3,000 deaths were attributed to the hurricane Puerto Rico experienced a near destruction of local food production, the collapse of the power grid, and decimated potable water systems, with repercussions that lasted for months. Our objective was to understand how people cope with limited resources. 

Ensuring Nutrition Security during Emergency Disasters, presentation delivered by Associate Professor Uriyoan Colon-Ramos, ScD, MPA for GWU Food Safety Day, June, 5 2024

Nutritional Analysis of Household Food Commodities Distributed in Puerto Rico post Hurricane Maria presentation of study results, Associate Professor Uriyoan Colon-Ramos, ScD, MPA, sponsored by Natural Hazards Center Grant, University of Colorado Boulder, National Science Foundation,