September 20, 2017 — Hurricane María changed Puerto Rico forever. Entire towns were left in ruins, power and water were gone for months, and thousands of lives were lost. This episode is my most personal: a reflection on the storm that reshaped our island.
From San Juan’s blacked-out streets to the devastation in Utuado and Paso Palma, María exposed Puerto Rico’s vulnerabilities. It also revealed its resilience. Communities came together, neighbors shared food and water, and families rebuilt from the ground up.
This episode combines my own memories with official imagery from NASA, NHC, and USGS, as well as videos I recorded during those days.
Cocktail Spotlight
There was no cocktail for this story. Instead, I chose whisky — solemn, strong, and fitting for remembering one of the darkest chapters in Puerto Rico’s history.