Documentary on Puerto Rico by Shauna Garrett

MISSION: TO CAPTURE THE COMMUNAL EFFECTS NATURAL DISASTERS IN PUERTO RICO...to tell the story of a people who have triumphantly persevered through these various trials and banded together in the face of adversity.

Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory since 1917, is an island rich with culture, history, natural resources, and beautiful scenery, has been rocked by natural disasters in the past few years, particularly:

-Hurricane Maria, Sept. 20, 2017, one of the deadliest disasters to hit any part of the United States.

-6.7 magnitude earthquake, Jan. 6-7, 2020, with nearly 10,000 subsequent smaller earthquakes and tremors reported since then (according to NBC News’ Nicole Avecedo).

The island is susceptible and vulnerable to natural disasters. In the wake of these occurrences, many of the population have gone without secure housing, power, transportation, medical help, etc. In addition to socioeconomic pressures, more than 200,000 Puerto Ricans have moved to the mainland United States (some temporarily, some permanently) in the wake of these tragic events.

From my travels on the ground (March, 2021), I learned that many who moved to the mainland U.S. were in the younger demographics, while older citizens gravitated toward staying on the island.

THE GOAL: Donating to this fundraiser will directly pay for this story to come to life by gathering funds for hiring crew (in the field and editing), to purchase/transport/get COI for the necessary gear, and to cover flights, vehicle rentals, and lodging for the various trips.

To find out more about Shauna Garrett, visit: https://www.shaunagarrett.com