Hurricane Maria Disaster Response
OE-0023 - November 2017 - SAF 2 - Carribean - USA - Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria is regarded as being the worst natural disaster on record to affect Dominica and Puerto Rico. The tenth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record and the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide of 2017, Maria was the thirteenth named storm, eighth consecutive hurricane, fourth major hurricane, second Category 5 hurricane, and the deadliest storm of the hyperactive 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. At its peak, the hurricane caused catastrophic damage and numerous fatalities across the northeastern Caribbean, compounding recovery efforts in the areas of the Leeward Islands already struck by Hurricane Irma. Maria was the third consecutive major hurricane to threaten the Leeward Islands in two weeks, after Irma had made landfall in several of the islands two weeks prior and Hurricane Jose passed dangerously close shortly afterward, bringing tropical storm force winds to Barbuda (Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Maria). On this mission, an OpEndev/Wings Of Michael S.A.R. leader deployed to conduct a beta test of the Ground Zero Recon model for disaster reconnaissance in the northwest region of Aguadilla and Moca, Puerto Rico. The leadership of the Nuestra Senora De La Monserrate parish of Moca helped to support this mission by providing transportation and lodging. During this mission, damage assessments of the region were performed and contact was secured with the Rotary leadership of Moca to help stage the next missions. Overwatch was provided by OpEndev Mission Controllers.