Vulnerability, Flooding and Resilience in coastal communities of the western area of Puerto Rico

FINAL REPORT I. The Executive Summary Project title: “Historical Process: Vulnerability, Flooding and Resilience in coastal communities of the western area of Puerto Rico” Date: February 28, 2020 Project number: Af151-3-18 Investigators and affiliation: Edwin Asencio Pagán, PhD, PI Centro de Investigación Social Aplicada (CISA) Department of Social Sciences University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Dates Covered: 2018-2022 Objectives: 1. Select 5 municipalities and # of coastal settlements (communities) for the study. a. At the moment, the research group has concentrated in three municipalities: Cabo Rojo, Mayagüez and Rincón. The communities that we have studied in these municipalities are: El Maní, La Boquilla, Santa Rosa de Lima, Jardines del Caribe, La Vía, Puerto Real, Joyuda and Stella. It should be noted that within the municipalities and communities mentioned above, the research group has developed and implemented five phases of the project. (Percent completed: 60%) 2. Perform social monitoring of the coastal units for the next four years. a. During this academic year (2019-2020), the researchers are revisiting and retaking all the phases that were developed in the communities under study. In addition, the research group will continue working on this objective in the 2020-2021 academic year. (Percent completed: 50%) 3. Assess Post-Traumatic Stress after María a. This phase was focused on researching the experience and characteristics of PTSD in residents of vulnerable communities under study one year after Hurricane María. During the 2019-2020 academic year, the research group has been monitoring participants to analyze the evolution of PTSD symptoms and the process of emotional resilience shown by residents two years after Hurricane María. (Percent completed: 70%) 4. Engage in the mapping and inventory of structures and damages after María. a. The research group has developed maps and inventories on the structural losses and damages in homes, restaurants and fishmongers. During the current 2019-2020