ABSTRACT
In 2017, 60% of Puerto Rico's residents were social media users. When Hurricane Maria made landfall, it left the island without power and communication with the outside world. While social media can be used by government and relief agencies for a variety of disaster response purposes, this was not the case in Puerto Rico. The government was largely silent, and relief agencies used social media more to promote their work than to link survivors with help. Individuals on the island used social media to document their own experiences, and a handful of reporters turned to social media platforms to demand action. This case study explores the manner in which social media can be used, the ways in which it was used in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, and the lessons to be learned as the island faces future disasters.
