US Declares Natural Disaster in Puerto Rico Due to Severe Drought

The United States government has officially declared a natural disaster in Puerto Rico, a US island territory in the Caribbean, due to an intensifying drought. This declaration comes as more than one-third of the island faces extreme drought conditions, with another third experiencing severe drought.

July marked the driest month in over 120 years for the capital city, San Juan, and was also the second hottest on record. Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez had formally requested the disaster declaration from the US Department of Agriculture over two weeks prior. The newly declared state of disaster covers 26 of the island's 78 municipalities, making farmers and agricultural businesses eligible for emergency loans.

Many farmers were forced to halt production as early as May, particularly those reliant on abundant water, such as vegetable growers and hydroponic operations. The drought also threatens the production of coffee, cocoa, and bananas. Livestock farmers have also suffered losses, unable to sell their animals due to the dry conditions.

In response to the crisis, the governor declared a state of emergency in late July, activating the National Guard to supply water to residents. In early August, water delivery restrictions were implemented in parts of San Juan and six other cities, affecting over 180,000 consumers who now receive water on an alternating basis, with large trucks delivering water when taps run dry. Priority is given to hospitals and nursing homes.

Meteorologists attribute the drought to the natural El Niño warming cycle in the Pacific Ocean. This phenomenon has also affected the neighboring US Virgin Islands. Earlier this month, the US government declared a disaster for St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix due to extreme drought. Compounding the issue, Puerto Rico's aging water infrastructure is also a significant problem, with old pipelines deteriorating. This pre-existing water scarcity, unrelated to the drought, led San Juan's mayor to sue the island's Water and Sewer Authority in May, with the governor acknowledging decades of underfunding and neglect.