Coral Reef Emergency Response

About This Project

In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico in rapid succession, causing catastrophic damage to both human communities and marine ecosystems. The back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes devastated coral reefs through massive wave action, sedimentation, freshwater runoff, and physical destruction.

HJR Reefscaping immediately mobilized emergency response efforts to assess reef damage, document impacts, and begin coral rescue and restoration activities. The rapid response team surveyed affected reefs, stabilized overturned coral colonies, collected fragmented corals for nursery propagation, and documented the extent of hurricane impacts across multiple sites. This work was critical for understanding reef resilience and guiding long-term recovery strategies.

Event: Hurricanes Irma & Maria, September 2017
Type: Emergency Response, Damage Assessment, Coral Rescue
Activities: Rapid Assessment, Colony Stabilization, Fragment Collection