In pictures: Hurricane Maria pummels Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has been devastated by Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 4 storm that also impacted several islands in the Caribbean.
It was the strongest storm to make landfall in Puerto Rico in 85 years. It came ashore on September 20 with sustained winds of 155 mph, knocking out power to the entire island. Trees were uprooted, homes were destroyed, and there was also widespread flooding.
“This is total devastation,” said Carlos Mercader, a spokesman for Puerto Rico’s governor. “Puerto Rico, in terms of the infrastructure, will not be the same. … This is something of historic proportions.”
Members of the Army Reserve assist residents of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, on September 21. Jose Rodrigo Madera for CNN
Toa Baja was evacuated because of flooding. Jose Rodrigo Madera for CNN
Gas cans are piled up in Toa Baja, where gasoline was tough to come by. Jose Rodrigo Madera for CNN
People walk by a collapsed building in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 21. Erika P. Rodriguez/The New York Times/Redux
A shack is destroyed in San Juan on September 21. Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images
A bed is exposed to the elements in a storm-damaged home in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Jose Rodrigo Madera for CNN
Power lines are scattered across a road in Humacao on September 20. Carlos Giusti/AP
Rescue workers drive through a flooded road in Humacao on September 20. Carlos Giusti/AP
A San Juan resident stands outside a wrecked home on September 20. Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images
A man rescues a rooster from his flooded garage in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, on September 20. Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images
A San Juan resident dumps buckets of water out of a flooded home on September 20. Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images
A woman pulls a trash can past a destroyed home in Fajardo on September 20. Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images
Rescue personnel make preparations before going out to help 19 police officers who were stranded at their flooded station in Humacao on September 20. Carlos Giusti/AP
People walk by a damaged sailboat that had washed ashore in Fajardo on September 20. Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images
Trees are toppled outside the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan on September 20. Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images
People pray in Humacao before the hurricane made landfall. Jose Rodrigo Madera for CNN
Waves crash in San Juan as the hurricane neared the island on September 19. Jose Rodrigo Madera for CNN
Evacuees rest at an emergency shelter in Humacao on September 19. Carlos Giusti/AP
More than 500 residents of San Juan take shelter at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum on September 19. Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo for the Washington Post/Getty Images
The calm before the storm: Humacao resident David Cruz watches the waves on September 19. Jose Rodrigo Madera for CNN
Produced by Lyric Lewin, Brett Roegiers, Bernadette Tuazon and Kyle Almond
Top photo: Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images
