Punta Santiago, Humacao, Puerto Rico


Punta Santiago is a barrio in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 4,723. It is one of the most vulnerable barrios to flooding and complete destruction when hurricanes enter Puerto Rico through Humacao.

History

The United States took control of Puerto Rico from Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898. In 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Punta Santiago and San Francisco barrios was 1,754.

Flood zone

In 2019, updated flood zone maps show that because of its location- where most cyclones enter the island, Humacao is one of the most vulnerable areas of Puerto Rico. Humacao was working on flood mitigation plans and shared that its barrios located on the coast; Antón Ruíz, Punta Santiago, Río Abajo, Buena Vista and Candelero Abajo barrios, are prone to flooding and in danger of being completed destroyed by a hurricane.

Hurricane Maria

According to Father José Colón, the town's local Catholic priest, Hurricane Maria caused total flooding of Punta Santiago.

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