Preparing for a vacation can sometimes be tedious and tiresome, especially if you want your trip to go off without a hitch. But in rare cases, no amount of planning can thwart an unforeseen disaster. Resort destinations have been hit by some of the most brutal storms, terrorist attacks, and accidental deaths due to equipment malfunctions. Here are 26 holiday resort disasters that changed the tourism industry as a whole, as well as information as to how you can help out by donating to charitable organizations who’ve made it their mission to help the survivors of some of these harrowing events.
1. Hurricane Maria – Puerto Rico
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 4 storm plowed into the popular tourist destination of Puerto Rico, devastating the island and its 3.4 million residents. Maria was the worst storm to hit Puerto Rico in over 80 years, and she arrived only two weeks after Hurricane Irma passed and left 1 million people without power. While the official death toll was 64 people, recent analysis shows that the storm in fact may have resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities. Thousands of families were left without homes and some communities and resort towns were destroyed entirely. For months following, most families and businesses remained without power, cell phone service was limited, and clean water, food, medicine and fuel were all in very short supply. Relief efforts are still ongoing and those who can donate are encouraged to do so through Mercy Corps.
