Rebuilding, but not recovered

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017. It is regarded as the worst natural disaster on record and also the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since 2004. More than 3,000 deaths are attributed to Maria and its aftermath. In the following year and a half, much has been rebuilt. The streets of Old San Juan are vibrant with sightseers, music and attractions. Power has been restored to most of the island and life has returned to a degree of normalcy. But when you scratch beneath the surface, it quickly becomes apparent that the island is still recovering.

About the Trip

Reporting in Puerto Rico

Student journalists reflect on the trip to Puerto Rico during Spring Break in March 2019.

“It was amazing to be able to immerse myself in completely different surroundings than I had been in before.”

Food Truck Dreams

Rincon, Puerto Rico

On the western coast of Puerto Rico, the beach town of Rincon is home to a food truck business created by a 22-year-old with Down Syndrome and his family.

This video by Jasmine Darakjy was published on social media by KHQ in Spokane on World Down Syndrome Day. Watch the full video on KHQ's Facebook page.

Photo by Rachel Sun

Meet the Team

Zana Crites is a senior strategic communication major at Washington State University.

Jasmine Darakjy is a senior broadcast journalism major at Washington State University.

Dylan Greene is a senior multimedia journalism major at Washington State University.

Rachel Sun is a multimedia journalism major at Washington State University.

About Backpack Journalism

The Journalism & Media Production department at Washington State University is a part of The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. Donors and grants make it possible for students to travel beyond campus to gain storytelling experience as reporters and producers across media platforms.