Lessons Learned from a Medical Response Team 45 Days Post-Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico

Describe the lived experience of a grassroots, nongovernmental disaster medical team (DMT) through a research lens and share practical lessons learned based on the DMT's experience to support and inform future response teams. Forty-five days after Hurricane Maria, a nongovernmental DMT provided primary medical care by means of community-based pop-up clinics and home visitations in 5 different areas of Puerto Rico. Observational data, photo images, and debriefing notes were collected and documented in the response team's daily activity log. Field notes were coded using a descriptive coding method and then categorized into 2 domains specific to public health and medical diagnosis. Medical aid was provided to nearly 300 (N = 296) residents. Field note observations identified exhaustion related to living conditions and the exacerbation of underlying conditions, such as reactive airway diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and depression due to the compounding effects of multiple post-disaster triggers. During home visitations, feelings of sadness and helplessness were identified secondary to natural disaster trauma and current living conditions. Our nongovernmental DMT displayed similar characteristics demonstrated by federal DMTs post-natural disaster. Several strategic lessons learned emerged from the public health intervention important to future nongovernmental DMTs.