The category 4 hurricane, Maria, made direct landfall on Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 20. Some estimates project the damages to be $45 billion to $90 billion. As of October 16, about 86% of the island’s 1.57 million electricity-using residents remained without power. Although many people have regained sanity water, there are still those who have not.

This year’s school trip is scheduled for Puerto Rico. On June 25, 2019 through June 30, 2018 students in grades 8-12 will be staying there. The company who the school partners with for the trip, Explorica, is in contact with offices in Puerto Rico. The latest news states that the trip will continue forth unless it is found that proper accommodations are not able to be made. In the event that the trip to Puerto Rico is canceled, the money will be refunded, and a possible location change may occur. Lynn Jordan, the head of the trip, comments on the effects Hurricane Maria had on the trip,  “structurally, all of the places we will be staying, all the buses, and the excursions are fine.” So far the trips intends to follow the initial plan, unless unforeseen events cause a cancellation in the future.

For those interested in joining the trip, on November 2nd there will be an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the library.