Hurricane Irma (2017)

Dates Active: Late August – Early September 2017
Category: Reached Category 5; made U.S. landfall (FL Keys & mainland) as Category 4
Peak Sustained Winds: ~177 mph
Areas Impacted: Caribbean (incl. USVI & Puerto Rico), Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
Estimated Damages: ≈ US $58–83 billion (region)

Hurricane Irma in 2017 was among the longest-lasting Category 5 Atlantic storms on record, unleashing relentless winds and widespread destruction across the Caribbean and U.S. Southeast. The storm caused catastrophic damage to homes, infrastructure, and communities, with total economic losses estimated at approximately $300 billion.

RSI’s Impact
Advanced medical assessment and shelter support teams in Puerto Rico provided early response capacity that paved the way for Maria operations.